Singer/actress Janelle Monáe has weighed in on the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests against racial injustice.
Monáe, 34, spoke at length in a recent interview with Shape magazine, while promoting her new film Antebellum, a horror movie set during the era of American slavery. For Monáe, the time has come for society to face difficult questions.
“I’ve made it a thing to face discomfort,” Monáe says. “I think discomfort is part of everyone’s reality right now. White people are feeling discomfort in one way, Black people are feeling discomfort in one way, and I didn’t want to shy away from that.”
Related: WATCH: Janelle Monáe dishes on her queerness, and on her new series ‘Homecoming’
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“It’s time for us to get uncomfortable,” she adds, “because the real change requires an upsetting and a rerouting and a real commitment to look at ourselves. In this instance, I hope that more white people see this film and fix the systems that their ancestors created that continue to oppress.”
Monáe also opened up about her own reaction to the ongoing racial unrest in the nation.
“Being Black, especially during this time, for me, is heavy,” Monáe admitted. “It’s traumatic, and all I want to do is figure out how I can be of help to my community. So I’ve been spending a lot of time organizing behind the scenes with peers, with my Wondaland Arts Society family. We hosted a Zoom where everybody had an opportunity to get on and just vent and cry and talk about how we’re feeling. These were white folks, Asian folks, Black folks, straight, gay – like a full spectrum of people and perspectives.”
For Monáe, the emotional toll of the current cultural moment also invited her to reflect on her own issues of abandonment and childhood pain.
“I started to write these things down, and I remember just crying like a baby,” she admits. “I will say that it is so freeing when you can identify your trauma. Knowing why you feel a certain way or why these feelings of being upset or angry or sad—why they’re happening, what the root of it is. It’s just so empowering.”
Antebellum lands on streaming services September 18.
frapachino
Wah wah wah white people, wah wah wah but white people! No ones holding you back except you , take responsibility for your life and stop with the blame game!
Kangol2
Don’t you have a Klan rally to head to? Oh wait, that’s right, you’re gay so they don’t want any parts of you, at least with the hood and sheet off!
curiobi
Get lost you boring racist troll. Grow up.
Creamsicle
I love Monae. She’s been an outspoken activist for most if her career. Her Android-themed suites have a ton of metaphor about racial injustice and how we dehumanize people to maintain social stratification.
She’s spoken and performed at protests across the country. She’s performed for the Nobel Award ceremony. She’s just an amazing artists.
I have to admit that I miss her old sound. She’s gotten a lot of chances to collaborate with other big name artists on her two most recent albums, but I prefer the older albums. Electric Lady was pretty good, but Dirty Computer felt like a departure thematically and in terms of her sound.
Thad
Awww, Janelle! I like being comfortable! And here in my COVID-19 world, I haven’t had much choice. I was interacting with nobody.
But I think I get you. I’ll vote even it it involves effort. As things reopen, I’ll make sure my interactions with people always are respectful. I’ll stand with those in favor of peace, justice, and equality. And love.
Aaron
I love me some Janelle Monáe! Being talented, pretty, AND socially aware is always a nice combo. I’ll definitely be checking out Antebellum when it comes out.