**POSE S. 2, Episode 4 Spoiler Ahead**
First of all, this episode was quite the tour de force for actress, Angelica Ross. The way that she brought Candy to life in this episode of POSE was commendable. She was able to start off making the viewer ask why Candy always has to insert herself in places where she shouldn’t, to understanding that our girl was just trying to break out and be “somebody” beyond the box she was placed in.
This episode did such a wonderful job painting the photo of life for black transgender women in our country. The icing on top was the conversation that Candy had with her loved ones posthumously at different points during her memorial service. Almost every person that Candy interacted with was full of regrets in the form of how they live their life or how they treated her while she was trying to live hers’. That paradigm begs the question, why don’t we love one another while they are here? There are so many people around us who just want to be their full, complete selves and find a place that proves to them that they are worthy of love and belonging. How would your life be different if you showed someone the kind of compassion and love they are looking for?
One of the most heartfelt moments during the episode was when Candy’s parents arrived at the memorial for their final goodbyes. The first thing that Candy’s mother asks her spirit is, “Why did it take me so long to see you?” Which was a two-fold question, 1. “Why did it take me so long to see you physically after you left home?” and 2. “Why did it take me so long to see you for who you sincerely are?” The second question is an issue that I believe is still pervasive in the black community. Our community is continually allowing their hate of the LGTBQ+ identity to take place over people’s humanity and the right to be loved, connected & have a place to belong. In this example specifically, as it can be found in many others, Candy was kicked out of her home for being true to herself. In that situation, Candy lost her parents, her parents lost their child, and at the end of the day, everyone was missing a piece of themselves. No one wins when the family feuds.
Finally, the first performance for “Candy’s Sweet Refrain” was Candy herself, lip-synching to Stephanie Mills’ 1980 Top 10 hit, “Never Knew Love Like This Before”. I couldn’t even think of a better song for Candy to slay the audience with. The lyrics were so poignant for her situation. Below are a few lines from the song:
You are my love light, this I know
And I’ll never let you go
You’re my all, you’re part of me
Once I was lost and now, I’m found
Then you turned my world around
When I need you, I call your name
‘Cause I never knew love like this before
Opened my eyes
‘Cause I never knew love like this before
What a surprise
What I want readers to draw from this song, is that everywhere Candy went during her waking life, she was just looking for love. At the balls, Pray Tell would consistently “read her the riot act” for trying something new, at home, her parents kicked her out when she showed them her reality, & in the House of Ferocity, Candy even had issues with her co-Mother, Lulu. This song shines a light on the fact that Candy never actually knew the love she was receiving at the time of her death when she was alive. I would love if we stopped waiting until the last moment to cherish and love the people around us. We should be able to give folks their flowers while they’re alive.
In closing, don’t forget to love one another out loud. There are some people out there who could really use it. Love is a completely renewable resource; it won’t run out if you give it to more than a few people. Let’s try to live a life where if we were to die, there won’t be what-ifs. We are wasting life, living half-heartedly. Finally, we need to care for our transgender brothers and sisters. They deserve our love, they deserve our protection, & they deserve our acceptance. There is no reason why they should be persecuted for being who they know they are and it’s not up to us to judge them.
Everyone deserves to know a love like that.
Source: etonline.com
Bonus Photo: Distraught Jermaine trying to make it through episode 4.
Originally Published: July 16th, 2019