John Legend torn on artists speaking out about politics
John Legend often hears the same question from reporters. And he’s taken to Twitter to discuss the question in detail. The question is whether or not artists should speak out about politics. His answer: “ummmmmm not necessarily.” Here’s the full tweet that launched the discussion: “Reporters always ask me if more artists should speak out about politics. I always say ummmmmm not necessarily,” Legend tweeted. Yes, Legend says that’s it’s OK to not speak out. If an artist would rather just make music — well, that’s perfectly fine too. “It ain’t for everybody. If you’re more comfortable just making bops, do that. We need that in our lives too!” Legend tweets. But Legend also has some advice for those who plan to speak out. “If you are going to speak out, try to do your homework. Read about it. Talk to activists and organizers and people impacted. Be open to evolution and changing your mind. Be intentional and strategic. And think about the impact of your words on the real lives of real people,” he tweets. Then — speaking out on politics himself — Legend steered the conversation toward the upcoming election. “Part of an artist’s job is to imagine a different future. I appreciate the desire to break free from the strictures of the two-party system in America, for instance. But you can’t divorce that conversation from the real world implications of rooting for a futile third party bid,” he tweeted. “And the real world implications of electing (or reelecting) someone who doesn’t know how to run the government are particularly urgent and impactful in the middle of a pandemic that’s been so much more deadly due to an incompetent President,” he tweeted. He concluded the string of tweets with a warning: “This is not merely an intellectual exercise. It’s life and death,” he tweeted. Legend is among the entertainers who has joined Black Artists for Freedom, which promotes Black Lives Matter issues as well as seeks to promote more diversity in hiring and salaries in Hollywood.