Music and African-American Experiences

The Use of Music to Convey Racism and Oppression

The use of music as a vehicle for articulating issues that the public feels are important and call for notice plays a special role in society. This essay will concentrate on the film “Do the Right Thing” and examine how the music is used to convey the level of racism and oppression experienced by the African American community in a small Brooklyn neighborhood (Lee). Here, the focus will be on the connection between the song “Fight the Power” and its use in the film in order to comprehend the underlying problems of racial prejudice that demand attention (Lee). Do the Right Thing brings forth the struggles of the black American community in the late 1980’s and the harsh experiences they underwent in the efforts to express themselves in their community. In the case of the pizza parlor incident, a mere request by a customer, Bugging Out, for the recognition of African American celebrities resulted in a confrontation with the owner, Sal Forgione, which escalates to an unprecedented violence(Lee). Here, the movie indicates the level of oppression levied against the African Americans in their neighborhood where such a simple request turns into a massive incident and creates instability in the small community.

Stereotypes of Black Americans in Hip-Hop Cinema

In the book Understanding Black American Aspects in Hip-Hop Cinema, Tani Sanchez talks about the cinematic stereotypes of Black Americans as it relates to their music and dance(Sanchez 15). Sanchez mentions the manner in which black Americans have been able to use this creativity in dance and music as an encouragement during tough times as a reminder of their hope for freedom and equality. The song “Fight the Power”(Sanchez 17) in the film has a very vibrant theme of power and energy which resonates with the movie but maintaining the mood of activism. It is evident in the use of lyrics such as “What we need is awareness, we can’t be careless” where it expresses the deep-rooted longing for fraternity when dealing with current issues: race(Sanchez 25).

The Meaning of Race in Contemporary America

Despite the proper use of characters in the film in assisting the audience in understanding the movie, the outstanding message of the video is the meaning of race in contemporary America(Michael 2). Understanding Black American Aspects in Hip-Hop by Sanchez suggests the use of “Mise-en-scene” as an essential element that provides new insight into the analysis of the movie(Sanchez 20). It provides for the visual narrative of the video which is usually subversive of the upfront narrative of the film. It can be seen in the choice sceneries such as sweltering weather conditions, specific dances and use of regular clothing with distinct colors and the use of boxing gloves and robes during dances(Lee).

Conclusion

Battles for freedom for the African American is usually documented based on the events of civil right movements that took place mostly in the 1950’s and 1960’s like the case of “Brown v. Board of Education Decision” and the killing of Martin Luther King(Watkins 19). However, this paper while referencing to supporting articles has brought forth a different understanding of the use of channels such as music in the pursuit of freedom and equality. In the above case, music was used to demand the dissemination of racist ideologies and the use of “power” in the infiltration of language but also in the course of this energy in music it stresses on solidarity and fraternity(Watkins 24). The issues addressed in this essay are paramount in understanding the operation of social culturalism and the manner in which it relates to racial activism especially in the African Americans plight for freedom and equality. It is important to understand the fact that for people to become a political force who can decisively bring up a more conventional political and social world, it is prudent for the people first to develop a cultural force(Watkins 32).

Work Cited

Lee, Spike. Do the Right Thing. Universal Pictures, 1989. Film.

Michael, Ezra. “Perspectives in American Social History.” N.p. 2. Print.

Sanchez, Tani. Understanding Black American Aspects in Hip Hop Cinema. N.p., (2016). 15, 17, 20,25 Print.

Watkins, S. Craig. ”Representing: Hip Hop Culture and the Production of Black Cinema.” (1999): 19, 24, 32. Print.