Blogarhythms

When I was charged with the responsibility of keeping a daily blog by the Okaypowers-that-be “politcal commentary” and “social criticism” were not listed amongst my duties. But I have an active social conscience. I’ve been involved in protests (both public and private) and civil disobedience actions. And historically I’ve been very vocal about my thoughts and feelings on a whole host of issues whenever I’ve been given a public forum to do so.

I’ve treated this space a little differently though, preferring to keep it as dedicated to music, and positivity, as I possibly can. And while that in and of itself is an extension of my socio-political philosophy (because I believe that music has the power to affect positive change on individuals and society at large and thereby make the world a better place) it’s not the same as speaking directly to a specific cause, issue or current event. Then the Sean Bell verdict was handed down.

I was alerted to the acquittal of the three officers charged with shooting the un-armed Bell 50 times outside of a nightclub the morning before his wedding by a MySpace bulletin posted by previous Blogarhythms featuree 100dBs who wanted to open up a dialogue about the still fresh injustice. When I finally got a chance to speak to him directly I found out he was especially concerned with making “people who are into hip hop more aware of what’s going on a mile away from [his] crib” and that he had reasons more personal than his proximity to the incident for doing so.

A statement on his website reads:

My parents warned me often to exercise and appreciate my rights as a citizen, because they left a police state in Romania to raise me where I had a chance of flourishing. If you truly believe that justice will continue to be respected here as long as you watch your TV, discuss today’s newspaper over coffee with friends, and stay “aware of the issues,” then you are retarded. Congratulations. Don’t be surprised when this happens to someone you care about.

My own sense of social justice stems from similar knowledge. Knowledge that not too long ago in a land not too far away people like me were rounded up by police and sent to work and die in camps simply because of who they were. Knowledge that the ancestors of my siblings (whose father was Native American of the Cherokee tribe) were also rounded up and forced to leave their homes and walk a trail of tears to far-away reservations. Knowledge of what it’s like to be disenfranchised in the United States of America. I know all too well what can befall us and those we care about when the abuse of power in an effort to deny any individual or group their basic human rights is allowed to occur unimpeded.

That knowledge has always made me want to do something when I see injustice occur. And it made 100dBs and his partner in rhyme Ryan O’Neil want to do something too. They spent this weekend in the studio knocking out a mix, titled 50 Shots, featuring blends of some of the biggest anti-cop classics the Hip-Hop genre’s produced over the years from the likes of N.W.A., KRS-One, Dilla, Dead Prez and more, as well as an exclusive rework of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s “Deep Cover” featuring new vocals from Ryan O’Neil. Visit 100dBs’ website to download it, and read his entire statement on the matter.

While they were in the studio I was busy reading other bulletins from young members of the Hip-Hop generation expressing outrage and, frustratingly, giving in to powerlessness and apathy. Kids are mad, but too many of them are using that anger as a justification to give up and not do anything because we don’t have the power to make a difference. It was a similar scene watching the opening acts at the free Dead Prez concert at activism-friendly Hampshire College Saturday night. There was a lot of lip-service, moments of silence and righteous indignation, but very few people instructing the audience on what activity to take to play our part in making sure things like this don’t happen any more.

A few people shouted “fuck the police” and threatened physical violence. There were no calls for demonstration, protest, or rioting though. There weren’t any admonitions to take personal responsibility and stand up for the rights of others in more simple ways — by registering to vote, voting your conscience and greeting a notice that you’ve been called for jury duty as an opportunity to ensure justice (real justice, not the deaf, dumb and blind kind) is done — either. But it’s our responsibility to ourselves and our neighbors to start taking actions like these and it shouldn’t take some bloody “wake up call” to get us to realize that.

When we can’t be bothered to do whatever we can to “protect and serve” each other as citizens and police the people we put in positions of power and authority it’s inevitable that they’ll abuse their power and trample our rights. Standing up for one of us is standing up for all of us. It’s time to stand up.

- El Keter