MLK's speech, I Have a Dream, analogy of cashing in a promissory note that was issued by our republic is a strong statement to America that the people that they have written a check that has no value, no backing of what America stands for...is going to be questioned, going to be challenged. To cash in a check....no one knows if the issuer has the money to back it...we hope...we hope that they are good for promise. A check is cashed and of value only once the receiver receives the cash in hand....the black Americans will only have value of freedom and of all the offerings America has for its people only when they too can share in that all that America has to offer ... being equal, receiving equally what the white people have been given. To state that they are no longer going to accept what America is saying...they don't care that there is no more to give, bankruptcy is not an excuse...not going to be accepted. There are children being brought into the world every day...whites still receiving what has be held from the black man...and what about the black babies....there will only be less for their future if the people don't stand up NOW. We all have dreams....to wake up and have them come true is what we all wish for.
As for Public Enemy's words in the song Fight the Power, it sent a message of confrontation, of an agitated mob, of a people that is fed up with waiting and no longer going to stand for the world to wait. It was very rowdy ... it was a picture of chaos ... people ready to fight for their rights ... fight with fists, with violence. For him to sing that he was fed up waiting for change, that MLK's way of doing things was in the past, it did not work, it was to soft....no one listened....now, PE was going to make them listen. Watching the people walking in PE's video ... I saw them being hyped up by noise and anger which can lead to violence. Very standoffish ... very confrontational ... very taunting.
MLK's walk was one of peace, of unity...men, women and children (all ages) together walking tall and strong together, blacks, whites, and other nationalities....together. Peaceful...open-mind discussion to come together for a solution.
PE's walk was one of only black Americans....where were the white people....why did we not see unity if that is what they are fighting for, singing for, speaking of.
The other prominent message PE displayed was that violence is the only way through the use of the black men dressed all in black, the image of the Black Panthers. He used this image to promote negativity. The Black Panthers were a group established to protect the black man from the police brutality....their confrontational, militant and violent ways hurt all that they may have worked for, the good for the black population (i.e. feeding the children before school). They did use violent tactics, they used force, they used power towards compliance. The way the men in black with black hats danced...symbolized militant walk, but through dance.
PE sings the words of the Black Panthers... he sings, "got to give us what we want, gotta give us what we need." The Black Panthers spoke, "What we Want, What we Believe." PE is saying it is NOW to give us what we NEED, because you have not giving us what we believe...we now demand it...we need it. They are tired of waiting.
This strong use of words by PE, is POWER, to force change....I know if I am forced to do something, I do the opposite. His words are too strong...it can work against him, and everyone else he is fighting for.
One last observation that gave me doubt in PE's words...it his display of the men who also were mixed with the men dressed in black with the black hats, the men that had the red hats on. I felt they symbolized peace, the Guardian Angels. Although PE's words rang of change through power (violence)...the men with the red hats were intertwined -- woven into the pattern of men, there is non-violence and it will always be present and be used to combat violence.
No comments:
Post a Comment