Midterm Essay
From the beginning of recorded history, music, along with other things has been used as a tool to promote specific political and ideological messages. Even in today’s world in the 21st century, music is still being used as a tool to promote social activist movements. Modern artists such as Childish Gambino and Joyner Lucas have been putting social issues into the foreground with their songs of “This is America” and “I’M NOT RACIST”. In expressive music like hip hop, lyrics often reflected the situation surrounding the artist. Hip hop rose in popularity because it connected with a lot of youth across the country and the world going through the struggles present during that time. As America evolved, so did its politics along with public perception on different topics. From prohibition, to the birth of rock and roll, to the civil rights movement and beyond, music was an integral part in telling the stories and reflecting the mood during that era. The rise of artists such as the rap group N.W.A., Biggie Smalls, Public Enemy, and Tupac are all synonymous with their experiences with law enforcement and the justice system. Their music challenged the credibility of those placed in authority and expressed how the general population felt about the various situations and struggles they faced, mainly police violence and oppression based upon race. Hip hop often sampled previous popular music and jazz music to create its own unique sound and mood. Two very influential time periods, in the 80s to 90s and during the 20s to 30s were greatly influenced by the social issues and cultural change where expressive music genres were birthed in. The very relationship between politics, race, and music has had a rich history filled with conflict and harmony. Events such as Rodney King riots, NWA’s performance in Detroit, prohibition, and the Roaring Twenties’ all played parts in influencing the music of their respective eras.
In 1920’s, also commonly referred to as the Roaring Twenties, was a decade of prosperity and debauchery. After the ordeal of World War, I, people were eager to move on and enjoy life to the fullest. The 1920s was the era of dramatic social and political evolution. This is the first time that more Americans lived in cities than on farmlands. This reflected the American lifestyle after the Great War. In this era, music had never been played so loudly, with such enthusiasm, and unpredictability. Jazz and blues music were born out of this new wave and were made popular during the Harlem renaissance (Lornell 140). The Harlem renaissance is often referred to as “the rebirth of African American arts” (Lornell 130). Du Bois believed that music and arts played a drastic role in race progress and race relations (Lornell 134). With this new influx of self-expression, its allowed African Americans with music and arts to thrive for a new social identity in the 1920’s. Murchison explained “by allowing the New Negro to speak in his or her own voices, the art could serve a social purpose beyond individual creative self-expression: the arts were, serving the striving of African Americans to develop an ethnic identity” (Lornell 135). This would assist in the mutual understanding between racial divide in the America. Locke recognized “arts could be used to promote greater knowledge among blacks and whites by contributing to a “reevaluation by whites and black alike of the Negro in terms of his artistic endowments and cultural contributions, past and retrospective” (Lornell 135). Subsequently, the Harlem Renaissance was significant because it marked the moment when white America started to recognize the influential contributions of black culture. African Americans asserted their intellectual identity and related their struggle to the blacks around the globe and planted the ideas for later would become the Civil Rights movement and it is the first time in history that provided us with positive and beautiful images of blacks.
The popularity of music during this era was aided by a growing audience through radio. Invented in 1911, radio was the first platform in which music could be mass produced and broadcasted. President Franklin Roosevelt utilized the radio as a direct line of communication to the American public with his fireside chats, a weekly update from the President himself. Music had that same effect of bringing families and friends together, around the radio. The 20’s were also a time where movies and going to the cinema became more popular. Going to the cinema was a great way to be exposed to new stories and music. As exciting as times were, that doesn’t mean there weren’t any growing pains. The biggest hot button issue was the passing of the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. constitution, which brought about the prohibition of alcohol. The ban on the production, transportation and importation of alcohol nationwide lasted from 1920 to 1933 with the ratification of the 21st amendment. Although the law was in place, alcohol was still made and sold illegally. Smugglers would transport alcohol and sell to storefronts and speakeasies, which were secret “underground” clubs where alcohol was served and live music was played. Prohibition helped jumpstart the Jazz Age. The most popular music being played in speakeasies and clubs was jazz music. Freedom of expression was the common theme, and jazz was the soundtrack for Roaring Twenties.
Never has there been a more explosive intersection of music and politics happened since the 80’s and 90’s rap & hip-hop movement. Birthed from tensions between law enforcement and minority citizens that resulted from police brutality and an unfair justice system, rap group N.W.A. was the most infamous rap group of all time due to their gangster rap and attitude towards police and racism in general. N.W.A. is most famous for their song, “F*** the Police”, which is pretty self-explanatory. The group became blacklisted by the FBI because of the lack of control in their concerts and the hostility towards law enforcement (White 64-65). The group became banned from numerous mainstem radio stations. The most infamous confrontation between the two sides was in 1989 when N.W.A. performed a concert in Detroit, Michigan. Before the show, the FBI warned N.W.A. that their show would be shut down and the members would be booked if they performed their song “F*** the Police” during the show that night. Of course, they played the song anyway and were arrested for it. N.W.A. had such an influence over the young minority demographic at the time that they brought the issues they were fighting for into the national spotlight and conversation. According to an article by Julie Hinds recalling the event, one former officer that was escorting the band said that “We just wanted to show the kids that you can’t say ‘F*** the Police’ in Detroit” (The Famous 1989 Detroit concert by N.W.A). Things reached a tipping point in 1992 after four officers were acquitted in a trial for using excessive force in the arrest and beating of Rodney King. The arrest and extracurricular activities were all caught on camera, which is the main reason for the outrage (Rose 178-179). Los Angeles residents were confused and angry that there was sufficient and clear evidence to press charges upon the four officers, but they were acquitted. Riots all throughout South Central Los Angeles and other hoods ensued, causing massive fire and physical damage to buildings, structures and cars. Los Angeles became almost like a war zone for the two months of April and May. Never was the resentment towards police and law enforcement officials higher than when the riots occurred. The longstanding discriminatory and abusive treatment by law enforcement of the African-American and minority community served as a catalyst to ignite the uprising in Los Angeles.
The relationship between music and politics has existed for centuries, often harmoniously, and other times in conflict. Music will continue its outstanding relationship with politics and culture when change is needed. This form of communication and expression, music has always been used to reveal the emotions and the issues of the day. Like in the 1920’s, Harlem Renaissance helped catapult the Civils Rights Movement. And again, music in the 80s-90s helped brings changes to the way we look at races and justice system in the country. When social and political change is needed, music is the often the tool to strengthen these activist movements.