Black Queen Urges Reggae & Dancehall Artists To Stand Up For People’s Rights
Reggae artist Black Queen is urging her fellow artists to stand with the masses who feel disenfranchised by forced vaccinations and the constant lockdowns in the society.
“I am a woman of courage and strength, I am a black woman with convictions, I have Maroon blood running through me, I am not here for the glory and glitter, I am not about the vanity, everyone is afraid, some are worried about losing vanity and material things, others are worried about their lives, but in this life, the only thing you have in this life is what you stand for, everything else will wither away,” Black Queen said.
She was the only reggae artist who actively participated in the recent United Independent Congress’ short-lived protest in Downtown Kingston last week. The protest resulted in the arrest of its leader politician Joseph Patterson for breaching COVID-19 rules.
“All these artistes are out there pretending to be like Bob Marley. These artistes are all about revolution but when revolution comes, they are quiet like church mice, I didn’t see anyone of them in the streets, they only talk on social media, but they don’t stand up for the peoples’ rights,” she observed.
Last week, Coolie Dance producer Skatta Burrell issued a word of caution to Jamaicans, including local entertainers about egging on their poorer compatriots to engage in street demonstrations when they had no intention to join said protests or even offer bail money.
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Skatta wrote on IG: “If you not going to show up at the Police Station with Bail money and Lawyers to free the People DO NOT ENCOURAGE THEM TO DEFY THE SYSTEM. It’s unfair to encourage poor People to fight your battles and you are not out there on the frontlines putting up resources to aid them when the system claps back.”.
Black Queen criticised reggae and dancehall artists who hid behind their social media handles, and urged them to get actively involved in supporting the promoters who mirror their own beliefs about lockdowns.
“Skatta has a point, it is true that artistes talk on social media but they were not there. I was one of a few if not the only artiste to stand there and voice my beliefs for what I feel and stand on behalf of my people. What Skatta should do is use his platform to do something for poor people. Those artistes who are upset but hiding in the closet, do something, go and pay the fines of people who are protesting so they have our assurance while they defend our rights and defy the system,” she said.
“I am not a member of any party but I am not for mandatory vaccinations and these lockdowns which mash up the economy, they are unhealthy for the society and they don’t work.”
Black Queen is promoting her latest single, ‘Blood Clean’ featuring Utterance which was released on her BQ Entertainment label in August.
Black Queen is known for her critically acclaimed Black and Proud EP which features several standout songs such as the title track, Black N Proud, Thankful, and Nobody Knows My Pain, a tribute to Niko Chromatic who passed away after losing his battle with kidney disease.