A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance

Abdurraqib describes his internal conflict over choosing to continue going to a barber who expresses anti-gay biases. Because of the complicated relationship between a Black man and his hair, the trust Abdurraqib feels for this barber is indispensable to his sense of self-worth. Yet refraining from calling the barber out results in clenched fists and a tense jaw.

Abdurraqib considers the effects of beefs, slang for fighting and feuds. Some beefs are over territory—these result in deaths. Others are over the difficulties of romance—these are the ones that Abdurraqib experiences most often.

Dance can become a part of romantic beef. When singers James Brown and Joe Tex performed at the Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater, emcee and tap dancer named Sandman Sims functioned as an “Executioner,” pulling poor performers off the stage. A former boxer, Sandman had won Amateur Night 25 times, inspiring a new rule that limited performers to four wins. After Joe Tex won four times, often using his signature mic stand move, James Brown stole this move and one of Tex’s songs. Brown’s career exploded, while Tex’s did not.

A violent scene in the film New Jack City is an example of winning at all costs. In it, during a wedding, the movie’s kingpin character uses a young girl as a human shield; he survives the fight despite the massive collateral damage.