Insensitive Lyrics Are Only Part of the Problem for This Black, Disabled Activist

The world has been captivated by Beyoncé’s 7th studio album RENAISSANCE ever since it dropped nearly two weeks ago. And while many have relished in the excitement of the new era Beyoncé has ushered in, it hasn’t been without some controversy.

Amidst a crediting conflict primarily between artist Kelis and music producer Pharrell, another issue arose. Some disability advocates took issue with a song lyric containing the word 'spaz' in the track “Heated.”  It’s a word rooted in the word spastic, a medical term often used to describe those who suffer from disabilities involving muscle spasms. Beyoncé’s not the only artist who has received criticism for the use of the term. In June, Lizzo also received similar backlash after including the word in the lyrics to the song "Grrrls." In response both artists removed the word from their lyrics.

Writing this month for OkayPlayer, Clementine Williams noted that the term has often been used by Black artists to mean “going wild,” and that the initial call outs on the Beyoncé and Lizzo lyrics were largely made by white disability activists. However, the double meaning and history of its use in African American Vernacular English does not negate the harm the term can cause for the disabled community. Instead, moments such as these have helped create dialogue around what accountability can look like in the music industry, and even drawn the conversation to the growing movement and consciousness around disability.

But for Black disabled writer, poet, activist, and scholar Leroy Moore Jr., he couldn't help but notice a critical voice missing from the conversation: Black disabled artists.

Leroy was born with cerebral palsy and has dedicated much of his writing and activism to disability rights. He co-founded Krip-Hop Nation, a movement that uses hip-hop as a means of expression for people with disabilities and this movement has grown to different parts of the world including parts of Africa and Europe. He is also a doctoral student in linguistic anthropology at UCLA, and he writes and delivers lectures and performances that reflect the intersections between racism and ableism, in the United States and abroad. 

Leroy joined The Takeaway to give us his take on the situation. He addressed the problematic nature of both policing Black language while erasing Black disabled voices, shining a light on the ways Krip-Hop Nation is working to make this change.