Several prominent Black rappers have recently aligned themselves with conservative politicians and media figures, which the author finds concerning. Rappers like Ice Cube, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne have sat down with Tucker Carlson and supported Donald Trump. However, the author argues that right-wing populism threatens Black communities. While some see these moves as opening dialogue, the author believes shared values around money, religion, and distrust in institutions have brought these unlikely groups together against vulnerable people. As the hip-hop industry has become more commercialized and corporate, rappers have also gained wealth and political influence, but supporting policies that don’t help everyday Black Americans. The author maintains that rap artists have a duty to use their platforms responsibly by advocating for politics that materially improve conditions in Black communities.

  • Neato@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    I was mostly talking about online or in personal situations but let’s address.

    But I don’t get to choose who I interact with at work

    For most people this is unfortunately true. I would encourage people, when possible, to seek employment at places that prevent bigots. For me, my giant employer has an Equal Opportunity office. You’ll get fired for being openly bigoted, and people have.

    Do you have any family members with problematic views?

    I talk to my dad only to make my mom happy. A few times a year. If he starts in on politics, I leave the room or at least ignore him. Non-engagement.

    Do you open the door going, “Hey there, good to see you, bigot!”

    That’s just it: if you have to interface with a known bigot, stick to professional topics. If they bring up bigotry, leave if you can, ignore if you can’t. Ostracizing people also includes minimal engagement. There’s also tacts for dog whistling “jokes” like pretending ignorance and asking them to explain.

    But if you are frankly that just means you’re incredibly arrogant and/or have completely intractable view points

    Yes. I am totally arrogant and intractable for not wanting to hear about how black people, gay people and women should have their rights taken away. I’ll listen to alternative viewpoints until they dive into fascism and similar. Then they can fuck off.

    I promise you one of your current views will be dated one day and you will need to be able to change your mind.

    Lol. No shit? I’ve been doing that since my early 20s. I look back at my past and regret. I can only do better if I change. I hope I realize quickly when my viewpoints are dated and offensive so I can change them.

    I find it particularly offensive you are seemingly preaching civility in the face of oppression. Whenever you can get away with it, FUCK civility. Being polite while taking away rights is what American Conservatives have been doing since they lost the civil war. Don’t go lose your job, but nothing is stopping you in your personal lives from cutting out the cancer. Not doing so just enables them and that’s part of the problem.

    • acastcandream@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      I talk to my dad only to make my mom happy. A few times a year. If he starts in on politics, I leave the room or at least ignore him. Non-engagement.

      I mean this is literally what I’m talking about. You have to engage with a bigot. It’s just life. I can’t believe you are trying to pretend otherwise man. It’s like you don’t live in reality yet here you are acknowledging the thing you’re all bent out of shape about and arguing with me.

      I find it particularly offensive you are seemingly preaching civility in the face of oppression

      I am not talking about civility. I’m saying people have to live their lives. We don’t all have the luxury of picking and choosing our employment to make sure that literally no one we work with is a bigot, and it’s bonkers to me that you think that’s reasonable to demand of people just because you landed a job that can actually match it (though I am willing to put money down there’s someone who works there that has some private views you would not like. That is a big office with a lot of people from different backgrounds. Are you going to start digging?)

      But again, it’s not about civility, it’s about functioning in reality. If someone says racist shit I call it out or leave. But I don’t just walk around hunting for signs that anyone around me maybe does something I don’t like and then quit my job over one questionable person. Your call to action is ludicrous and I would gamble you don’t even adhere to it.

      • circularfish@beehaw.orgM
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        1 year ago

        Speaking of civility, I think you are both coming from a well meaning place and are making interesting points, but you are starting to make different points. It is even likely you are visualizing two totally different interactions when you are typing out your replies.

        I could be wrong about that, but what is clear is that there is a lot of “you this” and “you that” in the discussion. As this is the nice Lemmy instance, please depersonalize the interaction or consider disengaging.

          • circularfish@beehaw.orgM
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            1 year ago

            I am aware of the rhetorical device you are talking about, but I did not read that into the replies to you. Maybe I am just dense. What I do pick up from all corners is a lot of motive attribution without sufficient evidence, which continues with the post above. I think disengagement is a wise move.

            We can all agree that there is a lot of daylight between punching literal Nazis and what to do about Uncle Bob who won’t shut up about border security, and leave it at that.

            • acastcandream@beehaw.org
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              1 year ago

              We can all agree that there is a lot of daylight between punching literal Nazis and what to do about Uncle Bob who won’t shut up about border security, and leave it at that.

              Unfortunately the person above is being pretty shitty to me for daring to even be around the Uncle Bob’s of the world, but hopefully they’ll one day realize that we can’t all walk around in a bubble as easily as they can :\