…men are cigarettes: dangerous, and poisonous, and stupid…
Really? Here is how hip-hop artist Guante responded to the 2010 Miller Lite beer commercial series “Man up” that called customers’ masculinity into question. Miller Lite was telling beer drinkers they weren’t worthy of their beer because they behaved/appeared/dressed outside the norm.
(Man up-Guante’s answer to the 2010 Miller Lite commercials)
I include this video in this blog because I think it is important to not let the world of media and commercials dictate who you are and how you are supposed to be. It is ours to decide day by day who we want to be and what that looks like and feels like.
Thank you Guante for taking an artistic stand in this discussion and sharing your personal ideas on liberated masculinity with many others.
Read Guante’s personal statement and find the text to his poetry at http://www.guante.info/2012/02/10-responses-to-phrase-man-up-spoken.html
If you are curious to see what he responded to, google “Miller Lite “Man Up” | Purse or carry-all? (2010)”
GUANTE is a hip hop artist, two-time National Poetry Slam champion, social justice activist, educator and writer. He and/or his work has appeared on Upworthy, MSNBC, Racialicious, Feministing, MPR, the Progressive, City Pages’ “Artists of the Year” list and URB Magazine’s “Next 1000” list. He’s shared bills with Talib Kweli, Saul Williams, Brother Ali, Dead Prez, Sage Francis, Andrea Gibson, Doomtree, Zion I and more. Guante also founded the MN Activist Project and Hip Hop Against Homophobia concert series, writes articles at Opine Season and elsewhere, and facilitates writing/performance workshops for youth.(www.guante.info)
Photo credit: © Jon Behm
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