Journalists and pundits warned years ago that politics and entertainment were slowly merging. That melding seems to now be complete. Even before actor Ronald Reagan first ran for political office there were entertainers in politics. Some ran for office, some endorsed candidates, some simply gave financial support. But the warning was not just about those who participated it extended to how politics was conducted and conceived.
Last night when Kid Rock performed and Hulk Hogan spoke at the Republican National Convention, the transformation was complete. Of course the presence of Donald Trump further strengthens the notion that politics has become entertainment. Ratings, ratings, ratings.
Surprised? No, this seems like a natural progression in our culture. Perception becomes reality. Image is everything. You get what you pay for.
What struck me this past week, with the assassination attempt on Trump, was the image of a defiant candidate mouthing "fight, fight, fight" and brandishing a clenched fist. The same clenched fist image first brought to the public eye by the Black Panther Party. Ironic? Absolutely. Cultural appropriation? Of course. It should not be lost how the media and larger culture reacts, or does not react to this blatant theft. I think of John Carlos and Tommie Smith who got nothing but grief for striking that pose. Now with a Presidential candidate's unabashed use of the symbol, the hypocrisy shines anew, brighter than ever.
Someday, somewhere, somebody will see an image of the clenched fist and realize where it first appeared. It could be a black and white photo of a Black Panther Party rally, or the more familiar and controversial full color photo from the 1968 Olympics. They'll probably think they have discovered something worthy of attention. Just as some youngsters think Mick Jagger created the blues, or Elvis Presley first recorded Hound Dog, they'd realize that cultural appropriation has deep roots that make some things taboo for some and patriotic for others.
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