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Victor Lopez English 1, Section 1710 Argumentation/Persuasion Research Paper Music is Your Attitude Introduction The issue of racial hate is becoming more and more acute in contemporary America. And this is happening at the same time, when we are being told that the our multicultural society is becoming more tolerant, since the cultural diversity is being enforced now... Apparently, something is rotten in the kingdom of Denmark, as the famous saying goes. Despite our government's best efforts, the racial crimes continue to occur with an alarming persistence. Can we really blame it on the fact that there are still too many rednecks in this country, who failed to embrace the shining truth of diversity? This is what we used to do traditionally, yet there is a threat of racial intolerance, which is coming from the opposite direction.
The destructive nature of Black gangsta rap is obvious to anyone with an ability to think logically. This expression of Black racial identity cannot be referred to as music, in the traditional sense of this word. Despite the fact that the hawks of political-correctness are trying hard to legitimatize rap, it will always remain for what it really is a rhythmical rant. Yet, it is also more superior than any other type of music, because it appeals to the masses on the most basic level. This makes it truly powerful. Nowadays, the rap is heard everywhere.
There are radio stations that play it all day long. It is not a secret that rap is especially liked by African - Americans and by the people, who are the products of racial mixing. Also, it is a fact that most of the White people think of Black rap with a suspicion. This is perfectly understandable, given the fact that Ebonics slang, makes it sound almost unintelligible.
Because the true meaning of the songs can sometimes be obscured, the Black rappers are allowed to spew hate out of TV. It is estimated that about 50 % of MTV's music is related to rap. The destructive influence of rap has been noticed since long ago. But it is only in recent times that were able to directly link Black lyrics to the growth of the crime rate in this country. But even now, this fact is not being advertised, since it is believed that it would disrupt the building of multicultural utopia.
Yet, I believe that the citizens, especially of European descend, have valid reasons to worry, after hearing some Black rapper singing about the evilness of blue eyed devils. Because this is how trouble begins. In this paper we will prove that the Black rap music had played a very important role, in instigating racial violence, during Los Angeles riots of 1992. But we will also emphasize the spirit of vitality, which defines rap and makes this musical trend to be more competitive than any other. (1) Fuck tha police, comin's straight from the underground A young nigga got it bad 'cause I'm brown And not the other color, so police think They have the authority to kill a minority These are the words from the song Fuck tha Police, written by Ice Cube, MC Ren and Eazy-E in 1988. It instantly became a hit, after the album Straight Outta Compton was being released in 1989.
Virtually all the songs in it are dedicated to the struggle against white. This album can be referred to as the most blatant expression of racial intolerance, which was allowed to poison people's minds in recent times, eventually resulting in the violence of 1992. It is well known that the song Fuck tha Police had unofficially became the anthem of the rioters, being played trough the loudspeakers, while riots were taking place on the streets. It is very remarkable that such unmasked propaganda of violence was allowed to be considered as an absolutely legitimate, while, at the same time, exposing the crime rate statistics, which show that 60 % of crime in America is committed by Blacks, is thought to be the expression of hate.
The authorities did nothing to prevent the spread of hate by the Black rappers, even though that some songs in Straight Outta Compton directly call for the murder of police officers: Without a gun and a badge, what do you got? A sucker in a uniform waiting to get shot, By me, or another nigga It is rather ironic that Ice Cube now tries to change his public image, by having written the song for the show Black and White, which was supposed to promote racial tolerance. Yet, back in 1992 his attitude was different. On many occasions, he publicly denounced LAPD as being a racist institution, and asked his fans to participate in the acts of civil disobedience. In 1991 Ice Cube's released his new album Predator, which now is regarded as prophetic, since the racial violence in Los Angels, was predicted by it with great accuracy.
Ice Cube sings about the time when nothing will prevent the niggas from setting the accounts straight with their historical oppressors. He also suggests that the Asian minorities in Los Angeles are White collaborators and that they should be dealt with in the same manner. Jon Pareles in his article Rap After the Riot: Smoldering Rage And No Apologies points out to the deep psychological reasons of why rappers were able to became a some kind of authority figures for the rioters: Before South-Central Los Angeles went up in a billion dollars' worth of flames, the only voices from the area that most Americans had heard were the swaggering storytellers of gangster rap. Taking violence for granted, flaunting ugly attitudes toward women and homosexuals, savoring gory details, gangster rappers weren't documentarian's or responsible spokesmen; they were pulp auteurs, exploiting America's appetite for violent entertainment while dropping enough local details or "reality" to sound credible (Pareles). The real reason why Black rappers were able to exert so much spiritual influence, is because their lyrics, despite its brutality, are honest. Deep inside, people know that the multicultural society, where there would be no racial tension, is impossible in principle.
Therefore, especially the Black people, feel inner inconsistency in political correctness. It is the case of when brain accepts certain notion, because it sounds logical, yet the heart knows it to be false. This is why, even though that the rappers like Ice Cube call for the racial intolerance, their message correspond to what people believe to be the true. The same song Fuck tha Police has the lines, where Black police officers are described as the race traitors: And on the other hand, without a gun they can't get none But don't let it be a black and a white one Cause they " ll slam ya down to the street top Black police showing out for the white cop And this this is exactly how the majority of Black people feel about Black cops. They know that their pretence of being objective is artificial. What becomes the matter of the foremost importance, in the end, is one's racial affiliation.
Everything else comes as secondary. Therefore, the promoters of racial tolerance are thought of as fakes. Black rappers are not concerned with anything else but the albums's ales. This is why they can afford to be honest to themselves and to their fans. Because, if this was not the case, they would not be able to sell their music. Rap is associated with the real life, as opposed to the artificial pop and rock.
It is aggressive, because it takes an aggressiveness to survive in ghetto. Jon Pareles was able to grasp the essence of rap's magnetism, especially for the young people: When Los Angeles burned, the reality dwarfed gangster rap's tales of drive-by shootings and petty but deadly feuds. Yet amid the violence, the rappers suddenly seemed like experts (Pareles). (2) The rap's potential to result in drastic change of socio-political situation, has only been realised after the riots of 1992. Before then, it was simply being thought of as primitive music of the ghettos. It could never occur to the average cracker that the Black rap can represent any threat, as it used to be contained within the ghettos' boundaries.
But when the rap slowly started to acquire the properties of a mainstream music, people began to actually listen to its message. And this message often shocked them, because many Black rappers are consumed by their hatred to the White people, as well as to others, who cannot be referred to as brother: Kill the white people; we gonna make them hurt; kill the white people; but buy my record first; ha, ha, ha - these are the words from the song Apache Ain't Shit by Apache, which was actually played on MTV in 1993, right after Los Angeles riots. But there are still some hard core civil rights activists, who suggest that people's right for the freedom of expression cannot be restricted. This was also the situation in 1992, when authorities tried to appease angry mob, by going as far, as allowing the looting and bloody fights, on the streets of Los Angeles. In 1992, the police officers were being given order not to get involved, no matter what. There are videos available on YouTube, which show police officers simply standing, while a couple of feet away, the gang of African-Americans gives a beating to a White person with a baseball sticks.
Maybe there was no law to prevent it from happening, at the time? No, the so called hate crime bill was passed by the Senate in 1990. Maybe the beating was not quite as severe, so that the officers decided not to get involved? No, the victim's clothes are covered with his own blood.
And to make this bizarre picture complete, there is Fuck Tha Police is being played in the background. Yet, as James Fulford points out in his article: Equal Opportunity For High Decibel Haters! : When the riots erupted in Los Angeles, black members of Congress insisted on calling them an "uprising" rather than a riot. They felt that the white power structure deserved to be rioted against (Fulford). The rappers' ideological support of 1992 riots is being thought of in terms of liberation, which is very wrong, since the abstract idea of the people's common good is totally alien rap's lyrics. Also, people's liberation cannot be based on the idea of racial secularism, for as long as we want to remain one nation.
Apparently, the Black rap has become a very grave threat to the society's normal functioning. Therefore, it cannot be regarded as simply a musical trend anymore. There can be no easy solution, of course. But the government needs to make it clear that the racial intolerance will not be tolerated, especially when it takes place in the form of musical expression, which can be heard by millions. Since the events of 9 / 11, the terrorist motives in lyrics can be equaled to the actual terrorism. This will result in an immediate consequences.
Still, this does not seem to affect the Black rap. The songs about the pure pleasure of killing people on the grounds of their racial affiliation, still can be heard, while being broadcasted live. This is because the laws, which are meant to fight racial intolerance, can be interpreted in many different ways, which decreases their efficiency. That's why introducing even more laws, would be a mistake. The hatred and frustration, which are the part of Black rap, do not just appear out of the blue. They are the result of socio-economic inequality, which is still being felt by the Black people, while they grow up.
But the worst thing is when authorities try to deny the objective reality that people are different. It appears like there is a certain force, behind people of different cultural backgrounds being alienated from each other. The most dangerous about it is the fact that this force disguises itself as something opposite to what it really is. On the surface, political correctness strives for more tolerance, yet the practical effects of this concept are far from what they are expected to be. The main result of this is that American society getting more and more seculirazied into numerous ethnic groups, which pursue their own interests, without caring much about the country, where they live. There are African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Hispanics - the emphasis is being put on the racial characteristics of every particular group by very same people, who never get tired repeating that the race is not important!
Racial prejudices exist, but it is very unlikely that they can be rooted out, since their roots sit deep in subconsciousness. Racial mistrust can only be weakened by ones personal positive experience of dealing with people from different cultures. Universal love and tolerance cannot be just imposed on people, because building utopias had never succeeded, throughout the history. For as long as every particular culture respects itself, it will learn to respect others. The behavioral patterns of every racial minority, as group of people, are very irrational.
A lot depends on emotionalism. But throughout the history, only naked force was decisive factor in gaining respect. Different ethnicities that share the same country, are like young kids its easy to set them off to a fight, but once they realize that their strength matches and there is no way for them to take an advantage of each other, they will become the best friends. Conclusion Many White people really do like Black rap, because it is the honest expression of one's feelings, despite all of the negativity, which is associated with it.
The phenomenon of Eminem has proven it, once and for all. Inner, they feel that rap is related to vitality. It might not be as refined as Beethoven's symphonies, but it is more real, because it is heard everywhere. Just like the graffiti they can be seen on every wall and one does not have to have any knowledge of art, in order to appreciate the pure baldness of their anonymous authors, who like to decorate public property.
This corresponds to the fact that the Black population, in this country, slowly begins to realize its existential potential, while White people get older and older, while hopelessly trying to maintain the racial homogeneity of their exclusive neighbourhoods. Therefore, it would be wrong to think of Black rap in strictly negative terms. Its rhythmical properties unlock individual's will to be socially active. It teaches people of how to remain courageous, while facing an impossible odds. At one point, the White music was able to do the same. Basically, both Tupac and Wagner promote the same idea of manly virtues.
It appears that the ideas of racial intolerance in Black rap, which were largely responsible for the outbreaks of violence in Los Angeles in 1992, will slowly cease to play an important role, as songs' motives. This is because rap music progresses. It is becoming more and more refined. In my opinion, it is only the matter of time, before Black rap becomes socially acceptable, in the full sense of this word. The rap industry makes $ 1. 7 billion a year, which proves that this is going to take a long time, before rap ceases to be fashionable. People have a different musical preferences, but if current socio-political trends in America continue, the rap music might eventually become only the choice.
Whether it should be considered as bad or good, does not relate to the topic of this essay. It is an undeniable fact that the rap's political influence will continue to increase, but for as long as the diversity is not being pushed down the people's throats, it should not result in excesses, like racial rioting of 1992. Abstract This paper analyses the effects of Rap music on Los Angeles riots in 1992. Its main idea is that, along with the negative effects, Rap also has a positive side to it. Outline Introduction introduces reader to the issue, which is going to be discussed. 1. - Los Angeles riots of 1992 and Rap. 2. - Rap's positive and negative sides. Conclusion concludes the paper.
Bibliography: De, James Fires & Furies: The Los Angeles Riots of 1992. Palm Springs: ETC Publications, 1995. Fuck tha Police. 2002. Wikipedia. 4 Dec. 2006. web Fulford, James Equal Opportunity For High Decibel Haters! . 29 Aug. 2001.
VDARE. com. 4 Dec. 2006. web Kelly, Bob More Wonders of Diversity. 2005. The Christian Party. 4 Dec. 2006. christian party.
net / black crimes . htm Pareles, Jon Rap After the Riot: Smoldering Rage And No Apologies. 12 Dec. 1992. The New York Times. 4 Dec. 2006. web Kenneth.
What is Racism? 2 May. 2001. Racialist Library. 4 Dec. 2006. web
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