Ben Haggerty otherwise known as the artist Macklemore is a rapper who has been working as an MC or Microphone Controller since the early 2000 's and has often collaborated with Ryan Lewis on his songs such as "Thrift Shop", "Can 't Hold Us", and "White Privilege II". He has done songs that target a wide variety of subjects and issues ranging from non-conforming to traditional gender roles to White Privilege and the Black Lives Matter movement. Like some other artists, his work demonstrates how he views the world around him using past experiences, interests, and feelings towards events like the protest that had occurred nearby his home on the night of Officer Darren Wilson 's non-indictment trial which he joined. The 33 year old music artist from Seattle has themed quite a portion of his work behind some liberal and nonconformist ideologies that involve experiences in his life like Thrift shopping which he has always loved. However, while Macklemore supported the Black Lives Matter movement, he questioned whether "You speak about equality, but do you really mean it?/Are you marching for freedom, or when it 's convenient? (Woods, Jamila. White Privilege II. Macklemore. Ryan Lewis, 2016. Google Play Music. Web. 19 Nov. 2016.)" He wonders if he 's actually making an impact on improving the lives for blacks or if he 's just doing this to feel good about being white and a successful artist. One may be skeptical on why Macklemore supports the movement, but considering not all
In “Explaining White Privilege to a Broke White Person” by Gina Crosley-Corcoran. We learn about the authors struggle growing up poor. Crosley says that she was so poor growing up, it’s “the type of poor that people don’t want to believe still exists in the country.” Crosley grew up in northern-Illinois and she was truly impoverished growing up. At 12, Crosley was making cup noodles in a coffee maker with water she fetched from public bathrooms. She lived in a camper that had no running water or heat.
The appeal he uses most often is pathos, it is found throughout the song. Macklemore uses a word that is very hurtful to homosexuals: “faggots" (Haggerty, Lewis, Lambert, 2102). He uses it to show how people inappropriately use the word, but it is a word that causes a lot of pain to some people. His word choice is effective in bringing out emotion as in the line, “plagued by pain in their heart.” The choice to use the word plague describes just how bad the pain is. When people hear the word plague, we think of a widespread disease that affects hundreds and causes worldwide scare. He is saying that this pain is what they have in their heart every day. By using pathos to appeal to the emotion of love in every chorus, “my love, she keeps me warm,” Macklemore successfully tugs at a listener’s heartstrings because most can relate to the feeling of love in some way or another. Another phrase that he uses that applies to pathos is “some would rather die than be who they are.” In today's society, the topic of suicide is extremely emotional, which is what this lyric refers to. Macklemore uses a great deal of pathos appeal to reach out to his listeners and get his argument across.
Privileges are things that a person receives that gives them an advantage over most people (Merriam-Webster). These are benefits that only certain people receive for being in a certain group or discourse. Peggy McIntosh, director of the Wellesley College Center for Research on Women, wrote “White Privilege and Male Privilege” and states “I think whites are carefully taught not to recognize white privileges, as males are taught not to recognize male privilege” (605). She argues that whites and males receive certain privileges, yet they do not even notice them. This shows that different races and women are still put at a disadvantage, but the people who receive the benefits are blind to the problem. Many people will argue that she is correct
White privilege is a term for societal privileges that benefit white people in western countries beyond what is commonly experienced by the non-white people under the same social, political, or economic circumstances. For example, “white” history is taught as a core curriculum class whereas “minority” history is taught as an elective or when white people do not have to go through their entire day wondering if the negative situations that happen throughout the 24-hour span have racially charged undertones. White privilege can sometimes become an issue because white people may automatically assume that “privilege” equates to being wealthy which is not the case. Having white privilege simply equates to not having to undergo the various issues that people of color (POC) face. It is not necessarily a negative thing because one cannot help the skin they are born into but it is the person’s fault if they choose to consistently
Many white Americans are living with the fear that they didn't really deserve their success, and that maybe luck and privilege had more to do with it, than brains and hard work. There are numerous reasons for the widespread discrimination at all levels, but the main reason for the existence of discrimination is a privilege to certain groups of people, and widespread social prejudice towards certain groups of people. Differences between people have always existed, but they gain in importance only when are different importance given to certain differences, so it creates privileges. People who are privileged in one society are often not aware of their privilege. It is very easy to be oblivious to the privilege. The problem of discrimination
The ability to walk outside with all worries to the wind, feeling protected by the law, and working hard to get the positions one wants in the workplace, is all attributed to the concept of white privilege. In addition to this, white privilege means one never has to immediately fear being stopped by local authorities. As a Caucasian in any part of the world, thoughts such as, “Please don’t beat me. Please don 't shoot me as I move slowly for my wallet”, never enter one’s mind.
Peggy McIntosh’s piece “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” describes the privileges white people gets without realizing their advantage over others. Peggy talks about racism being a part of everyday life even though we ignore it. Her main idea was to inform the readers that whites are taught to ignore the fact that they enjoy social privileges that people of color do not because we live in a society of white dominance. Her examples include privileges relating to education, careers, entertainment, child care, confrontations, physical appearance, and public life. One of the examples that really made me think was the “flesh colored” Band-Aid example. Band-Aids are
The book Honky is a memoir of a privileged white boy, Dalton Conley, who grows up in the projects on the lower east side of New York, where the majority residents are African American and Latinos. It’s a detailed memoir of the child’s point of view in his eyes of the environment that surrounds him: school, parks, buses, etc. Conley’s has two working parents, mother is a writer and father is a struggling artist who at one point was living on food stamps while raising the family in the projects. However, even while growing up in the projects, the mother stereotype and tries to “protect” her son from the “bad” things that happen within the projects.
Our country was founded on the notion that “all men are created equal,” while this concept is an integral part of America’s Declaration of Independence, the fundamental idea has never genuinely been practiced. Our country established a white supremacy culture in its founding days, and has accepted the concept since. White supremacy is the belief that white people are superior to those of all other races. Although there have been valiant efforts, the inequality of the races has never been truly rectified. People are not born practicing white privilege. White privilege is taught, and learned. America’s school system, media, and culture are driving factors that lead white privilege to be a custom within society today.
I agree with your responses on the White Privilege article. White people do not realize they have privileges until the observe themselves. For instance, how the author did in the article. The author observed her actions and the actions of people around her, and see began to notice white privilege. I like the way you stated white privileged as an “invisible package.” I thought that was a great phrase to describe white privileged. However, while people who are not white experience white privileged daily is frustrating. I disagree with your response that white privilege is use to oppress others to their advantage. I could agree with that in the past, however today the world is changing allowing everyone to privileges not matter of race or ethnicity.
Macklemore’s song, “Same Love,” with Ryan Lewis, featuring Mary Lambert, tells the younger generation about discrimination against gays, homophobia, and inequality. The song calls out people who want freedom, where our country came from, and what are religion says to show how if we don’t accept gays, there is a lot we can never have. Macklemore is disappointed with the way hip hop and rap talk about gay people without realizing how difficult they are making gay’s lives. It is also great when Macklemore practically asks religious people how exactly they do not support gay rights, and why they believe it is wrong because God is supposed to love everyone. Macklemore gives his honest opinion on how he feels everyone should be equal, and there are no “buts” or “ifs.” I stand by his opinion about love being love no matter what. Macklemore’s song, “Same Love,” he talks about societies false ideas of gays, the way the term “gay” is used in hip hop music, and that we are not equal until we allow gay rights with a huge change at heart.
He says, “no freedom ‘til we're equal, damn right i support it” (Macklemore). What this line means is that justice and freedom is only fair when everyone is equal. He supports everyone being equal. “Whatever god you believe in we come from the same strip away the fear underneath it's all the same love”(Macklemore). He is saying everyone is equal and should have liberty and freedom. Lastly he says, “its human rights for everyone, there is no difference.” (Macklemore). He believes everyone should be treated the same no matter what.
The social landscape of our country has become a volatile solution of opposing opinions, and revolutionary ideas. This environment becomes the breeding ground for significant social change music that’s comparable to the pioneers like Jon Lennon, Bob Marley, and Jimmie Hendrix. Major social biases like gay rights or the war in the Middle East are being protested with music. One of the more notable events that is being perused by artists is the subject of police brutality, and racism which is backed by the Black Lives Matter campaign. Artist like Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Common have all created protests songs supporting this movement calling for justice. One of the most notable songs in that has influence the Black Lives Matter movement is Kendrick Lamar’s Alight.
Like when he says “I wanted to be cool, and I wanted to fit in.” It shows how the rest of the world also thinks alike. The consumer mindset is when the latest stuff is released and everyone with older versions are thought different of. For example phones, there are new ones yearly and the old ones are thought to be obsolete, which means these major companies are getting tons of money by paying their workers sometimes nothing. In the song Macklemore talks about how his friends couldn’t afford real shoes, and this is still real in the community. Unfortunately, people are looked down upon for wearing old or fake
His song entitled Same Love really shows how much he cares about this topic. He believes that equality should be allowed for everyone and that it does not matter what gender, race, ethnicity, or any other topic not included in that list, is. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis both stand by the concept that human beings are to be treated the same way with the same rights no matter the circumstance. In this song, he really demonstrates how everyone should be treated the same. In the modern era, most recently to be exact, people have been advocating and protesting to make things equal for everyone.