Inspiration Interpretation: "Saint" by Blood Orange

As victims of restrictive cultural tradition, black youth are subject to an internal battle with a version of themselves acceptable for general society, a version acceptable for their loved ones, and then a version acceptable for themselves. Devonté Hynes speaks to this dilemma whether it was his intention or not with his single "Saint", the second track on his newest body of work Negro Swan, echoing a pep talk marginalized people have with themselves more often than not.

In this narrative it's as if at one point the subject was at their best, living for more and taking pride in the "skin's flag that shines for us all", but somewhere along the way, they lost their sainthood because they let the norm and its judgments affect them negatively. What's true for the bulk of us is that we have to muster a saint-like strength to endure opposition whether it's for skin color, sexual orientation, gender, or age. However, this tune reminds us that we've got to see ourselves live for more, and we've indeed said it before whether it was our ancestors as black people, political champions as queer/trans people, and radicals as any other marginalized group.

Similarly, the visual shows queer, trans, and a few "others" taking time off, to relax, and return to their sainthood. As a reminder to "relax, relate, release", Hynes positions the other as the norm, and society as the other, negatively affecting the subjective norm these people have established which makes an interesting point about fame and representation as the public views it. We expect so much from the immediately visible champions of black excellence and queer/trans sovereignty, we disregard how society effects them as well, but on a large stage. Their sanctity is not contingent on oppression itself, but rather their ability to endure, without harmful results.