Country-roots duo War & Treaty recently spoke out about a disturbing incident that occurred in their dressing room at a music festival. The couple, made up of Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Blount-Trotter, were shocked to find a cotton plant in their dressing room, a symbol that holds a deep and painful history for Black Americans.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, the duo discussed the incident and how it made them feel as one of the few artists of color at the festival. Tanya expressed her disbelief, stating, “It just shouldn’t happen. It’s 2021, and we’re still dealing with this kind of ignorance and insensitivity.”
The couple, who have been vocal about their experiences with racism in the music industry, were taken aback by the presence of the cotton plant. Michael shared, “It was a slap in the face. We’re here to perform and share our music, and then we see this symbol that represents such a dark and painful history for our people.”
The cotton plant, often associated with slavery and the exploitation of Black labor, is a reminder of the systemic racism and oppression that still exists in our society. For War & Treaty, finding it in their dressing room was a stark reminder that there is still much work to be done in the fight against racism.
The duo also expressed their disappointment in the festival organizers for not taking proper measures to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all artists. Tanya stated, “It’s not just about us, it’s about all the other artists of color who were also performing at the festival. This kind of ignorance and insensitivity should not be tolerated.”
War & Treaty’s experience serves as a reminder that even in the music industry, where diversity and inclusivity are often celebrated, there is still a long way to go in creating a truly equal and welcoming space for all artists.
In response to the incident, the festival organizers issued a statement apologizing for the incident and promising to do better in the future. However, War & Treaty hope that this incident will spark important conversations and lead to real change in the industry.
As Michael put it, “We can’t just sweep these things under the rug and pretend they didn’t happen. We need to have uncomfortable conversations and address these issues head on if we want to see real progress.”
