Groupmuse and Black Lives

What is Right Action, now, in George Floyd’s world?

The answer is different for everyone and we are so inspired to see the courage on display from coast to coast as folks stand up and demand better.

We’re horrified and heartbroken over George Floyd’s murder. Our immediate, collective answer is asking more questions:

Do we continue humbly serving our community of musicians and ’musers in a frightening time — providing solace, substance and support for those who need relief and connection? Do we pause daily operations and hit the streets? What do groupmuse livestreams even look like when there is so much that hangs in the balance?

What we know is that we want to hold space for musical ritual safely, inclusively, and in solidarity with everyone who makes our world more beautiful and just.

We work hard to do our part to transform and heal a society devastated by unaccountable power that sees racism as one of its most hideous and violent manifestations. But as a mostly white organization stewarding a mostly white community, in celebration of an overwhelmingly white art form, we don’t know if we’re the ones to move forward a long overdue reckoning with the exclusionary legacy of Western classical music. And yet, silence — in the face of the burning, the yearning, and the learning — is just not an option.

So, at the present moment, we’re here to do what groupmusers do so well: to listen.

We’ll be having conversations in the weeks and months to come about how to manifest Right Action in these times — conversations hopefully led by the people of color in our community, both musicians of color and classical music lovers of color. If you feel inspired to take up that leadership, please reach out to team@groupmuse.com.

Everything is on the table as we consider how Groupmuse needs to change in George Floyd’s world — our mission statement, how proceeds collected are distributed, what we consider “The Canon,” and on.

But again, we don’t think these are decisions that we, as a mostly white team, should make hastily. We’d love to hear from the people of color in and adjacent to our community if you want to share your thoughts and dreams. And we’re unconditionally here for you if you don’t.

To be clear: It’s not anyone’s job to educate us — that is our own work to do. But we’re committed to making the space for community members who have lived experience in these weighty matters. If we acted first without soliciting input from our community members of color, we feel it would be an act of false saviorism, and hardly anything more.

Evolving Groupmuse needs to be in response to what concerned community members feel, not what we think they feel. It’s possible no one will take up this call, but it’s our work to make the space in a reciprocal way.

We’re not here to make glib statements on social media and then pat ourselves on the back for paying lip service. We’re here for transformational change. That doesn’t mean acting impetuously and reactively. For our team, it means stepping back, listening, and then stepping up. So stay tuned for what’s next.

Black lives matter. Humans are more important than property. Stay safe out there.

With love and respect for the memory of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and so, so many more.

-The Groupmuse Team