We should not be discussing racism today after so many years of liberation and freedom in the world. Unfortunately, the state seems to be getting worse every year.
Currently, there are so many protesting rallies against unwarranted police brutality, especially against the black community in the United States Of America. These protests were triggered by the recent passing of George Floyd, a black American who died during an altercation leading to his arrest. What’s worse about the situation is that the police officers who did this were indifferent to his pleads that he could not breathe.
Well, this fight did not start with George Floyd, but many more names go unmentioned. Its time the people are speaking out, even as they rest in their graves. We are speaking of the legendary singer Prince, who was a dedicated social justice fighter who was against such prejudices.
His estate released a handwritten note the singer wrote back in 2015, showing he was fed up with the intolerance. The note stated;
“Nothing more ugly in the whole wide world that INTOLERANCE (between) Black, white, red, yellow, boy or girl. INTOLERANCE.”
The note had a heartfelt caption that read:
“Prince dedicated his life to speaking out against injustice, advocating for black excellence, and spreading the message of ‘Love 4 One Another.’ In this note that he kept in his personal archives, he wrote a message that still resonates today.”
This seems like a statement that pushed him to the edge and one that was coming from a place of hurt and concern.
Well, that was not all, the singer also made a song that the estate made a lyrical version of it, and it was posted on YouTube to commemorate Prince’s 62nd birthday that day if he was still alive. Prince’s song is like guitar lessons of truth that speak volumes of the injustice taking over the world. He released this piece in 2015, responding to the untimely death of a citizen of Baltimore named Freddie Gray.
Freddies Gray died due to unfair treatment during his arrest, and after that, he succumbed to a severe spinal injury gotten during his arrest. The officers in charge carried him in their van held him back with a seat belt only to reach the station to find him unresponsive. In less than a week, Freddie died. He was later charged with the unlawful possession of a switchblade, which was unwarranted that he died for! This incident occurred in April 2015, and the song was recorded and released in that same month.
He recorded the song supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, and send out a message of enough is enough.
This incident also sparked massive demonstrations in Baltimore.
Today, we see a repeat, but this time, African Americans have had enough of this discrimination. Prince also made a statement that he needed to let it out with everything that was going on that week. He performed the song at the Rally 4 peace that was shown live on Jay-Z’s Tidal digital network.
Prince is, however, not the only influential person that came out. In the recent George Floyd case, we have had President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Beyonce, Salma Hayek, Prince Harry, Megan Markle, and Lady Gaga, among several others, speak out supporting the protestors seeking social change for the many departed young souls from the Black community.
YouTube also sees an increase in video postings on social change that Black Lives Matter. This is sure to be one of the new trends for guitar lessons videos on YouTube to pass on the message of equality.
The four law enforcers who aided the untimely demise of George Floyd have lost their jobs, are currently in custody and facing murder charges. Although, the people still protest for more. The city council of Minneapolis is now pledging to fix the city’s police department and do a clean sweep from the grassroots up.
Shutting up has never solved anything; change requires volume. And that is precisely what the Americans are doing today. Racial profiling takes us back to an ugly place we wish to move away from.
Black Lives Matter. Justice for all.
