Compton & N.W.A.

I have a bias that makes me automatically side with N.W.A. and "Fuck the Police". I grew up in New Jersey which is notorious for having racist state troopers who pulled people over for driving while colored. The city cops would instigate confrontations with anyone who they didn't like and then pull out a gun or threaten a beat down, just to show off their power and boost their egos. After watching film of protests against the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, I also have a belief that the police will mace, cuff, beat, and arrest peaceful protestors just for kicks. In the news recently is the story of random, unprovoked police brutality against 60 year old retired elementary teacher, Robert Davis, in the aftermath of Katrina. With this evidence, I tend to agree with and believe there is some truth to the testimonies of police brutality presented in "Fuck the Police".

But as the article on Compton shows, there is a fear of gangs in all urban cities that needs to be taken into account. I can understand the need to feel protected against corrupt policemen and thugs, but bragging about how many guns you have or people you've killed is taking it too far. I think that Hip-Hop artists should not promote or glorify gang activities/involvement because there are more important issues concerning the African American community that could be addressed, such as literacy, poverty, A.I.D.S., unemployment, crime, and substance abuse. Unfortunately, I think that young minorities join gangs when they feel alone, powerless, and ignored as a result of instiutionalized racism and the disadvantages of low wages. If we could provide more positive communities for these children to join and feel a sense of belonging, empowerment, safety, and voice, we could prevent gangs from being so appealing. Like Chapter 3 of Can't Stop Won't Stop, if we could convince "gangs" to revert to "crews" that relinquish guns and wars and fight drug dealers, we could reduce the need for such a police presence-which only makes people uneasy. This could be done by establishing a positive vision of the future, providing appealing incentives, or coordinating cooperation between of a police task force designed to assist not harass blacks & hispanics.