Janelle Monae: Nobody's Hidden Figure

Janelle Monae is one of today’s most talented artists, but she spoke her mind while being a celebrity. Chuck Tackett opines.

“People have to start respecting the vagina. Until every man is fighting for our rights, we should consider stopping having sex.”

Janelle Monae
singer/actress/activist

I am utterly confused on a couple of things. The above quote was from an interview in the April issue of “Marie Claire” magazine. Monae along with several other millennial feminist activists was being interviewed. Janelle like Collin Kapernick is an American citizen who has every right to speak their minds on issues like another everyday American citizen. Does her celebrity status make her 2nd Amendment rights null and void? I recognize there are certain folks in this country that feel celebrities’ opinions on social or political matters should not be heard. They feel celebrities should be seen and not heard and just do their job in entertaining us. Let’s not play with each other because that is not going to happen. It shouldn’t even be considered by people who call themselves ‘lovers of freedom” or “followers of The Constitution.” I read Janelle’s quote to myself several times. I am still trying to figure out what is the big deal. Seems to me that there is a certain segment of this country that prefers Monae to be a “hidden figure,” to be seen but not heard.

The second part that confused me about the article written by Erica M. Hart was the title. It was titled “WE HAVE MANY ENEMIES. JANELLE MONAE IS NOT ONE OF THEM” I do not take issue with the article at all. If you are a regular reader of my Chuck’s Chats, you are aware I do not always stick to issues that are LGBT-related. What I take issue with was the title. It was very misleading. When I first read that, my first thought was what anti-LGBT remark did Janelle Monae make? My second thought turned to the late Donna Summer and Beyonce. Both has a very heavy LGBT following. Is Monae being stained with that same reputation? After reading the article, I was not a happy camper. I wonder if Erica M. Hart purposely misled folks with that title to get them to read the article. I felt she did a disservice to Monae and LGBT readers. Janelle, keep speaking your mind on issues of social injustice. Don’t be a “hidden figure” so folks can be comfortable in their misogyny, racism, bigotry, etc…