Friday, January 22, 2016 Ben Haggerty - otherwise known as Macklemore, Jamilia Woods, and Ryan Lewis dropped a sequel to their controversial hit White Privilegewith an updated version White Privilege II.
In the age of instant news, thanks to social media, people immediately began debating whether this song was preaching for further discussion, or simply part of the problem. As the song dictates, and we all know, neither Macklemore nor Ryan Lewis is black.
Currently, the song is free on iTunes so I urge you all to go take a focused listen to it.
Now as for the comments on WPII, the 9-minute song has been criticized both musically and on its genuineness. Critics on Twitter point to Macklemore and Lewis being white, receiving profits from this song, and of course, how this is a message that has been repeatedly sung out by other artists, protesters and is only now getting attention (namely this article and the thousands like it.)
In my opinion, it seems Macklemore is bringing to light a major issue in the fight for racial justice. Where do white people belong? It is hard to join a fight when you are seen as the problem and even targeted by those you wish to help.
"'No justice no peace'
Oh yeah, I'm saying that.
They chanting out BLACK LIVES MATTER
But I don't say it back.
Is it O.K. for me to say? I don't know, so I watch and stand."
The lyrics also say, "your silence is a luxury." And that is the major problem, silence.Many stay silent because they know this fight needs to occur, but don't think it is theirs, or don't want to interfere, don't want to say the wrong thing. But here, despite what criticism it receives and maybe even deserves, a discourse is continuing.
Macklemore speaks of the confusion, cultural appropriation by white artists, including himself, and the conflict it causes for his beliefs. The stream of consciousness style is what is most gripping about the whole piece, in particular, a voice over of a fan interaction. A presumably white, suburban mom praises Macklemore for his type of rap and bashes traditional rap. Something seen as typical, but, is in fact, disturbing nonetheless.
This is not the first time Macklemore and Lewis have taken part in the discussion of racial injustice. As said, they have White Privilege and White Privilege II, and two years ago in an interview with radio show Ebro in the Morning, Macklemore said much of what is in his current song: "as a white dude - a white rapper, how do I participate in this conversation" and "not co-opting the movement and making it about me. But realizing the platform I have" (an interview you can watch here).
I wish I could make this pages and pages long, but I know half have stopped reading a long time ago and I too find it difficult to express my opinions on this matter. Race is a strange paradigm for me personally, but I am always up for exploring its intricacies in the world. As someone who is half white, I often sense the feeling discussed in the song and see this as beneficial dialogue. As someone who is half Hispanic, I see the injustices first and secondhand. I am aware that numerous Black Lives Matter protesters, protests, music artists like Kendrick Lamar, and actors like Jesse Williams have spoken on this matter. And I am aware this is merely a blip in the dialogue of racial justice.
