Popular Music and Race in America : Geraldo Rivera rips Kendrick Lamar's BET Award set

Survey Responses: Brown Sugar by Kendrick Lamar

Answer to Question One: I listened to Brown Sugar. I have heard this song many times before, however I am quite embarrassed to say that I had never really paid attention very closely to the words, especially the verses. Once I did I was shocked by the obvious racial and offensive language that was being used. I began to contemplate the reasons by Mick Jagger would have chosen these lyrics. Why, out of all the things he could have written about, did he choose to focus slavery and the horrible things that occurred as a result. Once that train of thought began it did not stop. I am still so confused about what kind of statement he was trying to make. When this song was written, during the late 60s, early 70s, there was a tremendous amount of violence occurring toward the African American community. Why would the Rolling Stones want to so blatantly add on to this horrible violence and discrimination by writing a song that essentially glorifying slavery? Then I began to think that perhaps he was trying to make some kind of positive political statement about how horrible that time was. This song is the first track from their album "Sticky Fingers" and I question why they would want to begin their record with such offensive lyrics. I wonder what people at the time thought of this track. I wonder why it was not met with more opposition and criticism (perhaps it was, I am not particularly knowledgeable about that subject).

Answer to Question 2: This song references a slave ship, cotton fields, a slave market in new orleans, and contains the line "hear him whip the women just around midnight". Brown sugar itself is a racial phrase referring to African Americans. Essentially every lined makes some kind of offensive racial reference (cajun queen, just like a black girl should, etc).

Answer to Question 3: I was incredibly surprised. Most of this was because I cannot wrap my head around the songwriters' purpose in creating this song. For what reason did Mick Jagger and Keith Richards feel this was appropriate content for an upbeat, popular song. I realize that, especially during this time, rock and roll bands often used controversial topics in their songs like drugs and sex, but this song really seems to test those limits. I would like to research more in depth how this song was perceived during the time it was released to see if it was met with the same kind of response it would probably be met with by most people today if someone like Harry Styles, for example, decided to release a song containing similar lyrics.

Survey Responses: DNA. Kendrick Lamar

Question One: Discuss your thoughts on at least one (1) of the following songs listed: "Redbone" by Childish Gambino, "Brother Louie" by Stories, "DNA" by Kendrick Lamar, or "Brown Sugar" by The Rolling Stones. You may be as descriptive and deep in your observation as you would like, and you are welcome to state your opinions on the topic of the song chosen.

Answer: DNA by Kendrick Lamar is a poignant cornerstone of black identity. Kendrick Lamar eloquently creates not only a song that anyone can enjoy but one that represents and highlights the overlooked beauties and intelligences of black people.

Question Two: It what ways (if any) did the song you listen to make references to racism or reflect on black identity?

Answer: Kendrick Lamar highlights the greatness in black identity (royalty inside my DNA). He uses a typical source of racism (DNA) and turns it around. All throughout history, racist bigots have used false claims about black people’s DNA to argue that they were subhuman. Kendrick Lamar uses the historical racism of “different” DNA as a catalyst for pride and identity for black people.

Question Three: Were you surprised or offended in anyway at these references towards race? If so, why?

Answer: No. As a white woman, I feel no offense or surprise to Kendrick Lamar’s DNA. Race needs to be talked about. Black pride needs to exist to counteract the abundance of racism that still permeates our flawed country today.

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Geraldo Rivera rips Kendrick Lamar's BET Award set

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