I am remembering APARTHEID and the SUN CITY controversy.
The 1980s. The Rock Stars back THEN had more integrity than most Christian ministers do NOW. 🤔
APARTHEID definition
(in South Africa) a policy or system of segregation or discrimination on grounds of race.
SUN CITY
"Sun City was developed by the hotel magnate Sol Kerzner as part of his Sun International group of properties.
It could provide entertainment such as gambling and topless revue shows, which were banned in South Africa.
The United Nations had imposed a cultural boycott on South Africa and Sun City in condemnation of its ( PRO) apartheid practices. To overcome this, Kerzner offered substantial financial incentives to performing artists to use Sun City as a venue. Several acts disregarded the boycott and performed at the venue, such as The Beach Boys, Linda Ronstadt, Cher, Millie Jackson, Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra, Shirley Bassy, Olivia Newton-John, Dolly Parton, Neil Sedaka, Paul Anka, Status Quo, Rod Stewart and Elton John.
British rock band Queen's series of performances at the venue in October 1984 in transgression of the boycott caused considerable controversy, prompting criticism in the British music press, a fine from the Musicians' Union and their inclusion on the United Nations' blacklisted artists.
In 1985, E Street Band guitarist Steven Van Zandt made the venue the focus of his music-industry activist group "Artists United Against Apartheid". Forty-nine top recording artists collaborated on a song called "Sun City" in which they pledged they would not perform at the resort because of their opposition to apartheid."
Did these Artists rip things down or become violent mobs? NO! They hit 'em where it hurt. Their WALLETS❗️💰
You want to change things? Then remember we VOTE WITH OUR MONEY! Actively support things you believe in and don't support the things that are wrong AND send a letter/message to those involved to let them know what you are doing ... and just watch the Fur Fly. 😲🤨🤨🤨🤨
An odd but interesting Flashback as I look at what a Protest song looked like in the 1980s and bring you...
The Truth with Love,
Always Laura-Lee
LINK Martin Luther King Jr. Acceptance Speech for Nobel PEACE Prize
You younger people might not recognize who those Artists are now but Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, U2, Pat Benetar, Bruce Springsteen, Darryl Hall & John Oats, RUN DMC, etc, we're the BIGGEST Rock Stars there were at the time. Sun City went under until Apartheid was abolished in the early 1990s.
#DiscerningPopCulture101 #1980s
