Call and Response- Perry Avgerinos

Responding to how the song represents a social consciousness and impact on a minority community

- how they can be a movement towards justice and education

Kanye West- Kanye is talking about slavery in the past how it still exists today in a new form. Before a lot of basic privileges we have today such as clean water were only served to white people and not to blacks. Today, racism is still showed by the way people expect rich black people to keep spending their money on clothes and materialistic items.

Jay-Z- Jay-Z is talking about getting pulled over on the side of the road, because he is "young, black and wears his hat really low" like "gangstas". This racism is shown through the stereotype that if you are black and dress like a gangsta, Cops will associate you will dangerous criminals. He says he was only one mile over the speed limit, which 9 times out of 10, does not warrant a police officer to pull you over for speeding. So it is purely based on his skin color. 

Lauryn Hill- She is singing/rapping about how many black people are hindered by the limited resources they started out with when segregation was ended. Because of these few resources it has made it even harder for them to attain a better life. Whites have a "white privledge", because they have an advantage when applying for a job or college, because of the racism that still exists.  She says Black rage is founded from two thirds a person, which relates to I believe the 3/5 clause that was in the Constitution that meant back people's vote only counted as 3/5 of a human being. VERY RACIST. 

Hell by Talib Kweli- Talib is talking about the confusion of believing religions when society influences what the bible says. It was hard for him growing up when he knew people were made an image of lord, but why he gets treated differently because of his skin color. A lot of people do not understand the struggle of making it out of the ghetto like Talib says and if Hell is supposed to be a terrible place, he thinks it can't be much worst than the conditions he grew up in on Earth.

The Last Poets- These guys talk about singing the blues showing their sympathy towards racism when it still existed. Black slaves' families would get whipped and separated through being sold to other wealthy white owners.

Mathematics- Mos Def touches on many problems in society such as that Hip-hop has overcome many social hurdles. The government spends huge amounts of tax dollars on self defense yet black people in ghettos continue to get killed. Him as a rapper raised a lot of popularity yet only got 15 percent of profits, the music label was taking the money that he earned and deserved most likely because he is black. I think he also touches on how the government wants people to believe everything is ok when they cheat all Americans in someway without us knowing.

Nas- Nas speaks the truth about how if you work hard enough you can be where you want to be. He says to not destroy your future by getting drunk and high while your brain is still developing. He says it dumbs you down and won't be able to read and write when you're older. Nas also talks about how girls shouldn't use fake id's to act older when they could get raped by older stronger men. They should enjoy their youth and let their adult hood come when it comes and not rush it.