Content

  It's a rather uncomfortable subject, race. Hard to talk about simply because we all have a different perspective. I can not know what it is like to grow up black in America, I'm white. Black people don't know what it's like growing up white in America because they are black. Contrary to what most people will say you can't empathize with that. All you can do is agree with their point of view, at least tacitly and offer your assistance. Well because you know they need help right? That's the thinking if you are white. If you're black the thinking is, the white folks are holding me back. At least that is the built in excuse for any failure. Is that the reality? Funny thing about that is even when black folks "make it" they are successful, they did that "in spite of." That somehow makes their achievements somehow superior to all others. It is never equal too, it is always just a little better, well because. 

  One of the great leaders in civil rights was undoubtedly Martin Luther King Jr. His was a message of non-violence, acceptance and equality. Perhaps his most famous quote is judging his children by the content of their character instead of the color of their skin. Yet today, the color of their skin is at the forefront of every message. If you're black, you're being discriminated against in some fashion. The two things are inseparable, joined at birth, like Siamese twins. One can not live without the other! The white folks need to be less white. The content of their character is being judged by the color of their skin. The very thing that is supposed to be eliminated. So, the question I have is this, how do we judge the content of character, what is the standard being applied? Does wealth play a role in that? Are wealthy people somehow superior in character to all others? I sure hear a lot about income inequality being a contributor. 

  If only black people lived in rich neighborhoods and went to better schools. That would surely form the content of their character. There is something to be said for that, we do tend to adapt to our environments don't we? Even white people do that and there are poor white people too, we ain't all rich. In fact there are far more poor white people in America than there are black people. There are about 19 million white folks in poverty and about 7.8 million black people. Yes, it's true the percentage rate of poverty is higher in the black communities when taken in context, but facts remain, a lot more poor white people than black people. Has that anything to do with color or character? It's my feeling it has to do with environment. Isn't that the concept behind socialism? If everyone has to share, everyone has the same. Communism takes that concept to the next level, you can't own personal property, only the government can, everyone gets the same! Well, except for the ruling class, they are exempt. It has nothing to do with color or character.

  It seems to me the music of a generation foretells what that generation will embrace. I'm certainly no student of music in America on a sociological scale but have been around awhile. I'm old enough to remember when Elvis was thought to be the devils spawn! Why his behavior was outrageous, sinful! He couldn't be shown below the waist on national television! Rock and Roll music! That lead to what? Revolution, revolts, protesting, and a general upheaval in American society. When those rock and roll freaks got into politics things changed. Free love, long haired freaky people, and anti-American sentiment. That music did influence the youth. Then we had disco, what was that all about? Party down, boogie nights and drug use. Heck by then even the cowboys were smoking dope! Generations changing things up. All that inspired the white boys and some of the black folks too, although Soul music was the predominant music in the black communities. At that time they did enjoy broad appeal, everyone was listening. It certainly had its' influence, I think for the better. We are the world! In 1985 forty five of the biggest recording stars in America all came together in support of Africa. Millions were raised. It was a healing of sorts from the social unrest of the sixties and seventies. Too bad it didn't last. 

  Now this part I can't write about with any degree of authority or certainty because I just don't know. I also don't know anyone that would know and give me an honest answer. All I know is what little I hear in the negative sense about this, hip-hop, rap, gangster stuff that the young black people are supposed to be listening to. Just how accurate that is I can't say, is it a stereotype? Probably on some level it is but kids tend to listen to what is popular, hence the term popular music. They also tend to be influenced by the lyrics to those songs. I watch the news and hear about all the shootings, beatings, looting, robbery and hate going on and can't but wonder where that is coming from. Is that the contribution to character causing the unrest today? I'd say it is a possibility. History seems to support that notion. In 1968 Otis Redding was singing, Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay, Marvin Gaye was singing I heard it through the Grapevine, Aretha Franklin sang Think and Chain of Fools, the Box Tops sang Cry like a Baby. Wasn't anything too radical about any of those songs, those influences. 

  Well, I'm no sociologist that's for certain but it's worth thinking about. Is character developed by what we are taught, possibly through the songs we listen to and the books we read? How do we judge character? I don't think Martin Luther King Jr. thought character and the color of your skin were one and the same, quite the opposite. He was talking about not judging people by the color of their skin! Seems obvious enough to me. I can say this with certainty and conviction, I have known, and still do know, people of great character with all different colors of skin. I've always called them my friends, not black friends, white friends, Asian friends or anything else, just friends.

  Yeah I've known some characters in my life and judged them according to their content. I do judge others by the content of their character when I get the chance to know that character. It was the way I was raised. Judge people on what they do, not so much on what they say. Actions do speak the loudest. Things are seldom as they first appear. Content of character requires conviction. That's what King was talking about. Doing the right thing, even when no one is looking. Judging others by what they do, not what they say, or what they look like. It requires a bit of trust. Fonzi had great character although that isn't what he wanted others to believe. Are these rappers actually contributing to social awareness and  in support of unity? I read a small piece online where the author insists that is what their intent is. Another article explains that Rap is all about the black man feeling oppressed and how violence is the only answer to that oppression. I expect like all music it means different things to different people. Just seems like there is a correlation between that music and what is happening in the streets. Is it shaping character? Guess it depends upon the content doesn't it?