The political world has been extremely tense as of lately – with protests going sour and everyone arguing over who would make a better President than Trump. If you ask me – you know what, don’t ask me. The next person who ruins my night by bringing up politics at the bar is getting the boot.
Regardless of how I personally, or you personally, feel about politics – one thing is for sure – there is a lot of conflicting opinions. After the protests in Charlottesville comprised of White Supremacists (and some regular people, before the Nazis hijacked their protest), people have been going absolutely crazy to “preserve” a modern America. And, by modern America, I mean one without confederates.
It’s no secret that the confederate flag means something different to everyone – but if you ask any history teacher – it represents a time in America that many are not happy with or proud of. Others believe conserving the flag is conserving America and its history. Me? Don’t ask me.
Now, people are protesting and petitioning to remove statues of individuals who were racist, sexist or homophobic in public places to “make everyone equal and happy.” Many of these statues are of Confederates and leaders who were from a different time in American society.
And, now, there’s a petition going around the web to replace a historical monument with a statue of the female rapper, Missy Elliot. Here’s what the petition reads:
Confederate Monument in Olde Towne Portsmouth Virginia near the intersection of Court and High streets with a new statue of a true Portsmouth native hero. Who better to encapsulate the culture and spirit of the city enshrined in a new monument than Grammy Award winning rapper, dancer, and record producer Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott?
Before she was “Missy Misdemeanor” she was Melissa Arnette Elliott, born on July 1, 1971 in Portsmouth, Virginia. Hailing from humble beginnings as the only child of a power company dispatcher and a welder at Portsmouth’s lauded naval shipyard, she rose to become a platinum recording artist with over 30-million albums sold. All this without even once owning a slave.
Getting this statue put up will be a lot of work and you may ask yourself is it worth it? I say yes and ask you to join me in letting us work it. Together we can put white supremacy down, flip it and reverse it. Let us come together in getting City Council to erect this statue in honor of Missy Elliott and all those in the great City of Portsmouth who work it each and every day. Ycamerpus Etihw!
I mean, I love my girl Missy and all – but ripping down the infrastructures of America seems a bit harsh if you ask me. There is a saying that goes something like – it’s important to study history (even the bad sh*t) to ensure we don’t repeat it. And, while having monuments up of people who owned slaves back in the day seems unfair and racist to some – it’s still a part of American history, one we never wish to repeat.
But, if you would rather see Missy Elliot put her thing down, flip it and reverse it – you can sign this.