Taste of Country has pointed out to a deeply symbolic and interesting Instagram post by a country music fan Rachel Berry, who asked "Before you buy tickets to a show, have you ever looked up the name of the town/city and then 'racism'? I have". The 28-year-old New Jersey resident added "there have been a few shows that I have had to pass on because the first 2 or 3 links that popped up were about acts of racism that have happened there".
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**not sure who will actually read this but figured I’d give my viewpoint on what’s going on in the world & hopefully open up some eyes on what goes on in the mind of a country music fan who’s in the minority* This girl loves country music and she loves going to country music concerts. However, I would be lying if I said that she has never felt uncomfortable when she’s at one. When I hear a song that moves me and makes me want to stand up (which is often if you know me), I’ve realized that I unconsciously think quickly in my head, moments before I stand up, “what if someone yells a racial slur at me?” Hearing “SIT DOWN” is very common for my friends and I but what if someone were to throw in an extra word at the end, just for me? Before you buy tickets to a show, have you ever looked up the name of the town/city and then “racism”? I have. There have been a few shows that I have had to pass on because the first 2 or 3 links that popped up were about acts of racism that have happened there. I’ve also had to plan out stops on long road trips. There’s a possibility that getting out of my car and walking into a gas station or rest stop where I’m not welcome could end badly. Festivals and fairs are also touchy. I love them. A great music lineup, being with friends, the food & drinks, the amusement rides and the games ... what more could you ask for? But I have felt uneasy walking through a crowd of tailgaters and seeing Confederate flags flying high from their trucks. I find myself almost wishing I was invisible so I could walk through the crowd without being seen or noticed. I don’t say all of this for sympathy because it is what it is and everyday I’m still working on how to become comfortable in my own skin. But all I ask from not only the country music community, but every human being on this Earth, is that if you see or hear something that is wrong, speak up. Call people out on it. Don’t just ignore it, look away or laugh. Educate yourselves, your children & your families. For change to happen, we ALL have to be more vocal. We ALL have to stand together and stand up for what’s right. We all bleed red. There should be no racial divide. Period. #blackouttuesday
A post shared by Rachel (@rberry313) on Jun 2, 2020 at 11:09am PDT
