I truly am humbled by the pure emotion behind this particular Track. It is a real insight into just how bad it can get in certain areas of our Country, I remember when I was a child I had heard talk of "America is a 1st World Country", If that is so then why do we still have people living without public transportation in places like Detroit, where people have to cross literally miles of "Gang Territory" (I despise the notion of gangs claiming territory), to take children to school, and go to work, the only option for them is to drive, if you cannot afford to own a car, you are on your own, especially if you call for Emergency Services, that is on average a 53-58 minute response time. So much for Emergent Care. There are so many issues that Music like this brings to light, a message to those whole listen, and a lesson to be learned by those who apply it. Talib Kweli's background (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talib_Kweli#Early_life
)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talib_Kweli#Early_life
)
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Looks like USA is a First World country for some of its populace and a Third World country for the rest. What's even more interesting is the racial correlation between the privileged segment and the underprivileged segment of the country! Are the races perpetuating this situation or is the situation perpetuating the racial divide?
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Contd... Most developing countries have privileged and underprivileged segments but its mostly an economic consequence than racial and the above situation is common only in those countries we label as unstable and fanatic IMHO!
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The disturbing part is it is not perpetuated by any one individual but the Music Industry itself here in America, It popularizes violence, guns, drugs, and a "Gangsta" lifestyle in every was shape and form. The Government persecutes these individuals for breaking the law, yet there are rappers like Jay-Z making music about selling drugs, and leaving the country to avoid the FBI... contd
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and yet he is making billions of dollars in advertisements, product promotions, and album sales. The new age rap that claims to be "Hip-Hop" here in America does nothing but promote a Gang rule to the young individuals in every community across the nation, all designed to keep the young born to the "wrong people" under indoctrination and under control.
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I believe the problem is even more deep rooted and the role of media in glorifying crime is just the tip of the iceberg. Racial discrimination is a disgrace to any forward looking country. Firstly, it is important to keep the children away from bad influence and the circumstances in the neighbourhood. Only the coming generations can alleviate this situation and the government should take steps in providing and caring for the underprivileged children so that they can get a fair chance.
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Contd.. There are community schools and colleges but they only solve half the problem. When their home and their neighbourhood is where the problem is, schools and colleges can only help very few motivated souls. State sponsored boarding schools? Just an idea!
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Even then here in the State of South Carolina there is the Law of No Child Left Behind, which basically funnels funding from the schools that rate poorly on a comparison scale, to those that are doing better, then start moving teachers and resources on the same tract, so from start to finish it is worsening the situation. Now in the same state the Art and Music budgets take hits for Sports and class room space because of the No Child Left Behind Law.
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Its unfortunate that they are funneling out resources from poorly performing schools to others! In reality the opposite is needed. Coming back to the context of this conversation we need to think of ways to decrease the influence of the neighbourhood on the underprivileged children. Ideas?
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Well things like Boys and Girls clubs that get together after school and on weekends to basically keep kids healthy, looked after with a safe place to go so that their parent/guardian(s) can pick them up, the problem is that in these areas here in the US Altruism is of short supply, everyone is all about helping Starving children in the inconspicuous countries but not help the kids in our own country have to not worry about getting shot crossing the street for the wrong color of CLOTHING. contd.
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There is the Philosophy that education leads to less violence, but then you already know how education is being treated. I see Billboards with government ads saying the same, yet doing the opposite.
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The world is full of hypocrisy Nicholas! Its all about the money! The wars, the aid, everything! They just paint a benign benevolent picture for the masses. Even Lincoln when he abolished slavery had to strong arm and bribe his way through it. Very few if any wanted to abolish slavery! But today many are splurging on charity without actually scrutinizing where the money is going. Maybe we can sell this concept to them - One kid away from the ghetto is one less thug to live with tomorrow!
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Haha indeed it is Praveen, I find that People as whole kind of suck in that regard, but that the Individual is where the magic happens. There is a certain degree of separation from reality that seems to plague a lot of Americans these days due to the propagation that stuff equates to happiness. How do we reverse this?
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Yes, we are searching for happiness in all the wrong places. But happiness is a state of mind and has little to do with what one has or doesn't have. On the other hand, its not happiness that we are after but diversions, trivial ones! The shiny new iPhone or the sexy new car are just diversions to handle our pathetic pointless lives and later peer-pressure is what perpetuates this indulgence! contd..
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Pursuing an idea, a nice little hobby, a good conversation, etc. are much more satisfying than the above. But one needs to experience them to know their power and for that they need to pull themselves out of the slumber. The only way to spread this ideology is by reaching out and intruding our peers to them one at a time. If we are successful, we will be able to seed a renaissance. Talkonomy itself is one such effort to bring the magic of ideas and conversation to the online social scene!
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