Put The Blame on Hip-Hop:

                                                                              

     In regards to statements made by MSNBC concerning the SAE frat's 'race' chant, I've done some reflecting and observation. Now I am left to wonder: Why does the blame always resort back to Hip-Hop? If you are not up to date, a video was leaked of SAE members on a  bus chanting in the tune of "If You're Happy and You Know it Clap Your Hands" : There will never be a n***** SAE/ There will never be a n***** SAE/ You can hang ‘em from a tree, but it will never start with me/There will never be a n***** SAE. 

As the video went viral it didn't take long for Waka Flocka to see it and to take action:

                 

 Let me digress for second to point out the powerful and positive influence Hip Hop has can bring to the world. As shown above, Flocka stated, "When I first started doing shows it was all hood spots and all black people...Now it's white, black and brown people at my shows. All races partying having a good time and enjoying themselves peacefully". I'm just going to let that sit there.

Referring back to the initial topic, MSNBC decided to dig further into Flocka's statement and dedicated a part of their Morning Joe segment to viewing their perspective of it. When first watching the clip one might want to scream, "RACIST!" Or maybe one might think, "Yes! They are right! Hearing the N-word in rap music influences them to say that!" I understand both rationale. The person screaming racist translates their message as an excuse for the frat's racist chant. The person in agreeance takes it as if rappers can use the N-word then somehow expect white people who listen to the music not to say it?

When I watch something I try not to react immediately. My initial reaction was on the fence between the two rationales I provided. While it seem like they were trying to downplay the situation, I felt as if their words held some truth to it. After taking time to soak the information in, I decided that no, they are not racist. But they are still wrong. The way they mocked Flocka and how they said, "He shouldn't be disgusted with them, he should be disgusted with himself!, first lead me to believe that they were racially against him. Then I imagined my older family members mocking him as well and realized that they most likely didn't agree with his content of music, which is their prerogative. I then I began to think about how black kids first started using the N-word. The only way you learn a word is by using it.That means that they heard it from their parents and/or through music. You tend to say it the context you hear it in.

I then suddenly realized two important factors:

1.  The N-word referred to by some of the SAE frat brothers ends with an -er. The N-word used by black people AND some white people end with an -a. While some may argue that neither one of the words should be used, they both have a very different distinct meaning. The one ending in '-er' has a painful racial background and sting to it. The other one has been modified to a word of endearment. 
2.  Whether they use the 'N'-word or not is not the prominent issue at hand. The concern is towards the rest of the chant that gave that word it's painful racial power: You can hang ‘em from a tree, but it will never start with me/There will never be a n—– SAE.” The chant is talking about lynching a black person and not allowing them into the fraternity because the color of their skin.

It is possible to blame rappers and African Americans who uses the word around other ethnicity, for white people using the N-word (ending with an -a). I personally have white friends who uses it, but only around their black friends that they are comfortable with and knowing that the feeling is mutual. They might even say it amongst a group of the same link minded white people. To these group of people, black or white, they are using it as a pronoun for " a person". That person could be friend or it could be a person that cuts you off in traffic. But never is it because of that person skin.

 In Hip Hop music that uses the N-word repeatedly, they are never talking about killing that person BECAUSE of their skin color. It would be impossible to say that they do not rap about killing someone and using the N-word in the same sentence. But again I emphasize, it is not because the color of their skin. Yes, the usage of the word and who can say it and why they are saying it, is a very important topic that must be discussed. However that is not the prominent issue at hand. MSNBC Morning Joe segment dedicated to Waka Flocka lyrics and how they found it just as disgusting as the chant is something I do not hold them against. The more I review the video the more I see it as a case of cognitive dissonance.

Morning Joe's Mika Brzezinski tried to clear up the statements made after a considerable amount of backlash saying that the lyrics of Waka Flocka had nothing to due with the influence of the chant. She knows that. But her previous statements said other wise. I believe that  it was her not wanting to deal with the real issue at hand which is  understand why these frat brothers felt it was okay to chanting about lynching someone. In former member's Levi Pettit apology statement he stated "I think I knew they were wrong, but I never knew why or how they were wrong...I’m not here to talk about where I learned the chant or where it was taught. I’m here to apologize for what I did". Pettit. For one the mass majority of the black community and a good amount of the white community could care less about your apology. Your apology doesn't bring answers. We expect you to apologize. That is how it works when dirty laundry is aired through the media. A better topic for Morning Joe's could have been why wasn't Pettit able to talk about where he the learned the chant and where it was taught? I must say again, you say a word in the manner you were taught to say it.

Rant session over.
Now I must take this moment to say their is power in music, especially Hip Hop. As I shown previously, people of all color attend Flocka's concert. That is a beautiful thing. Their isn't any other genre of music where at a concert you may see all different types of people, in equal proportion, all partying and having a good time together. I believe its important to find light in dark situations. The only way to come out of a dark place is to find the light.

It seems has if Kendrick Lamar is searching for the light with the release of his third solo album, To Pimp A Butterfly. The album firmly anchored in social consciousness pleads for peace and equality for all. Keep your eyes open for my review of this of this truthful Hip Hop album. Love and Peace.