"Racist, Sexist Boy" | ||||
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Single by the Linda Lindas | ||||
Released | May 27, 2021 | |||
Recorded | May 4, 2021 | |||
Venue | Los Angeles Public Library | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:05 | |||
Label | Epitaph | |||
Songwriter(s) | Mila de la Garza · Eloise Wong | |||
Producer(s) | Carlos de la Garza | |||
The Linda Lindas singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Racist, Sexist Boy" (Live at LA Public Library) on YouTube |
"Racist, Sexist Boy" | |
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Song by the Linda Lindas | |
from the album Growing Up | |
Released | April 8, 2022 |
Studio | Music Friends, Los Angeles |
Genre | |
Length | 1:49 |
Label | Epitaph |
Songwriter(s) | Mila de la Garza · Eloise Wong |
Producer(s) | Carlos de la Garza |
"Racist, Sexist Boy", originally "Idiotic Boy", is an anti-racist song [1] by American rock band the Linda Lindas. It is the final track from the band's debut album, Growing Up (2022), released on Epitaph Records. The song is about an experience Mila de la Garza, the band's drummer, had when a schoolmate made a racist comment at the beginning COVID-19 pandemic. Mila, along with the band's bassist Eloise Wong, wrote the song during a Zoom call.
A performance of the song at the Los Angeles Public Library gained media attention after a video was posted online. Multiple musicians praised the performance, including Tom Morello, Flea, Thurston Moore, Kathleen Hanna, and Kid Cudi. The Linda Lindas soon signed with Epitaph Records, though a deal had been in progress before the video went viral.
In March 2020, near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mila de la Garza, the band's drummer, had what she described as her first experience of racism. She had an encounter with a boy at school who backed away from her upon discovering she was Chinese; he had been told by his father to stay away from Chinese people. [2] [3] Mila subsequently met with Eloise Wong, the band's bassist, on a five-hour Zoom call, during which they wrote "Racist, Sexist Boy". [4]
The song was originally titled "Idiotic Boy", however, the band subsequently learned about ableism and opted for a different message. [2] [5]
On May 4, 2021, the Linda Lindas played at the Los Angeles Public Library for an AAPI Heritage Month celebration, during which they played "Racist, Sexist Boy". [6] The library soon posted a video of the performance. [7] The video became a viral social media hit, earning praise from Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello, Red Hot Chili Peppers's Flea, [7] Thurston Moore, [8] Bikini Kill's Kathleen Hanna, [3] Kid Cudi, [9] and author Viet Thanh Nguyen, who said, "'Racist, Sexist Boy' is the song we need now". [3] On May 22, Epitaph Records announced that it had signed the Linda Lindas; [10] [11] it was later clarified that Epitaph had been working on a deal with the Linda Lindas before the video went viral. [12]
"Racist, Sexist Boy" was first recorded during a live performance in May 2021 at the Los Angeles Public Library. That live performance was released as a single later that on May 27. [13]
Carlos de la Garza, father of band members Lucia and Mila de la Garza, recorded and mixed the studio version of "Racist, Sexist Boy" at Music Friends, his backyard studio. [14] [15] It appeared on the band's debut album, Growing Up, in April 2022. [16]
"Racist, Sexist Boy" is classified as a punk rock song [17] with elements riot grrrl. [3] [18]
"Racist, Sexist Boy" won Best Punk Record at the 2022 Libera Awards. [19] It was also nominated for Best Song at the 2022 Kerrang! Awards. [20]
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Growing Up. [14]
The Linda Lindas
Technical personnel