Call and response--Emma Sargent

New Slaves--Kanye West

Kanye is talking about how people are being made slaves to materialism, but also how a consumer culture often targets the wealthy among a typically marginalized racial group (black people in America). This ties into his spoken word thing that we saw as well. 

Jay Z--99 Problems

This about how police make assumptions about black people. This is almost exemplified by the line, "Are you carrying a gun I know a lot of you are." The cop is racially profiling Jay-Z, and taking advantage of him by assuming he does not know his rights and will let the cop "look around his car" etc. without a warrant. 

Black Rage--Lauryn Hill

There's definitely an aspect of privileged lack of fear/contentment with the world to the song, "My favorite things"  and Lauryn Hill uses this in her song to show her inability to forget about all of the injustice in the world, and to convince herself that everything is okay when white people/elected officials are, "Threatening [her] freedom to stop [her] complaining." 

Hell--Talib Kweli

"If we all God's children, then what's the word of the reverend worth?"

"Or that Christianity was made law by politicians"

"So it all sound the same to me--but when they say one's right and the other is wrong it just sounds like a game to me"

"Looking for god but ended doing the word of satan"

"God forbid you go to hell but if you've ever been to any ghetto you know it well."

This is about how religion is often used as a way for politicians to spread their beliefs under the guise of it being god's word. He shows how other people for some reason get to dictate what's right and what's wrong, and spread messages that marginalize other people and make them feel ungodly. 

"Cause it coincide with a growing tide of those looking for God that know to go inside."

True Blues--The Last Poets

This is about how music is often a response to/ refuge from racism. The message is incredibly powerful. It talks about the very roots of racism in America from the perspective of someone who is made a slave and 

Mathematics--Mos Def

"8 million stories to tell" "Hip-hop passed all your tall social hurdles"   

Nas--I Can

"Be, be, 'fore we came to this country

We were kings and queens, never porch monkeys
There was empires in Africa called Kush
Timbuktu, where every race came to get books
To learn from black teachers who taught Greeks and Romans
Asian Arabs and gave them gold when
Gold was converted to money it all changed
Money then became empowerment for Europeans
The Persian military invaded
They heard about the gold, the teachings and everything sacred
Africa was almost robbed naked
Slavery was money, so they began making slave ships
Egypt was the place that Alexander the Great went
He was so shocked at the mountains with black faces
Shot up they nose to impose what basically
Still goes on today, you see?
If the truth is told, the youth can grow
They learn to survive until they gain control
Nobody says you have to be gangstas, hoes
Read more learn more, change the globe
Ghetto children, do your thing
Hold your head up, little man, you're a king
Young Princess when you get your wedding ring
Your man is saying "She's my Queen""

Th quote basically says it all--point is sorta that education is taken from those living in ghettos