(Of course Ali & Stone were both generationally-talented communicators, but) there is such a stark difference between the sincerity and honesty with which difficult questions - race, reparations for slavery, etc - are being approached by those present in this clip, and more generally in popular media from previous decades, compared to the mode in which these discussions are had in pop culture today.

It feels refreshing and invigorating to watch people state their sincere opinions on a topic, very plainly, then debate them with those who have plainly stated oppositional viewpoints. It’s also actually engaging, and entertaining, whereas contemporary broadcast discussion of politics makes me want to scoop my eyeballs out with teaspoons from boredom alone, let alone the frustration of watching intelligent people very carefully avoid saying anything of substance which might be interpretable as an opinion.

I don’t think it’s survivorship bias due to preserved clips being particularly engaging, because the general public hasn’t lost this mode of communication. In most places I go, people don’t mince words or obfuscate their positions in the way people in broadcast media choose to. Real people seem disagree quite happily.

So it’s almost uncanny seeing such sincere expression on camera!

I’m not sure what happened - whether it was the branding of ‘speaking out’ as ‘courageous’ which led to public figures fearing sincere communication (as if it is something to fear!) - but I do feel that we’ve lost something.

And of course we have lost one of the great composers and bandleaders of the last century in Sly Stone. It would be very difficult to overstate the influence of his compositions and style on contemporary music. A true genius, and, like Ali, a true innovator within his chosen form.

RIP!