SOMETHING TO WATCH:

Why the Elite Want to Control Our Culture | Vic Mensa, Van Lathan, Angelica Ross & Conscious Lee

What happens when the elite try to buy off movements through the culture we consume? In this second powerful panel held on April 4th at Cal State LA , visionary artists and thinkers dismantle the systems controlling our collective imagination. It is time to reclaim our stories and understand the true power of the art we create and support. Welcome to the Unity Uprising: Black Radical Tradition & Collective Liberation, hosted by Dr. Butch Ware and Dr. Melina Abdullah. Join moderator Rolla Selbak alongside Angelica Ross, Van Lathan, Vic Mensa, and George Lee (Conscious Lee) for a deep dive into how art serves as the ultimate tool for both oppression and liberation. This conversation explores why the parasite class is so desperate to control cultural narratives and how we can resist that control by refusing to sell our souls. From the commodification of black culture to the necessity of radical imagination, the panelists challenge us to see art as an inherently political force that translates the human experience across borders. The discussion also touches on the digital renaissance, the importance of queer and trans inclusivity in the fight for freedom, and why we must redefine what it means to be a celebrity. By viewing our attention as currency, we can begin to shift the spotlight away from those who uphold the status quo and toward those who imagine a truly liberated future. This is a call to artists and creators everywhere to use their gifts to connect global struggles with local action and to never compromise their integrity for fame.