the pure artist

 

Why do we feel the need to separate the artist from his or her beliefs? 

Is their talent more pure when disengaged from Life? 

I admire Paul Robeson because of his great talents and because of his humanity.  Robeson understood that he had great ability to rise above his People.  Certainly not a First Class Citizen back in those days, but better than most People of Color.  Maybe he could not stay in certain hotels, or eat in certain restaurants, or hobnob with white ladies, but he was far more affluent than 99% of Blacks.  Still, he stood up for his people and spoke out against the oppressive acts of his government toward them. 

What a lesson for us blind people!  We too have lived under the boot of oppression.  Certainly not as violent.  We have not had our members hunted down and hanged, or brutally beaten.  But the end result is not undifferent.  We have been cowed into accepting a lower status in this great land of opportunity.  We had it pounded into our heads that we were inferior and needed the protection and kindness of our keepers.  Many of us accepted this and even believed it to be true. 

Yet, even as we have come to a time and a place where we are beginning to raise our faces to the sun and to square our shoulders and to say, "Yes, we can!", we remain timid and fearful.  Where are our bold blind leaders?  I mean those blind men and women whose talents have lifted them above the blind community and stood them, almost equal, in wealth and fame.  Their numbers are too few and they seem to run from their people and try to pass, rather than to speak out against the thoughtless treatment laid upon us by our government. 

Are the talented blind people who succeed so eager to be accepted by the sighted world that they turn on the rest of us?  Or do they really believe that they are better than others of their kind?  Are they afraid that speaking out might only result in their heads being shoved back into the mire? 

I would be much prouder of a Stevie Wonder who not only shared his great talents but stood tall and spoke up on behalf of all blind people. 

We sure could use a few good Paul Robeson's. 

 

Curious Carl