Church ladies get ready to clutch your pearls. Director Angela Gomes, alongside producer Paul Fox, are using stripper culture to influence young people to go to the polls.
“Angela teamed up with Paul Fox, a prop master-turned-producer based out of Atlanta- and it was on,” a statement on the website reads. “The pair recruited a slew of talented filmmakers and dancers, started a GoFundMe called ‘Angela and Paul want black people to vote’, and filmed their message in one day at the end of July, all while fearing the second wave of COVID-19. The entire crew was made up of volunteers who were dedicated to the message and idea of increasing the voter turn-out amongst the black male demographic. We hope that our passionate message becomes your reality when you take your booty to the poll and vote this election cycle.”
In the PSA Get Your Booty To The Poll, well-built exotic dancers can be seen gliding up and down a single pole with a backdrop similar to that used during political candidates’ campaigns. The Atlanta strippers take turns doing monologues about voting while the video cuts to women twerking, dropping, and popping.
Painted words and stickers saying “vote” rest on their derrières. The distraction is so intense that you may have to watch the PSA twice to actually hear what the women are saying. Despite the tactic used, the message is positive.
“Do we get your attention? Good,” says one of the women, who is followed by each dancer contributing to the discourse.
“So you’re really not going to vote? You know there’s more than just a president on a ballot, right? Check it. A district attorney decides who to prosecute, including whether or not to go after dirty cops. Do you know who elects the D.A.? We do. But, you don’t want to vote. Can’t make it rain if you locked up on some bulls—. Want trades and coding taught in our schools? Then, vote for the school boards that will prepare us for the job market. Want to end cash bail? Then, vote for the sheriff’s county officials that feel the same way that you do.”
Of course, the “intellectual thinkers,” activists that have dedicated their lives to social change, and naturally judgmental people will hate this PSA. Similar to the affect of the Joe Biden and Cardi B campaign interview, critics of the PSA are disenchanted with the idea that when some people think of black Americans all they can conceptualize are stereotypes that diminish the black community. It’s frustrating to those who don’t want to be represented by salacious bottom feeder tactics.
You can’t blame black Americans for demanding respect. At least in the U.S., the Asian, Hispanic/Latino, Pacific Islanders and darn near any other category of race or ethnicity have not been so widely subjected to denigration by American society. Don’t believe it? Look at the narratives of black people in the news, across film and television, in music, and over social media. There have been efforts to correct this, but some people just don’t want black people to live their best lives.
Playing devil’s advocate, the PSA is full of black women who willingly participated. Another case in point, Atlanta, a city where stripping is not taboo, is a hub for some of the most popular strip clubs. Plus, there’s a segment of people the PSA is addressing that, otherwise, wouldn’t even be exposed to the rationale behind voting, despite nationwide efforts to increase awareness.
With that said, does the phrase “by any means necessary” apply when strippers are using their ministry to encourage people to vote? I guess that would depend on the results of the tactic and whether black people use their vote this election season.
