In the wake of Joyner Lucas' newly released song "Devil's Work 2," which takes aim at right-wing pundit Candace Owens, it is worth considering the implications this has on a culture that claims to be pro-women and pro-black liberation. The lyrics of the song target Candace Owens with vitriol and seem to justify violence against the Daily Wire Host.
"Lord, forgive me for my language and these bad words/But that Candace Owens bitch get on my last nerve." Lucas raps in the video. "George died from asphyxiation and that's a factor/Fentanyl or not, he'd had never died and his last words were, 'I cannot breathe'/So really she gotta chill or maybe they should trade places so she could see how it feel."
Lucas’ comments have sparked controversy and divided opinion, with some people defending Lucas' right to free speech. In contrast, others point out that his verbal attack on Owens is a call for violence against black conservative women who speak out against the nationally accepted narrative.
Lucas is not the pioneer of Candace attacks. Owens has faced numerous criticisms for her comments regarding the death of George Floyd, with comedian Dave Chappelle calling her a "rotten bitch" and describing her as "the most articulate idiot" he had ever seen during a comedy special filmed in 2020.
Notice how culturally approved celebrities like Lucas and Chappelle keep going after Owens, but not white conservative pundits who express the same beliefs and ideology.
One thing is clear: if similar language had been used against a black female like Kamala Harris or Nina Turner, there would be outrage, protests, and accusations of racism and misogyny. YouTube would demonetize the video, Facebook would claim that the opinions stated in the video are not fact, and Google would make it impossible for you to ever listen to the song.
Like everyone in the country, Candace Owens should be allowed to express her views without being reduced to the likes of a female dog.
She deserves the same basic respect that is extended to other public figures regardless of political beliefs, affiliations, biological sex, and race. We should not be celebrating when celebrities viciously attack her simply because she does not fit the accepted narrative or worldview. We should be questioning their motives.
It should be noted that it is completely possible to criticize ideas and beliefs without attacking the person behind them. We can disagree without resorting to verbal abuse or insults by using logic alone. Unfortunately, our culture has demonized rationale and reasoning while rewarding those who blindly accept the word of their leaders without question. Credibility is no longer earned, it’s assigned.
At the same time, it is important to remember that both Lucas and Chappelle have the right to use their art as platforms to express their views. “Hate speech” is free speech and, while their attacks are certainly rooted in hatred against a black woman who is unafraid to deviate from the dictated script, their right to do so is constitutionally protected by the First Amendment.
This is part of living in a free society, and it should be respected even if people disagree with what they have to say. It is our job as citizens to engage in civil discourse, we need to move away from the idea that the world is a safe space. Disagreements are uncomfortable, but any conversation worth having will always have disagreements.
Society has come a long way from engaging in civil discourse and having meaningful conversations. Now, it seems that people are more focused on receiving attention than they are on having genuine, thought-provoking conversations. We have become obsessed with accumulating likes and followers in order to feel validated and important.
People's need for attention has led them to talk at each other for the sole purpose of being heard, rather than actually listening to what the other person has to say. Consequently, conversations have become more about getting our point across, no matter the cost, and often lack substance.
Many may take offense to the points made in this article, yet it is essential that we open up and engage in meaningful dialogue in order to bridge the Great Divide. If we continue to let notifications on social media dictate how we interact with each other, we will never be able to reconcile our differences.
There’s value in all speech. There’s no value in silencing dissent.
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