You may have thought Lenny Kravitz’ #PenisGate would be the most humbling moment of the week but that was before Macklemore released his new song Growing Up. In it he references Langston Hughes, A Raisin In The Sun but Langston didn’t write it, Lorraine Hansberry did. This may not be the biggest faux pas to you but it’s the principal.
Firstly, wouldn’t you know who wrote it if you did read it? Wouldn’t you check? Especially out of respect given the sensitivity of cultural appropriation vs cultural appreciation?
I’m embarrassed to admit I haven’t read it, I didn’t know who wrote it, I make mistakes and humiliate myself constantly…but I’d rather have my pants split on stage for all the world to see than pretend to be something I’m not…especially in a song everyone is going to hear.
Listen to the song and talk amongst yourselves.
Ps – I do love the cover art, mainly because when you first see it you can’t tell who has the bigger hand and I want to believe the baby is wearing those rings.
