Racist, Sexist Boy

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"Racist, Sexist Boy"
Racist, Sexist Boy single.jpeg
Single by the Linda Lindas
ReleasedMay 27, 2021 (2021-05-27)
RecordedMay 4, 2021
Venue Los Angeles Public Library
Genre Punk rock
Length2:05
Label Epitaph
Songwriter(s) Mila de la Garza · Eloise Wong
Producer(s) Carlos de la Garza
The Linda Lindas singles chronology
"Vote!"
(2020)
"Racist, Sexist Boy"
(2021)
"Oh!"
(2021)
Music video
"Racist, Sexist Boy" (Live at LA Public Library) on YouTube
"Racist, Sexist Boy"
Song by the Linda Lindas
from the album Growing Up
ReleasedApril 8, 2022
Studio Music Friends, Los Angeles
Genre Punk rock
Length1:49
Label Epitaph
Songwriter(s) Mila de la Garza · Eloise Wong
Producer(s) Carlos de la Garza

"Racist, Sexist 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, the band's drummer, had when a schoolmate made a racist comment before the COVID-19 pandemic. [2]

Contents

On May 4, the Linda Lindas played at the Los Angeles Public Library for an AAPI Heritage Month celebration, during which they played "Racist, Sexist Boy". [3] The library soon posted a video of the performance. [4] The video became a viral social media hit, earning praise from Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello, Red Hot Chili Peppers's Flea, [4] Thurston Moore, [5] Bikini Kill's Kathleen Hanna, [6] Kid Cudi, [7] and author Viet Thanh Nguyen, who said, "'Racist, Sexist Boy' is the song we need now". [6] On May 22, 2021, Epitaph Records announced that it had signed the Linda Lindas. [8] [9] The live version was released as a single on May 27, 2021. [10]

Background

In March 2020, Mila de la Garza, the band's 10 year old 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'd been told by his father to stay away from Chinese people. Mila de la Garza and Eloise Wong wrote the song about the experience. [11] [6]

The song was originally titled "Idiotic Boy", however, the band subsequently learned about ableism and opted for a different message. [11] [12]

Recording and release

"Racist, Sexist Boy" was first recorded during a live performance in May 2021 at the Los Angeles Public Library. The live version was released as a single later that month.

The studio version of "Racist, Sexist Boy" was recorded at Music Friends, Los Angeles. [13] It appeared on the band's debut album, Growing Up , in April 2022. [14]

Composition

"Racist, Sexist Boy" was written in the key of C major. [15] The song is classified as a punk rock song [16] with inspiration from the riot grrrl style. [6] [17]

Accolades

"Racist, Sexist Boy" won Best Punk Record at the 2022 Libera Awards. [18] It was also nominated for Best Song at the 2022 Kerrang! Awards. [19]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Growing Up . [20]

The Linda Lindas

Technical personnel

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References

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