I have been thinking about the resistance to the idea that words influence actions in general violence in particular.
In reality, the repetition of words is arguably one of the most powerful forces on earth.
Is there a connection between the ways in which rappers and Tea Party members use violent words, and how these words normalize violence against specific groups of people? It is certainly a question worth thinking about.
For example, last December, I along with Crunktastic, Crunk Feminists rep hard, wrote blog posts about Jay Electronica joking about choking women during sex during his concerts, his twenty thousand dollar bet with rapper Nas on whether “all women liked being choked during sex”, his silencing of dissent around the topic at his concerts and how this kind of rhetoric serves to normalize the conditions under which sexual violence occurs to women.
I had to block two people after I wrote that. They were incensed that I made the connection. On the other hand, many Americans don’t feel that there is a connection between Sarah Palin’s words and the violence that occured in Arizona recently either.
Go figure.
Interestingly Davey D wrote on a post on this topic as well in a post titled “If Rappers Can Take the Heat for Inflammatory Rhetoric, Why Can’t Sarah Palin.” I am not certain that rappers “take the heat” for their language. At least not in a public and sustained way since 2 Live Crew. Oh wait, there ways Nelly and Tip Drill…
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In trying to figure out why people think about defending positions they know or suspect are dead wrong, I ask myself, “what is their investment in the argument?”
Some people identify with rap music or The Tea Party so, to criticize either feels like you are criticizing them personally.
When talking about ideas and how they shape violence, what we are really talking about is our own willingness to acknowledge how we are complicit in that violence.
Words are powerful, and if you think they aren’t watch what happens when a grown White man calls a grown Black man a “Nigger.” #ummhmm.
Honestly, it was refreshing to see a conversation outside of the feminist blogosphere, where folks were talking about the harm of violent rhetoric.
What responsibility does a person, who has a large speaking platform, have for their language?
Why is it so easy for young men and women to see it as an issue when it comes to race but when it comes gender (men and women) they short circuit?
“What responsibility does a person, who has a large speaking platform, have for their language?”
A person with a large speaking platform has the responsibility to be honest – be it an entertainer or an educator. Now how many people are willing to take up this responsibility is s good question. Some do, many don’t.IMO
However! Paraphrasing Immortal Technique – “Just because you sold a million copies doesn’t mean you’re better than me. It just means a million people are stupid as f#$%”. Those in the audience also have a responsibility to support what supports them or discard what doesn’t support them. And that requires some critical thinking. Some people do that, a lot do not. IMO.
Why is it so easy for young men and women to see it as an issue when it comes to race but when it comes gender (men and women) they short circuit?
Not sure. Maybe they do not see the connection? Maybe they do not give much thought to what women have to go through? Maybe they enjoy the status that gender issues give them? Maybe they think their role within gender relationships cannot change?
Speaking on Jay Elect. There is a video of him in Toronto. I guess I got speechless @ 1:33 and clicked out. –> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESR2iZF07FI&feature=player_embedded
Interesting piece, kudos. I wonder where institutional power comes into play. What of the fact that most rappers come from disenfranchised groups but most Tea Partiers not so much. I think glorifying violence is despicable but the difference here is that Sarah Palin and the like have real political power to change legislation for all Americans and are treated as viable sources by the news media whereas violent rappers, no matter how popular, can’t get bills passed in congress and don’t get included as viable political voices. One group has more institutional power to change all our lives and thus their rhetoric is a much more pressing threat.
Hi Sarah, thank you for stopping by, we have a lot of fun here.
I have two questions for you.
What of the fact that most rappers come from disenfranchised groups but most Tea Partiers not so much.
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Hasn’t Whiteness worked historically by allowing working class and low income white folks the opportunity to identify with affluent Whites,
rather than their working class/low income peers of color?
How do we know what we know about the class and income background of Tea Partiers?
Is White working class rage real?
real political power to change legislation for all Americans
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My understanding of how power works is that it comes from the ground up, but it is maintained at the top, this comes out of my understanding of Gramsci and Saul Alinsky’s Rules for radicals.
whereas violent rappers, no matter how popular, can’t get bills passed in congress and don’t get included as viable political voices
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What would happen if we thought about change happening not within the electoral political system, but changing the fabric of the system itself.
Cathy Cohens essay “Punks, Bulldaggers..” influences my thinking here. I mention in the Little Dragon post. It would be interesting to see what you think of rappers, the White working class and the possibilities for electoral and systemic change after reading it.
I look forward to your response.
~Renina
What does liking choking during sex have to do with the violent rhetoric from the Tea-Partiers causing the death of Congresswoman Gifford?
@Carmelita Jones
You are a new reader here so I have a question.
Did you read the post?
What is the connection between language and violence? Be it the Tea Party or Rapper. In this instance we are talking about Jay Elec.