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big and pac dying in the 90s was hip hops version of malcolm and martin in the 60s.
both pairs were the leaders of their crafts: leadership and the power of protest for civil rights in the us, and the economic and economic freedom gained from participating in hip hop, showing that you didn’t have to risk your life to make it from the hood.
both pairs stood on opposite ground with what they particularly stood for, and were at the height of their careers at the height of the respectful movements. obviously big and pac came from a later, less focused era, but nonetheless were just as influential to their generations
malcolm and martin also knew they shouldn’t be divided towards the end, but still served different messages which spawned different movements after they passed. but hip hop grew from what was torn down after the 60s. it kept kids from violence, drugs and crime
but once something is corrupted, it either dies or gains a new form. instead of the movement dying, or it becoming a “white thing” like say, (insert any american-originated genre), it became gangsta. it reflected what it once sought to elevate away from.
rap/house/electro genres of music are now pop, sampling is commonplace; graffiti is internationally renowned as high art; breaking has spawned most modern dance styles is an olympic sport; djing and producing is something almost everyone does. hip hop has changed everything
i didn’t even mention the byproducts like everyone’s modern lexicon, most fashion styles, attitudes, etc. all stemming from hip hop. it’s been the longest-lasting and powerful black movement to date. and it has many ties to african american history. it owes the 60s everything.
even down to islam being central in 80s rap records. “ghetto names” the ebony community has now they shame ourselves and each other for should be praised. they represent a culture resounded through survivalist patterns. this creativity is an integral piece to the whole
the situation ebony people in america have been faced with since the invention of “negro” and “white” being separate (about the late 1600s to early 1700s), has been that we’ll never be the christian americans white people are. that first meant the protestant invaders.
before chattel slavery, africans could earn their freedom. they also owned some slaves at times. the protestants hated this and devout their time to destroying the integrity of anyone of african descent.
they did it to everyone who wasn’t protestant, but all a euro has to do is convert. and they all have a similar gene pool so, minus some infighting, they quickly outnumbered the negroes. thus born was white privilege. cheryl harris “whiteness as property” goes into more detail.
i’m ranting. anyways, that separation and exclusion from basic human rights for centuries has led ebony ppl in america to be confused about what we hate and love about each other. it’s only fair bc we’ve only stuck together out of survival, yet that confusion has held us back.
i don’t have answers. i’m more confused, the more i learn.
things i’ve noticed confusion about:
the n word
diet and food choices
lineage
what is or isn’t ghetto
who IS “black”?
things we allow wypipo to do
“interracial
” relationships
healthy male and female relationships
...
things i’ve noticed confusion about:
the n word
diet and food choices
lineage
what is or isn’t ghetto
who IS “black”?
things we allow wypipo to do
“interracial
” relationshipshealthy male and female relationships
...
...
what’s “normal”
“black” card
cancel culture
empathy
what can break karmic cycles and oppressive authorities.
ebony ppl in america have had an unprovoked war declared on us since the 60s, and have had no time to plan before the next attack.
what’s “normal”
“black” card
cancel culture
empathy
what can break karmic cycles and oppressive authorities.
ebony ppl in america have had an unprovoked war declared on us since the 60s, and have had no time to plan before the next attack.
even worse, to force people together who don’t necessarily face the same difficulties or share the same mindset (i honestly don’t believe in world peace or peace among a “people”) into category and then hold them accountable for this is unfair in many ways. i’ll leave that there.
that’s why you have “uncle toms” and sellouts and toxic people to the “race” and cancelled kanye’s. all people shouldn’t be held accountable for a title bestowed on them that doesn’t always apply to them. not everybody make they grits the same.
but we so used to seeing that instead of realizing, of the 10 mil taken away from africa, there are now millions of us with completely different stories and focuses. the conditions are war, but if we can’t relate to each other (naturally) then how we on the same team???
if me and a stranger the only 2 ebony ppl in a room, idk if you down or not. idk if you have my shared experiences, tastes, ideas, or can even hold a convo w me and vice versa. you not my brother/sister unless you prove yourself or are attacked for having similar assets to me
y’all know what i mean when i say assets in this context.
there’s things i wanna change, but mf’s just want a win so bad they be doing anything. haven’t had access to anyone w great ideas that i can help with yet. i’m not a leader, i’m an assistant, i know my role.
but all that to say this: ebony ppl descended from the slave trade don’t have to all be alike or get along, we all drastically different. we just been in the same war for a long time and are tired. no one gets what we go through, sometimes not even our own families. communicate.
communicate, uplift and get this knowledge. we already know we can get money, now we just need to prove we can have and use the knowledge correctly, the real power.
