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Longtime fans have been hearing about theDrag Racewinner andThe Traitorscontestants self-described obsession with the abolitionist for years.
Ive listened to multiple autobiographies.
I really do think shes a superhero.
John Brown, Harriet Tubman, W.E.B.
Du Bois, Hitler, our current president, the Reagan presidency, Stalin, Bob says.
What happened, and how do you feel about the outcome?
Would you want to live through that time?
It took you four years to finish the book.
When I finished it, he was not the president.
And when the books being published, he is the president again.
Weve gone through quite a litany of political experiences.
Obviously, if we dont learn from the past, were doomed to repeat it.
But unfortunately, sometimes you learn from the past and you still repeat it.
Darnell says that resonates with him even more, being both Black and queer.
I dont remember her name, but I will never forget this day.
And she goes, I dont want to.
I dont want to fight, and I want to reap all the benefits.
And some of the other ladies in there were like, You know what?
Everyone cant take it to the streets.
Thats not everyones path in life.Ima loudmouth.
Im in the streets.
But if you dont want to go there, Im still fighting for you, too.
When I got arrested for marriage equality, I wasnt like, And gay Republicans dont get it!
I hate to say it, but you are even if Caitlyn Jenner is fighting the opposite fight.
You did a focus group for this book with your Patreon.
Its not a roast of Harriet Tubman; its an honoring of Harriet Tubman.
So it actually changed the entire structure.
Originally, the play was going to just be that youre at a concert with Harriet Tubman.
It could change again, but right now, its more about the writing of the album.
So thinkMa Raineys Black Bottomand lessHedwig and the Angry Inch.
Clearly, Im Darnell.
Im too embarrassed to say out loud who else I want!
Theyre probably too famous.
Maybe once we pick up some steam and then Im a New YorkTimesbest seller.
Maybe I get a Pulitzer!
I probably wont get a Pulitzer.
But what if I did?
I mean, I have a Peabody; I can get a Pulitzer.
Then maybe Ill feel brave enough to say out loud who I want to do it.
Well, youve already thrown at least one name out there.
Wait, did I say that out loud?
Where did you hear that?
I was watching one of your Lives.ImagineDoechii as Harriet Tubman.
Im being so honest.
When people hear it, I hope they love it as much as Im proud of it.
Yeah, people were using that phrase to criticize her.
I wondered how you felt about all of that, as someone who is Actually writing Harriet Tubman music.
Exactly.Yeah, I was like, whats wrong with Harriet Tubman music?
Mydreamis to make Harriet Tubman music.
And when it is, I cant wait to release my Harriet Tubman music to the world.
In the book, Darnell has his own assumptions about how Harriets music would sound.
I was talking to them and simultaneously embarrassed because a week ago, I was telling dick-sucking jokes.
And here I am sitting with civil-rights activists who were actively fighting.
Im directly impacted by their bravery and their heroism.
But they fought so that Icouldtell my dick-sucking jokes, you know what I mean?
How did you approach coming up with Harriets speaking and performing voice?Harriets voice has been sanitized.
Famously, Aint I a woman?
The truth is we dont know what Harriet Tubman said because she never wrote it down herself.
It was all secondhand.
I just wanted to be able to humanize her as much as possible.
Was recording the audiobook emotional for you?Oh my God, it was.
I had to go back and redo it.
You were starting to do book promo as your season ofThe Traitorsaired.
Whats it like to have these very different types of content overlap?Its really exciting.
I was only in four episodes.
Its a show that really just gets yousoemotional,sofired up.
Theyre so different.Drag Racerequires a lot more tangible talent.
You dont think theres a little bit of that onDrag Racesometimes?OnAll-Stars, maybe.
But on my season, I was able to do it with just raw talent.
This interview is coming out closer to theseason-17finale.
Whats your message to the nextDrag Racewinner?Listen, girl.
There are so many of us.
You have to carve a path for yourself.
Thats why I didnt write a book about myself, because I would never read that book.
Create content thatyouwould wanna enjoy.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
