Amplifying @Kosmicxkarma: The Crazy Misconceptions about Black Alternative Culture

@Kosmicxkarma and I met back in the Kathleen Clay and Webkinz days (who knows how many years ago). Throughout the years we have randomly seen each other throughout the city and more recently through our lack of silence on the topic of systemic racism. See, the plan was to solely focus on having her educate me on the misconceptions that are associated with black alt culture but as usual we explored other connections to this issue. This culture receives excessive scrutiny because of their expression of the oppression within the world. I learned how the cultural appropriation of black alt culture is something that people do without even realizing it. It's brainwashed into us to see this as a white culture......which then causes racial stereotyping without education or understanding of the history, fashion, culture and its practices. Gatekeeping is defined as the activity of controlling, and usually limiting, general access to something. As we spoke more on the issues gatekeeping poses we can clearly see it causes more division than unity. I also picked up on how there is more to learn about cultures that have been misappropriated for profit, which is way too many in my opinion. We live in a culture so quick to cancel something they don't understand out of fear vs logic or white wash it for profit. We see it everywhere as a trend without considering the origins and sacredness of these people, places and things. We went on to look at Greensboro specifically and I came to learn way more about how this culture is very prevalent in this city through artists such as Black Haus who are a representation of this culture and also local. She broke down all the different subgenres of cultures that could be considered alternative and when I say it blew my mind, it's understatement. There is a lack of safety in expression that is common and toxic in society. There is a quickness to be shut up or feel the need to hide, I admire the boldness and refusal to succumb under the racial gatekeeping/assumptions of who a person is based on how a person looks. We jumped into local past house shows/venues and how if you thought they are anything like a concert, that is just not the case. House shows create a community where expressing yourself with people who feel very similarly is the goal and letting it all go is the roadmap to get there. Yes, they can be overwhelming to navigate so knowing some etiquette is important before going to a house show and she gave tips and tricks for those who may have considered it. The live music, art, expression and the ability to organize these shows is something important to the culture and is surely missed Kosmickarma went through a brief history of the house show scene in Greensboro including Ice House, Grime House and Road Closed. There were some examples of toxic expression as well the strides taken to make sure that people stay as safe as possible without limiting their expression. I learned so much in this episode and as I continued through my days after recording I began to see how this culture is everywhere and how respecting the bravery to be one hundred percent the person you want to be is something worth admiring! We spoke on how people should respond to the culture and the hurtful ways that can no longer continue if we truly are to build bridges.
Connect w. Kosmicxkarma
Instagram - @kosmicxkarma
Art Instagram - @spacequeendream
Music Instagram/ Soundcloud - @tanscendentalweather
RESOURCE/RECOMMENDATION: http://www.dobi.nu/yourscenesucks/
@blackhausband (Instagram) - they are a Greensboro Local Black Alternative Band! (WE LOVE LOCAL OVER HERE)