A Scene All Too Familiar

I plan on using NWA's "Fuxk Tha Police"for this assignment. I choose this song because the movement associated with it is somewhat personal and one I feel extremely passionate about. I plan on analyzing police oppression against young African Americans in the South Central communities of Los Angeles. I grew up and still live in South Central LA, so I understand firsthand the brutality and oppression young African Americans face(d) at the hands of the police force. I understand that the police force has no basis for their targeting of young African Americans, but my paper will not focus on that. I believe most people would agree on that notion. I plan to identify and analyze a more controversial issue that deals with this movement. What can we as the oppressed do to better our reputation and lift the stereotypes that bring us down, and ultimately cause the targeting of young black kids? Let me also give futher clarity. This argument by no means attempts to blame young African Americans for the undue oppression we face, but it gives realistic direction and knowledge of what action needs to be taken to fight a past plagued with oppression.

NWA’s song directly attacks the police, and rightfully so, but fails to think of what our role is as young African Americans for the progression of this movement. And in part because of this, they unknowingly produce and release a song in “Fuxk Tha Police” that further degrades the race and reaffirms stereotypes that slow the progress of this social movement. My intention to speak on such matters does not mean I completely dislike NWA or their popular music. It simply means for the purposes of this movement, this song has had the opposite effect many great songs have had on similar movements historically. Songs such as “Strange Fruit” or “We Shall Overcome” give light to why this movement is taking place, but also gives positive direction.