angelo moore warns of “doin’ the monkey for the honkey” in corporate america

The doctor is in. Dr. MadVibe that is, also known as Angelo Moore of Fishbone. With his latest song and video for “Doin’ The Monkey for The Honkey,” Moore pulls no punches in sending up the unique (and typically uncomfortable) experience of being Black in a predominantly white corporate world. If you’ve been in that world yourself you’ve no doubt felt the 1,000 tiny cuts of racist microaggressions and the pressure to be what your Caucasian colleagues think you are and not your authentic self, hence “doin’ the monkey.”

“‘Doin’ the Monkey…'” is about bigotry and racism in the corporate industry,” says Moore. The vocalist and saxophonist also cites “the frustration of never pursuing your dream because you are working for someone else who use you until you are all used up” as motivation for the song but if you listen closely you’ll see that he’s not simply stating the obvious or pointing fingers, he’s urging us to use our energy and talents in service of our selves and our community” the exact opposite of monkeying around.