NWA, White America and #BlackLivesMatter

I was told once that coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous, and sometimes events conspire to almost make me a believer.  It's hard not to see the hand of Providence in the release this week of "Straight Outta Compton," the NWA biopic, a movie that, I think, will resonate powerfully around the nation this weekend.  

Like any white kid growing up in the 80s/90s in the suburbs, I was drawn to rap, and in my opinion (now, not then), the rap of that era is not only great music, but great social commentary in the tradition of the muckrakers and Roman satirists, exposing to white America the dark underbelly of the cities from which they took flight.

Follow me below the fold for a look at the world's most dangerous group, its impact on America and the lessons for today.

[not sure how much disclosure is needed to avoid a pie fight, but I'm a bernie supporter, against the conflagration of BLMSeattle and the larger fight for Black Lives, and my favorite color is yellow.]

NWA (N*ggaz With Attitude) was a rap group founded in 1987 and they debuted with their album "NWA and the Posse."  That album, while good and featuring songs that they would later remaster, remix or rewrite, was largely forgotten.  Back in the day, it was very difficult to get it from Columbia House.

However, their next album, "Straight Outta Compton," the only one featuring those main players who would later attain fame as NWA, i.e, Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, DJ Yella and MC Ren (aka, Eric Wright, Andre Young, Osea Jackson, Antione Carraby, and Lorenzo Patterson), was the one that put them on the map, and on the radar of White America.

It was one of those albums where just about every song was great.  (There are, of course, a few clunkers: I'm looking at you "Something Like That".)  Behind the catchy tracks laid down by Dre and Yella, the lyrics of these young men would lay bare the daily lives of Black Americans during what was supposed to be the "Roaring 80s."  

The crack epidemic was in full swing, police abuse ran rampant (w/o smart phones and twitter to hold them somewhat accountable), gang warfare and rampant crime held neighborhoods hostage.  

It starts from the beginning:

You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge

From there, Straight Outta Compton (NSFW) talks of the "lives" of Cube, Ren and Eazy, and their lack of scruples in murder, robbery, and other mayhem.  As E concludes:

This is the autobiography of the E and if you ever fuck with me You'll get taken by a stupid dope brotha who will smother word to the motherfucker, straight outta Compton

It continued into "Gangsta, Gangsta (NSFW)."  Some choice bits:

We don't just say no, we to busy sayin' yeah! To drinkin' straight out the eight bottle Do I look like a mutha fuckin role model? To a kid lookin' up ta me Life ain't nothin but bitches and money.

I got a shotgun, and here's the plot Takin niggaz out with a flurry of buckshots

But the chorus says it all:

"It's not about a salary, it's all about reality"

And of course, their seminal hit (and one which I'm most concerned with in this article) was "Fuck the Police."  It opens with a skit of sorts, telling us that the three MCs are going to act as prosecuting attorneys, putting the LAPD on trial.

DA Ice Cube:

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

Fuckin with me 'cause I'm a teenager With a little bit of gold and a pager Searchin my car, lookin for the product Thinkin every nigga is sellin narcotics

Ren:

Lights start flashin behind me But they're scared of a nigga so they mace me to blind me

And my favorite rapper of all time, the Eaze:

I'm tired of the muthafuckin jackin Sweatin my gang while I'm chillin in the shackin Shining tha light in my face, and for what Maybe it's because I kick so much butt

(yeah, he said butt)

The verdict, handed down by the Right Honorable Dr Dre:

The jury has found you guilty of bein a redneck, whitebread, chickenshit muthafucka.

Take a few minutes and listen for yourself.  (Obviously NSFW)

NWA was very open about what they were doing.  In a interview with the Toledo Blade in 1989:

Dre: We’re letting people know that America’s not a bowl of cherries.  People expect it to be all sunshine and palm trees. I don’t see any palm trees where I’m from. Yella: We're like underground reporters

And in that same year, the Guardian interviewed Cube where he says

It's Vietnam here; nobody knew where nothing was coming from there, and it's the same way down here with the gangs and crack. You gotta be true to yourself in this city [snip]  I'm black, male and young so what's happening to me is likely to be happening to NWA's audience. Some police overuse their authority, they judge you on what you wear instead of how you are. They stereotype you; make you get out your car, get you face down on the ground and then start questioning you. If I was white and in another neighbourhood [sic], they would not do that. Because I have a beeper, they accuse me of selling drugs every time they stop me. A beeper only costs $19 a month but, in the black community, they figure the only blacks with beepers must be drug dealers.

 [all in all a really great article and interview w Cube]

When NWA hit it big, White America was a bit taken aback (and the ocean is a tad bit damp), and reaction came quickly and strongly.  

Their music was banned at libraries, on the radio (though there was only one maybe two songs that had a radio edit), and in music stores.  

They garnered the attention of the FBI.  

[Assisstant Director of the FBI office of Public Affairs Milt] Ahlerich wrote: "Advocating violence and assault is wrong, and we in the law enforcement community take exception to such action."

The FBI representative then recounted that 78 law enforcement officers were "feloniously slain in the line of duty during 1988 . . . and recordings such as the one from N.W.A are both discouraging and degrading to these brave, dedicated officers."

Though he did not mention any song by name in the letter, Ahlerich told The Times that he was refering to "---- Tha Police,"

The stage was stormed by police when they tried to perform "Fuck the Police" in Cleveland [see earlier Toledo link].

Some claimed that they were promoting this type of lifestyle, disregarding repeated statements that they weren't creating reality, they were depicting it, holding a full-length mirror up to America so they could see themselves as they truly were, cellulite, scars and all.

At that time, Tipper Gore was part of the four "Washington Wives" who created the Parents Resource Music Center.  This group was behind the "Parental Advisory" lables on CDs, and they were originally created to focus on "obscenity" in rock music.  However, in the late 80s, they began to set their sites onto "gangsta" (90s for 'thug') rap, culminating in Gore's WaPoeditorial claiming that 2 Live Crew's songs caused a rape in NYC.  

Do we want them describing themselves or each other as "niggers?" Do we want our daughters to think of themselves as "bitches" to be abused? Do we want our sons to measure success in gold guns hanging from thick neck chains? The women in the audience may understand the slang; Ice-T can try to justify it. But can our children?

In her book American Film Cycles, Amanda Ann Klein writes:

n her editorial, Gore linked urban crime, African American male teenagers, and rap music to suit her censorship agenda. The PMRC campaign was successful primarily because Gore was able to associate urban crime with urban music. This process, which Stanley Cohen describes as a "widening of the net," occurs when ambiguous stimuli (such as rap) are roped into the framework of other pressing but unrelated social problems (rape, the drug problem in inner cities), all of which are believed to be signs of a larger social meltdown.

What does this have to do with today?  Well for one, the rap of today sucks (i call it hip pop, all that carrying on about the clubs and whatnot...kids today).  

For another, there's a misconception out there that all of a sudden police are killing our children.  

No.  

What you're seeing now is akin to what NWA was rapping about; the bringing to light of a commonplace occurrence in the Black community.

In the 90s, they weren't looking at the horrible conditions that people in inner cities were living in, about WHAT they were rapping about; they were concerned with HOW they were saying it.  "Yeah, your right, Mr Jackson.  It DOES sound very much like Vietnam in your 'Comp-ton', but could you not say fuck so much?  Maybe change the lyric to Hug the Police?"

And today, you have people wondering why Black Lives Matters is protesting this way or that way, or why they're not protesting this person or that one, focusing on the daily murder of our children, brothers, sisters, and parents.  There's so much god-damned outrage flying back and forth here at each other, is there any left for those who truly deserve it??  

Sounds like: "Yes, Black Lives DO Matter, but do you have to interrupt THIS speech?" or "Protest all you want, but don't shut down the Interstate!  People drive there, sir!  They drive there!!"  You can even see the same thing in this diary.  It seems even getting hit by a car will earn you the disdain of some.

And I think I can see, as a white person, why All Lives Matters is offensive.  Yes, clearly, every life has value and no one should be murdered by the people paid to protect them.  However, America itself needs a reckoning, needs to consciously affirm that yes, indeed, Black Lives, specifically, Matter despite our nation's original sin and consequent bumbling attempts at penance.

I'm not 100% sure what I'm driving at, but I think the lesson is to not let this moment pass us by.  As I said, for the most part, rap devolved into something far less radical.  Having been accepted by mainstream White America, it lost its edge and its quality of "undercover reporting."  

Interrupting Bernie Sanders IS disruptive and it does bring attention to the cause, but, by its nature, is singular.  That is, those of us who would stand with you, come hell AND high water, can't do anything to help.  Many Whites in this country, blue, red and independent, are on YOUR side.  And by the same token, it's not OUR family members dying so how can say what's acceptable or not.  But at this point, arguing about, when there's not much else being done, accomplishes nothing.  

There are small torches being lit all across this country trying desperately to shine a light into the dark ignorance of White America.  What's needed is someone to come along and unify them all into a fire so bright that it can't be ignored.  True social change won't come from isolated incidents and reactive protests.  A mass movement is needed and I wonder: where are all the storied civil rights leaders of the past?  Jesse Jackson, John Lewis, I'd even take Al Sharpton??  And where are the new leaders?  

#BlackLivesMatter has multiple facebook pages, twitter feeds, etc.  It is scattered and disorganized.  This is to be expected as it sprung into existence spontaneously, from the people.  However, it's potential for lasting change is small as it is right now. (Ed note: is it possible that the cause of our outrage being directed at each other is because we're not exactly sure WHERE to direct it and we're frustrated??)

As a white male, I'm quite aware I only have a theoretical understanding of racism.  As the father of (what society will see as a) black woman, I'm painfully aware that my little girl is a member of the least valued segment of our society.  So, you point me, and I'll go.  What's more, because I'm white, I can't stand up first, but god dammit, I'll stand up right beside you.  #BlackLivesMatter to me not just because if your dead, you wont vote for my favored candidate, but because Black.  Lives.  Matter.

"If I am not for me, who will be?  If I am only for myself, what am I?  If not now, when?"

Ride or die.

[This article I found was particularly helpful in finding some other links that I used in the writing of this.]

PS: I can already see some who might say "Just b/c you dont see it, doesn't mean things aren't happening."  True, but I consider myself somewhat plugged in to the news and politcs, and I keep half-an-eye on Black Twitter so if I don't know of it, who among the larger White American audience (the same people we need to bring along to enact change) does?