An (early) May Brain Declutter
After a week of traveling from work, I find myself too overstimulated and out of focus to write cohesively about much of anything. Therefore, it’s time for yet another brain declutter. At this rate, these may replace my “What Whitney Wants To Say” series all together. Let’s hope not because I am only ten months into my time here on Substack and I don’t want to throw too much at you over a short amount of time. Plus I admittedly do not have enough features to justify doing away with one (it’s good to be honest with yourself). Anyway let’s throw some thoughts out, shall we?
Happy Met Gala Monday!
It’s time for our annual fashion extravaganza hosted by our gracious President Snow and the capitol. This year, you can expect to see the theme “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” woefully misinterpreted by many a stylist except Law Roach who will inevitably eat. This year will be special in that Stray Kids will be attending as a group and some poor team will be tasked with making 8 different men look cohesive and distinct all at once. Good luck to them honestly. However, it is getting increasingly more difficult to enjoy all the pomp and circumstance of such a fluffy event in the midst of a horrifying land invasion of Rafah. So I’ve included this TikTok by creator @fairykingb about how the theme of bringing new eyes to pieces that have been hidden away stands in stark contrast with the Met’s erasure of their Palestinian pieces.
Culture Vultures to the Back, Immediately!
As a long time Kendrick Lamar fan and an even longer Drake hater, this week has been so rewarding. It’s good to know that I’m not crazy and that people have noticed Drake’s shameless co-opting of various black cultures for his own, selfish benefit. For context, I started hating Drake during the Hotline Bling era because I watched him steal D.R.A.M.’s style and song from right under him, make it into a lifeless yet easily digestible product, and then move on, leaving him nowhere to go as an artist. I also watched him spinelessly deny any fault while continuing to do the same to others and it always left a bad taste in my mouth. Then of course, Drake decided to become the Witch King of the Incels and it was really downhill from there. Since then, any news regarding him has been met with a strong eyeroll from me. Apparently the same can be said for Kendrick Lamar as he proceeded to go viral humiliating Drake on “Euphoria”, haunting his nightmares on “Meet the Grahams”, and dropping direct allegations disguised as a summer club banger on “They Not Like Us” with a speed and ferocity that had me forgetting that Drake was even “responding”. Seriously the majority of releases came out in the span of 3 days. I’m not sure why but it feels like a win for the people.
The Students Need Us
The students are speaking up countrywide and the least we can do is speak up in support of them. Their courage shames our inaction, mine included. If you went to a university in the U.S. specifically, find a way to reach out to student activists. Share their posts. Give money. Write to your alma matter in support of the students. They are being brutalized needlessly and we can help put a stop to it.
I Got to Eat like the Rich and Now I’m Sad
This past week I had the opportunity to go to a fancy restaurant and order whatever I wanted without worrying about paying for it. Naturally, I ordered some Wagyu just to see what all the fuss was about. It was quietly the best thing I have ever had. I never knew meat could taste like that. I couldn’t believe how delicious it was and then I felt a pang of guilt. There’s no reason it should be that expensive ($132 WITHOUT any sides). The price didn’t equal the presentation (which was essentially a steak cooked as steaks are cooked with a simple sauce for dipping) it was entirely based on the fact that rich people enjoy it and have made it artificially difficult to come by. So much so that most people will never get to eat this in their lives. I genuinely despise that and in tandem with the glaring woman that made my dinner so uncomfortable, while the meal was delicious, the dining experience was lackluster.
True Crime Brain Rot
The urge to achieve justice for someone who has been seemingly ignored by the system is normal and natural. However, people coming out of the woodwork to sensationalize a case for content and speculate on the inner workings of a now-deceased woman’s life is never okay. Mica Miller being turned into a story that people anxiously wait to see on 20/20 is disheartening to see. She was a person. This may seem out of left field but due to the nature of algorithms I’ve seen a lot of this today. I hope her memory can be appropriately honored going forward.
Have anything you want to weigh in on? Comment below: