First
I blog about a Hollywood movie, and now a rap song. I thought it was
very well done though, esp. how touchy a subject this is for a white
rapper.
The key quote to me was, "What are [white people] willing to risk and sacrifice to create a more just society?"
Critics
say that guilt trips won't change whites and only makes them dig in.
But sometime there isn't a more comfortable alternative.
Real
change and progress has to hurt, and sometime it is zero sum. Otherwise
it's just a BS Oscars speech and telethon. Show you care for 5 min and
then return to the comfortable status quo. Remember that some white
man had to give a spot to Medgar Evers, Jackie Robinson, Sandra Day
O'Connor, Obama, etc. justice means fairly sharing resources,
responsibilities, and hardships.
It's like $100 on the
sidewalk. You didn't steal it from anyone, and no one will notice if you
take it, and it will make your life better. But the right thing to do
is to refrain, because you are not entitled to it, and maybe you can
find its rightful owner or donate it to a good cause. But that takes
discipline and caring. This is such a hostile, me-first culture; do we
have the courage to do this for different looking strangers who are
subconsciously associated with all things bad, because of centuries of
bigotry? Can our better angels prevail?
I know
not everyone can fight against injustice, but everyone has the power to
not partake in privileges that are paid for by the pain and blood of
innocent victims of prejudice.
