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Classical music has some very interesting notions about who is and is not deserving of “respect.“ https://twitter.com/Sammy_Sussman/status/1299026519222882306
We’re fortunate in 2020 to have a raft of classical artists speaking out about injustice, racism, and bias in the profession. But for every Jamie Barton, there are probably another 100 musicians who got slapped down like these kids and will never feel safe speaking up again.
What if, instead of always adopting a mentality of “don’t rock the boat because it will cost you and you probably can’t change anything anyway,” we told our students, “part of your job in this biz will be looking out for others and standing up to the past”?
There will always be a need for change. Every generation has its monsters and they have an alarming tendency to rise to powerful heights. For the rest of us, that means we will never stop having a moral obligation to protect and promote and care for our peers, not just ourselves.
Activism is messy. The people raising objections to this or that composer or production or statement won't always be unequivocally in the right. But if we don't stand for the right to raise those questions, why stand for anything? Why call ourselves artists at all?
Some of our colleagues will never have the privilege of feeling able to speak up. Maybe they're immigrants; or they've been victimized; or they've been told in 100 different ways that their voice means nothing. So if that's NOT you? Get the hell out there and raise. your. voice.
