Renaissance or Revolution: What Are We Really Building at BET Weekend?
By 19Keys
Are we in the middle of a renaissance—a cultural rebirth that amplifies what we love—or a revolution, a necessary disruption to destroy what no longer serves us?
That was the question echoing in my mind during BET Weekend, surrounded by flashing lights, red carpets, and curated celebrations of Black excellence. But beneath the glitz was a deeper tension—one that revealed itself in a private sit-down I had with the CEO of BET, a Black man. I asked him directly:
“Does it matter that BET is now Black-owned again?”
His answer: “No, not really. What matters is the internal structure and the people behind the scenes.”
I disagreed. Wholeheartedly.
Ownership is structure. Culture flows from control. Power without ownership is theater. You can’t claim to shift narratives if the hands behind the camera still belong to someone else.
Since that conversation, they haven’t asked me back to BET.
But that’s not the story. The story is what’s underneath: we’re surrounded by indicators of radical times—Christian nationalism rising, white supremacist agendas embedding themselves in policy, and culture becoming a battleground. Yet somehow, we’re still performing normalcy. We’re still clapping at award shows instead of clapping back with systems. We’re still building brand partnerships, not parallel economies.
So what are we doing?
Because in radical times, radical minds must lead.
I had another conversation with a respected Black media professional. They said, “Keys, we love you, we support you, we believe in you… but we can’t publicly stand with you. You’re not safe enough.”
I asked, “What the hell does safe mean?”
That’s when it hit me. What’s more dangerous in 2025—white supremacy or the silent compliance of the Black Boule? The gatekeepers who say they love the people, but fear disruption more than oppression?
If these are indeed revolutionary times, why aren’t we doing revolutionary things?
Are we waiting for permission?
Because if we love the culture the way it is, then yes—we need a renaissance to multiply it. But if we know the culture is fractured, co-opted, and diluted, then we need a revolution to renew it.
Let me be clear:
Our movies need a revolution in narrative.
Our music needs a renaissance in frequency.
Our institutions need both—a revolt and a reimagination.
We cannot keep mistaking visibility for power.
Being seen on screens doesn’t mean we own the means. Being celebrated at BET doesn’t mean we are free. And while we dance and toast and cheer at these gatherings, the systems around us are hardcoding our erasure—legally, politically, economically, spiritually.
So I ask again:
Are we in a renaissance, or are we in a revolution?
And most importantly—what are you building?
Because to save yourself is to build systems that save others.
Not wait for the industry to validate you.
Not hope the system reforms itself.
Not ask if you’re “safe enough.”
It means owning your voice.
Creating your economy.
Backing radical minds.
And aligning with vision over vanity.
This isn’t a rant. It’s a high-level reminder:
You’re either engineering the future…
Or you’re just enjoying the illusion.
Renaissance or revolution.
Pick one. Build accordingly.
— 19Keys