THE BLACK MADONNA ISSUES STATEMENT REGARDING AMAZON-BACKED FESTIVAL
I
will not be performing at Intersect Festival due to their relationship
with Amazon Web Services who have business ties with ICE and Homeland
Security.
The
event proposed to me initially was framed as and arts and technology
weekender with other artists I deeply respected and with well known and
respected production teams. It presented no cause for concern. I was not
approached by employees of Amazon. I was never formally or informally
advised of any Amazon branding. The offer I accepted did not propose any
kind of brand partnership. I am profoundly disappointed that anyone, at
any level, in the long chain of people between the offer I saw and the
eventual promotion of this event presumed I would. My contract
intentionally prohibits that my name or likeness be connected in any way
with any form of sponsorship endorsement of any kind including but not
limited to commercial and/or political endorsements, without the prior
written agreement of myself.
Clearly,
I was shocked and hurt when press and promotional materials appeared
with my name on an event presented by AWS yesterday. Many of you
expressed your disappointment too and you were right to do so. I share
it completely and amplify it.
This
issue is not just ideological for me, it is a moral and ethical
transgression against my work, my faith and most importantly the people I
stand with. As a global ambassador for the Help Refugees organization, I
raise awareness and donate 100% of my merchandise sales to refugee
assistance and personally provide grants to undocumented families
fleeing persecution in their home countries.
I
am in total solidarity with the demonstrators, workers, other tech
laborers, and immigrants and all people of conscience in calling for and
end to corporate digital collaboration with US Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security.
In
our personal and professional lives we all navigate contradictions and
unclear lines in a world that makes it very hard to do the right thing.
This is especially true in the arts, where independent workers often
depend on relationships with brands to pay the bills. I am in a position
to say that I will not agree to perform at an AWS branded event. I know
that position isn't an option for all artists. Respect to all of you,
in any case.
I
was looking forward to the show and I am sorry that I won't be able to
be with all of you for this one. But we will meet again on a dancefloor
soon. And in the meanwhile I encourage each one of you reading this to
visit the following organizations and learn more about how you can help
people living without documents and seeking asylum and human rights
around the world.
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