I’m a sophomore at this school and I came here from Silver Spring Maryland
came here from Silver Spring Maryland
came here from Silver Spring Maryland which is about a thousand miles away one
which is about a thousand miles away one
which is about a thousand miles away one of the things that drew me all the way
of the things that drew me all the way
of the things that drew me all the way down here was the composition of the
down here was the composition of the
down here was the composition of the student body my hometown is one of the
student body my hometown is one of the
student body my hometown is one of the nation’s most diverse municipalities in
nation’s most diverse municipalities in
nation’s most diverse municipalities in every sense of the word and I really
every sense of the word and I really
every sense of the word and I really like that about going up there so when I
like that about going up there so when I
like that about going up there so when I started looking at colleges a diverse
started looking at colleges a diverse
started looking at colleges a diverse population was one of my top priorities
population was one of my top priorities
population was one of my top priorities the student body at this university is
the student body at this university is
the student body at this university is only 49% white which compared to other
only 49% white which compared to other
only 49% white which compared to other competitive private universities is
competitive private universities is
competitive private universities is pretty low but one of the things that I
pretty low but one of the things that I
pretty low but one of the things that I noticed as soon as I got here was that
noticed as soon as I got here was that
noticed as soon as I got here was that statistical diversity the admissions
statistical diversity the admissions
statistical diversity the admissions office supposed to didn’t necessarily
office supposed to didn’t necessarily
office supposed to didn’t necessarily translate into a meaningful interaction
translate into a meaningful interaction
translate into a meaningful interaction between groups on campus yes obviously
between groups on campus yes obviously
between groups on campus yes obviously there are black students here and Asian
there are black students here and Asian
there are black students here and Asian students and Hispanic students and
students and Hispanic students and
students and Hispanic students and Middle Eastern students but everyone
Middle Eastern students but everyone
Middle Eastern students but everyone pretty much keeps themselves in social
pretty much keeps themselves in social
pretty much keeps themselves in social situations coming from a biracial family
situations coming from a biracial family
situations coming from a biracial family I found the divide between black and
I found the divide between black and
I found the divide between black and white to be particularly striking and I
white to be particularly striking and I
white to be particularly striking and I had a hard time getting used to such a
had a hard time getting used to such a
had a hard time getting used to such a blatant lack of interaction I thought I
blatant lack of interaction I thought I
blatant lack of interaction I thought I would get over it eventually but I
would get over it eventually but I
would get over it eventually but I couldn’t so rather than committing to a
couldn’t so rather than committing to a
couldn’t so rather than committing to a 4-year smoulder I try to channel my
4-year smoulder I try to channel my
4-year smoulder I try to channel my energy into figuring out a way to change
energy into figuring out a way to change
energy into figuring out a way to change the climate and the first thing that
the climate and the first thing that
the climate and the first thing that came to mind was music just about
came to mind was music just about
came to mind was music just about everyone I met here even the people who
everyone I met here even the people who
everyone I met here even the people who had never known a black person on a
had never known a black person on a
had never known a black person on a first-name basis and yes they do exist
first-name basis and yes they do exist
first-name basis and yes they do exist listen to hip-hop in some capacity I met
listen to hip-hop in some capacity I met
listen to hip-hop in some capacity I met people from Connecticut with 2000 rap
people from Connecticut with 2000 rap
people from Connecticut with 2000 rap songs and their iPhones and zero black
songs and their iPhones and zero black
songs and their iPhones and zero black friends or classmates from California
friends or classmates from California
friends or classmates from California who would throw down 150 dollars to
who would throw down 150 dollars to
who would throw down 150 dollars to scream along with chance the rapper at
scream along with chance the rapper at
scream along with chance the rapper at the Fillmore but still stare at the feet
the Fillmore but still stare at the feet
the Fillmore but still stare at the feet in silence when they cross past the
in silence when they cross past the
in silence when they cross past the black student on campus first time I
black student on campus first time I
black student on campus first time I went to a house party here two things
went to a house party here two things
went to a house party here two things stood out to me 90% of the people there
stood out to me 90% of the people there
stood out to me 90% of the people there were white and the DJ was playing fairly
were white and the DJ was playing fairly
were white and the DJ was playing fairly well it’s like this weird sense of
well it’s like this weird sense of
well it’s like this weird sense of cognitive dissonance that everyone in
cognitive dissonance that everyone in
cognitive dissonance that everyone in the room just refuses to acknowledge
the room just refuses to acknowledge
the room just refuses to acknowledge whatever you want to call it I couldn’t
whatever you want to call it I couldn’t
whatever you want to call it I couldn’t adjust so I thought about music and I
adjust so I thought about music and I
adjust so I thought about music and I thought about my favorite artists and
thought about my favorite artists and
thought about my favorite artists and what it was I liked about them and I
what it was I liked about them and I
what it was I liked about them and I realized that the people who stood out
realized that the people who stood out
realized that the people who stood out to me the most were the ones who could
to me the most were the ones who could
to me the most were the ones who could weave an intelligent analysis of social
weave an intelligent analysis of social
weave an intelligent analysis of social issues into the music without
issues into the music without
issues into the music without compromising the authenticity of the
compromising the authenticity of the
compromising the authenticity of the lyrics or the quality of the sound then
lyrics or the quality of the sound then
lyrics or the quality of the sound then I thought maybe if the people who run in
I thought maybe if the people who run in
I thought maybe if the people who run in these all-white circles would listen to
these all-white circles would listen to
these all-white circles would listen to these artists and I mean really listen
these artists and I mean really listen
these artists and I mean really listen to them they might be able to learn
to them they might be able to learn
to them they might be able to learn something about the people they refuse
something about the people they refuse
something about the people they refuse to interact with and if they can learn
to interact with and if they can learn
to interact with and if they can learn enough then maybe they’d be willing to
enough then maybe they’d be willing to
enough then maybe they’d be willing to expand their social horizons especially
expand their social horizons especially
expand their social horizons especially in growth centric environments like
in growth centric environments like
in growth centric environments like campus it’s impossible to overstate the
campus it’s impossible to overstate the
campus it’s impossible to overstate the importance of ethnic diversity it’s been
importance of ethnic diversity it’s been
importance of ethnic diversity it’s been proven in this country that when a
proven in this country that when a
proven in this country that when a roomful of people who all look alike or
roomful of people who all look alike or
roomful of people who all look alike or who all comes from the same background
who all comes from the same background
who all comes from the same background get together to make important decisions
get together to make important decisions
get together to make important decisions the people who aren’t in the room who
the people who aren’t in the room who
the people who aren’t in the room who tend to be affected adversely
tend to be affected adversely
tend to be affected adversely historically that’s been pretty much
historically that’s been pretty much
historically that’s been pretty much anyone who’s not a rich white man now
anyone who’s not a rich white man now
anyone who’s not a rich white man now I’m not trying to commit to you that the
I’m not trying to commit to you that the
I’m not trying to commit to you that the decisions we make in our friend groups
decisions we make in our friend groups
decisions we make in our friend groups carry the same weight as the political
carry the same weight as the political
carry the same weight as the political decisions made by our founding fathers
decisions made by our founding fathers
decisions made by our founding fathers but I do think that they matter the
but I do think that they matter the
but I do think that they matter the interactions we have with our closest
interactions we have with our closest
interactions we have with our closest friends influence our views of the world
friends influence our views of the world
friends influence our views of the world in more ways than most of us are
in more ways than most of us are
in more ways than most of us are probably willing to admit or are even
probably willing to admit or are even
probably willing to admit or are even consciously aware of and if our circles
consciously aware of and if our circles
consciously aware of and if our circles are homogeneous then I views will
are homogeneous then I views will
are homogeneous then I views will naturally become limited no one is
naturally become limited no one is
naturally become limited no one is blameless amiss the trap of taking
blameless amiss the trap of taking
blameless amiss the trap of taking comfort and familiarity is one that we
comfort and familiarity is one that we
comfort and familiarity is one that we all fall into if all you know about
all fall into if all you know about
all fall into if all you know about black culture is what you’ve seen in
black culture is what you’ve seen in
black culture is what you’ve seen in news media and Hollywood films about
news media and Hollywood films about
news media and Hollywood films about adversity then of course you’re not
adversity then of course you’re not
adversity then of course you’re not going to be able to relate to anyone on
going to be able to relate to anyone on
going to be able to relate to anyone on a personal level and on the other side
a personal level and on the other side
a personal level and on the other side if you view white people collectively as
if you view white people collectively as
if you view white people collectively as the source of all of your problems then
the source of all of your problems then
the source of all of your problems then why would you take an interest in
why would you take an interest in
why would you take an interest in getting to know any individual person
getting to know any individual person
getting to know any individual person all of us at both ends of the table have
all of us at both ends of the table have
all of us at both ends of the table have a responsibility to resist that urge to
a responsibility to resist that urge to
a responsibility to resist that urge to generalize it’s very easy to allow
generalize it’s very easy to allow
generalize it’s very easy to allow inaccurate assumptions and unfounded and
inaccurate assumptions and unfounded and
inaccurate assumptions and unfounded and unfounded opinions to define a group of
unfounded opinions to define a group of
unfounded opinions to define a group of people when there’s nobody around to
people when there’s nobody around to
people when there’s nobody around to defend them and it takes an incredibly
defend them and it takes an incredibly
defend them and it takes an incredibly courageous and empathetic person to take
courageous and empathetic person to take
courageous and empathetic person to take a step back on their own volition and
a step back on their own volition and
a step back on their own volition and say wait a minute maybe 12 years of
say wait a minute maybe 12 years of
say wait a minute maybe 12 years of slave and hidden figures don’t provide a
slave and hidden figures don’t provide a
slave and hidden figures don’t provide a sufficient education in black history
sufficient education in black history
sufficient education in black history and maybe there is more to the
and maybe there is more to the
and maybe there is more to the african-american experience than racism
african-american experience than racism
african-american experience than racism in inner cities of course I think we’re
in inner cities of course I think we’re
in inner cities of course I think we’re all smart reasonable people and we can
all smart reasonable people and we can
all smart reasonable people and we can probably come to these conclusions on
probably come to these conclusions on
probably come to these conclusions on our own but sometimes you need a little
our own but sometimes you need a little
our own but sometimes you need a little push and I think hip hop can do that for
push and I think hip hop can do that for
push and I think hip hop can do that for us there are so many artists who make
us there are so many artists who make
us there are so many artists who make the kind of music that’s useful for this
the kind of music that’s useful for this
the kind of music that’s useful for this purpose but in the name of familiarity
purpose but in the name of familiarity
purpose but in the name of familiarity let’s look at Kanye as an example here
let’s look at Kanye as an example here
let’s look at Kanye as an example here we have a millionaire rapper with
we have a millionaire rapper with
we have a millionaire rapper with international renown who among the many
international renown who among the many
international renown who among the many less admirable traits that he’s
less admirable traits that he’s
less admirable traits that he’s developed over the last couple years has
developed over the last couple years has
developed over the last couple years has an innate ability to pack a lot of
an innate ability to pack a lot of
an innate ability to pack a lot of history and harsh reality into very few
history and harsh reality into very few
history and harsh reality into very few words he puts the scale on display
words he puts the scale on display
words he puts the scale on display impressively in a song called gorgeous
impressively in a song called gorgeous
impressively in a song called gorgeous from his studio album My Beautiful Dark
from his studio album My Beautiful Dark
from his studio album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
chances the devil dances and eventually
chances the devil dances and eventually answers to the caller autumn all them
answers to the caller autumn all them
answers to the caller autumn all them falling put the lover ball and get home
falling put the lover ball and get home
falling put the lover ball and get home with 30 Rock’s the cop look like Alec
with 30 Rock’s the cop look like Alec
with 30 Rock’s the cop look like Alec Baldwin in essentially anthems faced off
Baldwin in essentially anthems faced off
Baldwin in essentially anthems faced off in a city Tantrums based off the way we
in a city Tantrums based off the way we
in a city Tantrums based off the way we was branded face into Rome get more time
was branded face into Rome get more time
was branded face into Rome get more time than brand
than brand
than brand through my bag tell me that is random
through my bag tell me that is random
through my bag tell me that is random but we stay winning this week has been a
but we stay winning this week has been a
but we stay winning this week has been a bear massage I need all right so there’s
bear massage I need all right so there’s
bear massage I need all right so there’s a lot going on here but basically what
a lot going on here but basically what
a lot going on here but basically what Kanye is saying is that the criminal
Kanye is saying is that the criminal
Kanye is saying is that the criminal justice system is maybe not all that
justice system is maybe not all that
justice system is maybe not all that just and he’s right
just and he’s right
just and he’s right this isn’t groundbreaking news there’s a
this isn’t groundbreaking news there’s a
this isn’t groundbreaking news there’s a mountain of evidence suggesting that
mountain of evidence suggesting that
mountain of evidence suggesting that rates of arrests frequency of conviction
rates of arrests frequency of conviction
rates of arrests frequency of conviction and severity of sentencing are
and severity of sentencing are
and severity of sentencing are exponentially higher for
exponentially higher for
exponentially higher for african-americans in this country in
african-americans in this country in
african-americans in this country in comparison to whites black men are
comparison to whites black men are
comparison to whites black men are roughly five times more likely to serve
roughly five times more likely to serve
roughly five times more likely to serve time over the course of their lives
time over the course of their lives
time over the course of their lives and despite representing only about 7%
and despite representing only about 7%
and despite representing only about 7% of the general population they make up
of the general population they make up
of the general population they make up more than 35 percent of the male prison
more than 35 percent of the male prison
more than 35 percent of the male prison population as you can see similar
population as you can see similar
population as you can see similar discrepancies exist between black and
discrepancies exist between black and
discrepancies exist between black and white women so clearly something is
white women so clearly something is
white women so clearly something is wrong but how did we get here
faintly while they fingers on the
faintly while they fingers on the triggers they pull switch on my head
triggers they pull switch on my head
triggers they pull switch on my head they downforce on my crotches and they
they downforce on my crotches and they
they downforce on my crotches and they would be the lucky we had diamonds on
would be the lucky we had diamonds on
would be the lucky we had diamonds on that watch
I get the privilege of policing by
I get the privilege of policing by surprise
again there are a lot of layers and you
again there are a lot of layers and you can be forgiven for not catching
can be forgiven for not catching
can be forgiven for not catching everything the first time but at its
everything the first time but at its
everything the first time but at its core this first is killing Mike’s claim
core this first is killing Mike’s claim
core this first is killing Mike’s claim that the war on drugs was used to
that the war on drugs was used to
that the war on drugs was used to justify the criminalization of black
justify the criminalization of black
justify the criminalization of black skin and just like Kanye he’s right in
skin and just like Kanye he’s right in
skin and just like Kanye he’s right in the 1970s the federal government
the 1970s the federal government
the 1970s the federal government launched an assault against low-income
launched an assault against low-income
launched an assault against low-income predominately black communities the
predominately black communities the
predominately black communities the effects of which are still being felt
effects of which are still being felt
effects of which are still being felt today despite the negligible percentage
today despite the negligible percentage
today despite the negligible percentage of the drug use and population that they
of the drug use and population that they
of the drug use and population that they represented black city dwellers were
represented black city dwellers were
represented black city dwellers were coded as threats criminals and most
coded as threats criminals and most
coded as threats criminals and most famously super predators what began as a
famously super predators what began as a
famously super predators what began as a campaign to combat drug use has evolved
campaign to combat drug use has evolved
campaign to combat drug use has evolved into a corrupt criminal justice system
into a corrupt criminal justice system
into a corrupt criminal justice system that methodically and mercilessly
that methodically and mercilessly
that methodically and mercilessly targets people of color today the
targets people of color today the
targets people of color today the proportion of African Americans and
proportion of African Americans and
proportion of African Americans and prison populations at seeds the
prison populations at seeds the
prison populations at seeds the proportion among residents in every
proportion among residents in every
proportion among residents in every single state and in 20 states percentage
single state and in 20 states percentage
single state and in 20 states percentage of black people incarcerated is at least
of black people incarcerated is at least
of black people incarcerated is at least 5 times greater than their share of the
5 times greater than their share of the
5 times greater than their share of the resident population this isn’t breaking
resident population this isn’t breaking
resident population this isn’t breaking news I can’t stress that enough this is
news I can’t stress that enough this is
news I can’t stress that enough this is not news over the last several years
not news over the last several years
not news over the last several years there’s been an explosion in the
there’s been an explosion in the
there’s been an explosion in the literature surrounding this topic with
literature surrounding this topic with
literature surrounding this topic with acclaimed authors like Angela Davis and
acclaimed authors like Angela Davis and
acclaimed authors like Angela Davis and Michelle Alexander publishing works on
Michelle Alexander publishing works on
Michelle Alexander publishing works on the subject and more recently with the
the subject and more recently with the
the subject and more recently with the release of the oscar-nominated
release of the oscar-nominated
release of the oscar-nominated documentary film 13th there’s now
documentary film 13th there’s now
documentary film 13th there’s now officially too much information
officially too much information
officially too much information available to all of us for anyone to
available to all of us for anyone to
available to all of us for anyone to continue denying the truth but knowing
continue denying the truth but knowing
continue denying the truth but knowing the facts is no longer enough we all see
the facts is no longer enough we all see
the facts is no longer enough we all see what’s going on but now it’s time we
what’s going on but now it’s time we
what’s going on but now it’s time we start asking why in the recently
start asking why in the recently
start asking why in the recently resurfaced interview a former Nixon aide
resurfaced interview a former Nixon aide
resurfaced interview a former Nixon aide named John Ehrlichman explains the true
named John Ehrlichman explains the true
named John Ehrlichman explains the true aims of the war on drugs in terrifyingly
aims of the war on drugs in terrifyingly
aims of the war on drugs in terrifyingly simple language the Nixon campaign in
simple language the Nixon campaign in
simple language the Nixon campaign in 1968 he said and the Nixon White House
1968 he said and the Nixon White House
1968 he said and the Nixon White House after that had two enemies the anti-war
after that had two enemies the anti-war
after that had two enemies the anti-war left and black people you understand why
left and black people you understand why
left and black people you understand why I’m saying we knew we couldn’t make it
I’m saying we knew we couldn’t make it
I’m saying we knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be against the war or black
illegal to be against the war or black
illegal to be against the war or black but by getting the public to associate
but by getting the public to associate
but by getting the public to associate the hippies of marijuana and blacks with
the hippies of marijuana and blacks with
the hippies of marijuana and blacks with heroin and then criminalizing both
heroin and then criminalizing both
heroin and then criminalizing both heavily we could disrupt those
heavily we could disrupt those
heavily we could disrupt those communities we could arrest their
communities we could arrest their
communities we could arrest their leaders raid their homes break up their
leaders raid their homes break up their
leaders raid their homes break up their meetings and vilify the night after
meetings and vilify the night after
meetings and vilify the night after night on the evening news do we know
night on the evening news do we know
night on the evening news do we know we’re lying about the drugs of course we
we’re lying about the drugs of course we
we’re lying about the drugs of course we did the suffering inflicted on black
did the suffering inflicted on black
did the suffering inflicted on black communities wasn’t an accident or a
communities wasn’t an accident or a
communities wasn’t an accident or a coincidence or an unforeseen side effect
coincidence or an unforeseen side effect
coincidence or an unforeseen side effect it was the primary goal of a sinister
it was the primary goal of a sinister
it was the primary goal of a sinister plot and these two artists just like a
plot and these two artists just like a
plot and these two artists just like a lot of other intelligent and
lot of other intelligent and
lot of other intelligent and well-respected critical thinkers
well-respected critical thinkers
well-respected critical thinkers understood that from the
understood that from the
understood that from the but what separates them from the
but what separates them from the
but what separates them from the scholars who write about the war on
scholars who write about the war on
scholars who write about the war on drugs in lengthy academic journals and
drugs in lengthy academic journals and
drugs in lengthy academic journals and published volumes is that they’ve been
published volumes is that they’ve been
published volumes is that they’ve been able to condense decades of history and
able to condense decades of history and
able to condense decades of history and knowledge into neatly packaged two line
knowledge into neatly packaged two line
knowledge into neatly packaged two line rhymes that are both readily accessible
rhymes that are both readily accessible
rhymes that are both readily accessible and easily understood doesn’t take a
and easily understood doesn’t take a
and easily understood doesn’t take a genius to listen carefully and ask
genius to listen carefully and ask
genius to listen carefully and ask questions what I’m trying to say with
questions what I’m trying to say with
questions what I’m trying to say with all this is that rap music isn’t just
all this is that rap music isn’t just
all this is that rap music isn’t just entertainment
entertainment
entertainment there are legitimate extraordinarily
there are legitimate extraordinarily
there are legitimate extraordinarily important truths in these lyrics and
important truths in these lyrics and
important truths in these lyrics and they’re not all about unfair sentencing
they’re not all about unfair sentencing
they’re not all about unfair sentencing conscious rappers are taking on a litany
conscious rappers are taking on a litany
conscious rappers are taking on a litany of social crises facing this country and
of social crises facing this country and
of social crises facing this country and if we want to understand them all we
if we want to understand them all we
if we want to understand them all we need to do is listen closer Chancellor
need to do is listen closer Chancellor
need to do is listen closer Chancellor rapper criticizes the mainstream media’s
rapper criticizes the mainstream media’s
rapper criticizes the mainstream media’s racially motivated news coverage in a
racially motivated news coverage in a
racially motivated news coverage in a lucid and poignant verse and all we know
lucid and poignant verse and all we know
lucid and poignant verse and all we know about him is you don’t want no problem
about him is you don’t want no problem
about him is you don’t want no problem with me Kendrick Lamar confronts the
with me Kendrick Lamar confronts the
with me Kendrick Lamar confronts the self-hatred that results from
self-hatred that results from
self-hatred that results from internalized notions of white supremacy
internalized notions of white supremacy
internalized notions of white supremacy and we walk away with bitch don’t kill
and we walk away with bitch don’t kill
and we walk away with bitch don’t kill my vibe there are artists from Chicago
my vibe there are artists from Chicago
my vibe there are artists from Chicago who express deeply empathetic fear of
who express deeply empathetic fear of
who express deeply empathetic fear of race inspired police violence an artist
race inspired police violence an artist
race inspired police violence an artist from Atlanta who engaged with issues
from Atlanta who engaged with issues
from Atlanta who engaged with issues surrounding black authenticity and
surrounding black authenticity and
surrounding black authenticity and limits and imposes on uniqueness and
limits and imposes on uniqueness and
limits and imposes on uniqueness and individuality
individuality
individuality there are even artists who reject the
there are even artists who reject the
there are even artists who reject the very glorification of crime that’s so
very glorification of crime that’s so
very glorification of crime that’s so often used by critics to undermine the
often used by critics to undermine the
often used by critics to undermine the legitimacy of hip-hop as a social
legitimacy of hip-hop as a social
legitimacy of hip-hop as a social movement I had a conversation with a
movement I had a conversation with a
movement I had a conversation with a friend recently who told me that he had
friend recently who told me that he had
friend recently who told me that he had mixed feelings about J Cole he said that
mixed feelings about J Cole he said that
mixed feelings about J Cole he said that he liked his music and that he respected
he liked his music and that he respected
he liked his music and that he respected his honesty but there was something
his honesty but there was something
his honesty but there was something about the rapper that bothered him he
about the rapper that bothered him he
about the rapper that bothered him he just makes me feel so privileged he told
just makes me feel so privileged he told
just makes me feel so privileged he told me and I couldn’t help but think that in
me and I couldn’t help but think that in
me and I couldn’t help but think that in some ways that was probably the most
some ways that was probably the most
some ways that was probably the most important thing J Cole had ever done he
important thing J Cole had ever done he
important thing J Cole had ever done he started that conversation for the two of
started that conversation for the two of
started that conversation for the two of us just like all of these artists are
us just like all of these artists are
us just like all of these artists are doing for all of their listeners but
doing for all of their listeners but
doing for all of their listeners but their efforts won’t amount to anything
their efforts won’t amount to anything
their efforts won’t amount to anything if we don’t follow their lead yes it’s
if we don’t follow their lead yes it’s
if we don’t follow their lead yes it’s fine to listen to Tupac and say Wow
fine to listen to Tupac and say Wow
fine to listen to Tupac and say Wow poverty’s pretty messed up but that
poverty’s pretty messed up but that
poverty’s pretty messed up but that can’t be the end of the discussion we
can’t be the end of the discussion we
can’t be the end of the discussion we need to use the songs that provoke those
need to use the songs that provoke those
need to use the songs that provoke those thoughtful reactions as entry points
thoughtful reactions as entry points
thoughtful reactions as entry points into exploring the more complicated
into exploring the more complicated
into exploring the more complicated problems underlying the lyrics what is
problems underlying the lyrics what is
problems underlying the lyrics what is it about J Cole’s music that makes you
it about J Cole’s music that makes you
it about J Cole’s music that makes you feel privileged and why do you feel like
feel privileged and why do you feel like
feel privileged and why do you feel like that and why does that bother you why do
that and why does that bother you why do
that and why does that bother you why do you think you have those advantages and
you think you have those advantages and
you think you have those advantages and that who’s expensively coming and most
that who’s expensively coming and most
that who’s expensively coming and most importantly now that you’ve had these
importantly now that you’ve had these
importantly now that you’ve had these realizations what are you gonna do about
realizations what are you gonna do about
realizations what are you gonna do about it if we can train ourselves to look
it if we can train ourselves to look
it if we can train ourselves to look beyond the words and try to engage with
beyond the words and try to engage with
beyond the words and try to engage with the realities that inspire them it might
the realities that inspire them it might
the realities that inspire them it might easier for us to take the intellect of
easier for us to take the intellect of
easier for us to take the intellect of these artists more seriously I’m not
these artists more seriously I’m not
these artists more seriously I’m not suggesting that we allow rappers to
suggesting that we allow rappers to
suggesting that we allow rappers to stand in for historians or philosophers
stand in for historians or philosophers
stand in for historians or philosophers or legal scholars but I do think that
or legal scholars but I do think that
or legal scholars but I do think that could be part of the same conversation
could be part of the same conversation
could be part of the same conversation the intellectual credibility barrier
the intellectual credibility barrier
the intellectual credibility barrier that’s disqualified rap music from
that’s disqualified rap music from
that’s disqualified rap music from academic conversation for so long is
academic conversation for so long is
academic conversation for so long is already beginning to crumble look at
already beginning to crumble look at
already beginning to crumble look at Hamilton
Hamilton
Hamilton lin-manuel Miranda lin-manuel Miranda
lin-manuel Miranda lin-manuel Miranda
lin-manuel Miranda lin-manuel Miranda used a musical built on hip hop to
used a musical built on hip hop to
used a musical built on hip hop to engage a subset of the population has
engage a subset of the population has
engage a subset of the population has largely avoided whether they meant to or
largely avoided whether they meant to or
largely avoided whether they meant to or not the more sanitized less accurate
not the more sanitized less accurate
not the more sanitized less accurate version of our country’s history at the
version of our country’s history at the
version of our country’s history at the plate depicts and if Miranda can get a
plate depicts and if Miranda can get a
plate depicts and if Miranda can get a group of women from Highland Park
group of women from Highland Park
group of women from Highland Park Illinois to personally identify with the
Illinois to personally identify with the
Illinois to personally identify with the Somali immigrants then surely there’s
Somali immigrants then surely there’s
Somali immigrants then surely there’s hope for everyone
hope for everyone
hope for everyone of course I’m simplifying all of this in
of course I’m simplifying all of this in
of course I’m simplifying all of this in terms of a lie ship claiming to
terms of a lie ship claiming to
terms of a lie ship claiming to understand what it means to be black in
understand what it means to be black in
understand what it means to be black in America because you’ve memorized the
America because you’ve memorized the
America because you’ve memorized the discography of Outkast is no better than
discography of Outkast is no better than
discography of Outkast is no better than telling your friends that you don’t see
telling your friends that you don’t see
telling your friends that you don’t see color listening isn’t the end game no
color listening isn’t the end game no
color listening isn’t the end game no but it is the first step the way I see
but it is the first step the way I see
but it is the first step the way I see it
it
it there are two possible routes to take
there are two possible routes to take
there are two possible routes to take going forward either we all agree to
going forward either we all agree to
going forward either we all agree to only consume our own cultures and we
only consume our own cultures and we
only consume our own cultures and we wipe our hands and the harmonious
wipe our hands and the harmonious
wipe our hands and the harmonious relations conversation for good or we
relations conversation for good or we
relations conversation for good or we commit to making a concerted effort
commit to making a concerted effort
commit to making a concerted effort towards symbiotic cultural interaction
towards symbiotic cultural interaction
towards symbiotic cultural interaction the first option leads to the complete
the first option leads to the complete
the first option leads to the complete erasure of racial mingling and
erasure of racial mingling and
erasure of racial mingling and guarantees the progress toward social
guarantees the progress toward social
guarantees the progress toward social equity ends tomorrow but the second
equity ends tomorrow but the second
equity ends tomorrow but the second offers us a chance a chance that comes
offers us a chance a chance that comes
offers us a chance a chance that comes at a price and if you only remember one
at a price and if you only remember one
at a price and if you only remember one thing from this talk let it be this if
thing from this talk let it be this if
thing from this talk let it be this if you’re going to reap the fruits of the
you’re going to reap the fruits of the
you’re going to reap the fruits of the people then you have an obligation to
people then you have an obligation to
people then you have an obligation to understand the conditions in which
understand the conditions in which
understand the conditions in which they’ve been sown fortunately we have in
they’ve been sown fortunately we have in
they’ve been sown fortunately we have in rap music both an incredible pedagogical
rap music both an incredible pedagogical
rap music both an incredible pedagogical tool and a thing that we all love and I
tool and a thing that we all love and I
tool and a thing that we all love and I think if we take a closer look at that
think if we take a closer look at that
think if we take a closer look at that thing and just use it as a starting
thing and just use it as a starting
thing and just use it as a starting point we can work toward a placing blind
point we can work toward a placing blind
point we can work toward a placing blind assumptions with informed conversations
assumptions with informed conversations
assumptions with informed conversations and total separation with empathetic
and total separation with empathetic
and total separation with empathetic relationships we can stop hiding behind
relationships we can stop hiding behind
relationships we can stop hiding behind intentional ignorance and start seeking
intentional ignorance and start seeking
intentional ignorance and start seeking justice for each other and if we can do
justice for each other and if we can do
justice for each other and if we can do those things then maybe we can form some
those things then maybe we can form some
those things then maybe we can form some meaningful and more importantly some
meaningful and more importantly some
meaningful and more importantly some productive connections
”
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