The Current State of Our Industry
Today, we mourn the loss of another member of our industry, D’Wayne Wiggins of the group Tony! Toni! Toné! and it weighs heavily on our hearts. As we navigate this difficult time, I want to take a moment to reflect on the current state of our industry and explore how we can uplift one another amidst the challenges we face.
As of late, we have been bombarded with news of deaths, layoffs, downsizing, retirements, and pure gloom and doom in our industry. Even with the consistent recycling of the same people doing the same thing, there is very little progression and more regression. This is evident, but is it true? It depends on how you look at it.
A Shift in Perspective
We could look at Black men and women holding prominent positions in the industry right now—positions that were not available to them 20 years ago. Consider the artists who are selling and attaining their publishing, booking their own tours, and selling their own merchandise directly to consumers. Look at podcasters creating their own versions of a morning show and multiplying their incomes 100-fold compared to what broadcasters with radio corporations make. Know that.. He who has options has the power.
While it may appear that the writing is on the wall for the industry, we have the choice to highlight it or erase it with a fresh coat of paint. You can control that.
Reflecting on the Past
In the 30 years of running this site, I can tell you that none of this is new, including the multiple deaths. We don’t report everything; even now, I don’t want to bring my people down. I want to do my best to lift them up, and where there is a deficit, there is always an area of surplus. I look for the surplus now. I will readily admit that several years ago, I honed in on the deficit, but I don’t anymore.
The Impact of Death
What I can tell you is what I know happens each time one of these news stories breaks: many industry people hit a low for a spell, or maybe even longer, and then whoever that person was who died is almost instantly forgotten about a week later. Life goes on until the next jolt hits us, and then life goes on again.
I’ve seen multiple deaths within a week in the industry over the years, many times. There was a time when it would take a toll on me until I came to understand that death is a part of life. We never know what people are going through or what they’re dealing with until they reach the end, for the most part. We have to respect their need for privacy and understand that they could’ve been on a journey like this for several years. Some people acquiesce to the situation, others keep pushing, and some fight for their lives.
Chadwick Boseman’s Legacy
Chadwick Boseman completed four movies while battling stage 4 colon cancer. (Never let a doctor tell you that you are too young to get a colonoscopy.) He was one of those people who kept pushing; that was the choice he made in his circumstance. Social media made jokes about him saying that he was on drugs until they discovered what he had been dealing with.
Living in the Shadow of Death
While we may not admit it, it is not the deaths that shake us as much as what we are doing to live when others die. There are several things we have to consider. First and foremost, 20 years ago, you were pretty much booted out of the industry by the time you hit 40. Back then, you were considered old and washed up. However, today, people in the industry who are progressive can be well into their 70s, still very much effective, respected, and even sought after. This means it is inevitable that we will see many more deaths because people are in the industry much longer.
But the flip side of that coin is that people are also living much longer. The medical industry is extremely progressive, allowing individuals to continue to be productive and contribute to what they love doing for much longer.
The Importance of Purpose
I have noticed that many of the people who have passed in the industry—without talking about anyone specific—were not active and were often waiting for something that was not coming. I have not only seen it; I have talked to many of them before they passed. They were either retired or had slowed down tremendously; many were depressed because they could not get back in. Again, this is not about any specific person, but at the end of the day, when we get up each day, we have to have purpose and a reason for living. Even if what we used to do is no longer working, we must find something new—something as simple and therapeutic as getting the dog we have always wanted or, of all things, gardening.
Finding Joy in Simple Things
I had an aunt who would always brag about her vegetable garden—her collards, tomatoes, etc. As a kid, I didn’t get it until I bought a house and had a lemon tree in my backyard. I had so many lemons that I would give them to my neighbors in LA, and they would bring things to us from their gardens. It is extremely therapeutic to plant something, nurture it, and see it grow—whether it be vegetables, our kids, a career, money, or a business. Just make sure as much of it as possible belongs to YOU so that you can pass it on. What have you planted FOR YOURSELF? Not for the industry, but for YOU.
Legacy and Reflection
My son recently asked me what I wanted my legacy to be, and I had never given it any thought until that moment. I always want to be remembered as someone who championed for the underdog because for many years I felt like one. However, I was always blessed with so many talents that there was always a balance (deficit/surplus). I never fit into any group of people; people have tried to assign me to groups because that’s the tendency we have in the Black community. But I never fit in anywhere, and that was a blessing because that’s a sign of a leader.
The Question We Must Ask Ourselves
You have to ask yourself: what are you doing to live? How are you spending your time? Are you dedicating too much of it to this industry, which will forget about you within a week? Or are you spending time with your kids, grandkids, family, favorite aunts and uncles, or even treating yourself to the things you enjoy doing? When was the last time you took a road trip, with your family or solo etc.?
How long has it been since you really did something you enjoy? It is so easy to get caught up in the minutiae of working in an industry that we once loved that we eventually forget who we really are, what we really want, and how we really feel. While Life and Death is Inevitable, know that LIVING … is a Choice.
As we navigate the challenges of our industry, let us remember those we’ve lost and honor their legacies by uplifting one another. In the face of adversity, we have the power to create change, support new voices, and find joy in our passions. Let’s commit to living purposefully, celebrating our achievements, and nurturing the seeds we plant for ourselves and future generations. My best