The problem with political correctness in today’s Western societies is that it’s made it increasingly difficult to identify racism/sexism/as well as other forms of isms although they’re frequently asserted openly, even in writing, by trusted professionals, in mainstream media outlets.

That is, if you take time and read between the lines.

White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy still pervades in our societies. The only difference is that it’s expressed in passive aggressive terms. I won’t get into how rife passive aggression is but my point is that it’s easy to reaffirm W.S.C.P. just as long as it’s done using the right words.

I was stunned by the incredible, homophobic/trans/femmephobic comments that a journalist made about my album - saying how I’d better stick to what I know i.e Soft To The Touch (disco), Old Gold (r&b) rather than venture into “eyerolling deadpan” i.e Erection (postpunk) or God forbid, conceptual stuff (Florida).

It’s like: ‘What’s this black queen thinking? Why won’t she just resort to typified black gay stuff e.g. ballroom culture?’

Though as far as I know, white cismen are constantly celebrated for APPROPRIATING cultures they weren’t born into. It happens ALL THE TIME. And I’m not only referring to top Billboard-charting artists. Even your edgy/avant-garde Wire cover star does it! But I digress…

I have personally no issues w/ cultural appropriation/reinterpretation as long as it’s respectful and available to anyone who’s curious/artistic. As a matter of fact, I’d go as far as encouraging artists from gendered/racialized/sexualized minorities to be more active and to engage in the cross-pollinating activity that is cultural appropriation, instead of being passive/defensive, thus respecting the limits that the White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchal system wants us confined to.

In the review aforementioned, the 'expert’ reinforces White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy by postulating that 'it’s better I stay in my lane’. That is because the White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchal model does not want me to be a complex artist/human in ways other than what it has decided for (insert minority group(s)). White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy will only allow its beneficiaries to walk outside their 'lane’ such as the 'manspreader’ who claims more room than (s)he needs, at the expense of others’ comfort. Should a non-privileged individual dare 'manspreading’ i.e walking outside of their lane, their action will likely be challenged/questioned, in the name of White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy, because W.S.C.P. doesn’t like to be disputed, nor for its beneficiaries to be criticized/called into question.

Of course W.S.C.P. has the power to criticize its own beneficiaries but the parameters upon which the criticism is based are different - insofar as the privileged individual’s work is judged on how it can contribute to the White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy cycle.

In contrast - the non-privileged is best evaluated when it positions itself precisely where White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy sees it. In other words, White Supremacist Capitalist Patriarchy only seeks to perpetuate its cycle of domination by keeping the oppressed under control and in subordinate roles, which, ultimately, serve to validate the purpose (and existence) of the oppressor.

I, personally, will not cheapen my character in order to meet the (passing) wants of today’s cultural decision-makers, nor will I be fooled into thinking that race/gender/class/orientation have nothing to do with how one’s work is received, as if the only thing that mattered is money/profit, yet one will be quick to realize that capitalism - as it stands today - is closely tied with the perpetuation of patriarchal white supremacy.

Rock journalism, in its 'lefty’ capitalistic glory, though it seems to have opened up to 'new’ genres, does not look to break new ground; it only seeks to break 'new’ markets.