Hope
So I realized that I hate rap music, but it's not because of the music, it is because of the unnecessary force of the establisment to push violence and irresponsibility. I do however like Lil Wayne, but not necessarily for his music, but for the positive things that he has said in his music. I like Misunderstood, which is the track where he comments passionately on the issues that America has in sooo many ways. Though I completely appreciate his intelligence and artistic ability, I more than anything want this man to grow beyond his "gangsta" understanding and gain his own knowledge and experiences. I want so much for his intelligence and ability to reach his fans for what he really is. He began with the Cash Money Millionaires, but if the grammys have done nothing else, it has proven that he was well beyond where began, I just want black people to ignore the media and understand that we are valuable, and even though the world around us does not really want us to embrace that from advertisements and from most movies and television we now have Barack Obama that has allowed to us see, that though we may not have living references, we can still have hope and opportunity.
Though everywhere we may look we may not see ourselves, we can always make everyone see us, see that we value ourselves even if they don't. The Grammys did show me that they have a long way to go to valuing all kinds of music and artistry. I know that everyone feels like Barack Obama has made racism "non-existent" but honestly, as great as his appointment to office is, it is still 2009, the country has been established for how long, black people have been living in this country, building this country, adding to this country since it has been independent, and we just now have a multicultural (half white) president, that is considered black. You know what they used to say "One drop makes you black." Is this really "new-age" or this really good old fashioned racism at its finest.
I am actually trying to say that Lil Wayne may be appreciated for his brilliance in music, but I know that he can be brilliant in so much more. I saw an activist at the grammys rallying for more support in rebuilding New Orleans, I heard a battle crier on his album discussing the stats of blacks in prison to whites in prison the reasons behind it, I hear an educated black man in his songs, using metaphors, encouraging resilience, and planting deep educational seeds. I want for him, but I hope the best.
Though everywhere we may look we may not see ourselves, we can always make everyone see us, see that we value ourselves even if they don't. The Grammys did show me that they have a long way to go to valuing all kinds of music and artistry. I know that everyone feels like Barack Obama has made racism "non-existent" but honestly, as great as his appointment to office is, it is still 2009, the country has been established for how long, black people have been living in this country, building this country, adding to this country since it has been independent, and we just now have a multicultural (half white) president, that is considered black. You know what they used to say "One drop makes you black." Is this really "new-age" or this really good old fashioned racism at its finest.
I am actually trying to say that Lil Wayne may be appreciated for his brilliance in music, but I know that he can be brilliant in so much more. I saw an activist at the grammys rallying for more support in rebuilding New Orleans, I heard a battle crier on his album discussing the stats of blacks in prison to whites in prison the reasons behind it, I hear an educated black man in his songs, using metaphors, encouraging resilience, and planting deep educational seeds. I want for him, but I hope the best.