sweething said:

I bet he has had more issues about his height more than anything... There is a reason why he never wears flat heals.

Has Prince ever written a song about height pejudice?

Just because Prince sings about a social subjects for 'a change' (instead of all that 'shallow crap' by these rappers) doesnt AUTOMATICALLY mean its a great or even good lyric about such themes.
In fact, i think the majority of his lyrics about social- and political subjects have been very awkward and poor (wether its Ronnie talk to Russia or a new song like Colonized mind). Its just not his 'thing'.

Riverpoet31 said:

[Snip - Mars23]!

I don't take Prince's lyrics seriously, because he has never known adversity, nor suffered the impact of his forebears. In fact, the day he scrawled "slave" on his face, making a mockery out of those millions through the ages who suffered under bondage of chains and torture, living out their lives under threats and sorrow, whilst he lives/d a life of a prissy millionaire primadonna, under the pretense of entitlement, does not a slave make. Prince IS, in a sense, a dreamer, but not in the way he conveys through the song of the same name. He should stick with writing songs about fucking his sister.

cosmicday2010 said:

x 100

hollywooddove said:

Neither of you have a clue!

Prince came from a broken home, was partially brought up by people other than his parents and grew up in a poor neighbourhood and in a predominantly white state at a time when prejudice was far more rife. Just because he became successful later in life doesn't mean he didn't go through shit to get there.

Dreamer Lyrics

I was born, raised on the same plantation
In the United States, of the red, white and blue
Never knew that I was different, till Dr. King was on a balcony
Lyin' in a bloody pool
I expected so much more from a loving
A loving, loving society
A truthful explanation, you know what
I got another, another conspiracy

If it was just a dream, listen, call me, call me a dreamer too

With more rewards and accolades, then anyone before or after
21st century, oh what a shame, what a shame
Race, race still matters
A race to what, and where we going
We in the same boat, but I'm the only one rowing

Last time I checked, you were sleeping, but you can call me a dreamer too
(What's up with this)

Peanut butter logic, served on a bed of lies
Don't go down too easy, when you've seen your father cry
Have you ever clutched the steering wheel in your car too tight
Praying that police sirens just pass you by that night
While the helicopter circles us, this theory's getting deep
Think they're spraying chemicals over the city
While we sleep

Come on, I'm staying awake
you can call me a dreamer too
(Ahhh, I got one eye open for these devils)

(Wake up, wake up)

(I pledge allegiance, to..)


So what do you think was Prince's reason for writing this song?
[Edited 11/17/09 7:38am]

Rebeljuice said:

[Snip - Mars23]

I don't take Prince's lyrics seriously, because he has never known adversity, nor suffered the impact of his forebears. In fact, the day he scrawled "slave" on his face, making a mockery out of those millions through the ages who suffered under bondage of chains and torture, living out their lives under threats and sorrow, whilst he lives/d a life of a prissy millionaire primadonna, under the pretense of entitlement, does not a slave make. Prince IS, in a sense, a dreamer, but not in the way he conveys through the song of the same name. He should stick with writing songs about fucking his sister.

I don't take Prince's lyrics seriously, because he has never known adversity, nor suffered the impact of his forebears. In fact, the day he scrawled "slave" on his face, making a mockery out of those millions through the ages who suffered under bondage of chains and torture, living out their lives under threats and sorrow, whilst he lives/d a life of a prissy millionaire primadonna, under the pretense of entitlement, does not a slave make. Prince IS, in a sense, a dreamer, but not in the way he conveys through the song of the same name. He should stick with writing songs about fucking his sister.

My only experience of American racism is through forums like this and the media in general. You guys are doomed to forever argue about this until the Earth stops spinning.

If I were to offer a solution it would be to take up the blacks and the whites of America and place them on different planets, as far from each other as possible. Perhaps then the arguing would stop and you could both move on.

cosmicday2010 said:

I find your comment a bit ridiculous. Whether he is a millionaire or not, does not exclude him from experiencing some form of racial prejudice over the years of his career, nor does one have to suffer the same tortures of those of the past to be or know what it is like to be discriminated against. I'll give you an example: Oprah is a billionaire and she has had doors slammed in her face a couple of times, when "shopping while Black" even before she stepped her foot in the door of a store, and was told by the individual at the door, that the store was close. I guess as Oprah thought she would have no problem approaching the store to shop because of celebrity status. Well, that particular day, her status nor her money did not give her a golden pass. The person who closed the door in her face, and locked soon after, saw one thing when Oprah approached the store, and that was Oprah's race.

When Oprah and those with her walked away, and waited not too far from the door that was closed in their faces, a little while after that, the store owner immediately opened the door for a non-famous, unknown white customer and let that individual in to shop. Oprah and her those with her, watched from outside the store window. That is when Oprah walked right back to the boutique, knocked on the store door and ask the individual that lied and said the store was closed, why they let the white customer in to shop, and not them. I believe Oprah sued the store after that for racial discrimination.

Now in the past (post-slavery, mind you), when those in government agreed to pass laws preventing members of one's family from having access to the same opportunities and rights, afforded to others who referred to themselves as American citizens, such as African-Americans did, yet African-Americans were denied specific rights, based on their race/ethnicity, etc., while others weren't; now that is racial discrimination, and at that time, those laws affected most African-Americans and their family members, friends. Prince's parents were alive during the days of MLK and the civil rights protests across the country, so in some way, during that era, it would be no surprise if racial discrimination had an effect on their lives and members of his family, as well as others around them. Those were the pre-racial profiling days with laws that protected such unjust actions.

When Prince wrote slave on his face, apparently he was rebelling against Warner Bros. The problem I find with your statement is that you come off as though "slave" only refers to historical slavery situations, and those who suffered under those conditions, when in fact, the term "slave" can reference many situations of bondage. For you to even suggest he never knew adversity as though you grew up with him during his pre-famous days, is a bit putting yourself in a "dreamer" position, because it's as though you're pretending to know, when in fact...you don't.

It's not as though you witnessed what his parents experienced, who at the time was living during the days of MLK and the civil rights movements, in a nation, where, specific rights were not afforded to many African-Americans in this nation. How would you know if he didn't see some of his family members/friends deal with racial prejudice throughout his childhood/younger years because of racist laws of that era? How would you know if he has not been racially-profiled, whether he is a well-known artist or not or have friends/family members, that has and still experience it? So you see, you really can't assume that he did not experience any hardships or racial prejudice in his lifetime, a topic of which he touches on the latter in the song "Dreamer" and one of his former tracks called "Don't Play Me".

So you keep on "dreaming".. okay?
[Edited 12/22/09 20:52pm]

With comments like that, I'd stick to staying in good old whiter-than-white Hereford. Or, perhaps you might feel more at home in apartheid South Africa?

Are you seriously suggesting that the UK does not suffer from racism?

...good old whiter-than-white Hereford.

pplrain said:

He got his call!

Personally I find this type of lyric far too America-centric to hold much in common with my own life. I'm not sure how the other non-Americans on this forum feel about this? These big race issues don't really effect us here in Hereford, England.

iloveannie said:

Based on your comment, I suppose if an individual is not experiencing racism, then they would not recognize it, so for that individual, it is easy to assume it doesn't exist.
[Edited 12/23/09 6:50am]

2elijah said:

I dont know about that, and I haven't read it so I am pretty sure that what I am about to say has been touched on in this thread already. From what I see Dick Gregary is almost completely paraphrased in the song, and all of the ideas appear to come from his speach. This is why I don't find it to be Prince saying "Here is what I know," as much as getting caught up in Dick Gregary's energy and charisma. I listened to Dick Gregary and he is such a great speaker that I felt as though I had 400 years of oppression on me and I'm white.

hollywooddove said:

I was referring to an existing condition. If you're not aware it is happening, then it's not surprising for one not to know it exists. You said you listened to Mr. Gregory's speech, and felt like you had 400 years of oppression, but I guess whatever it was Mr. Gregory, spoke about, that you listened to, that made you feel that way, may have just raised your awareness of some specific historical/social/economic/environmental or political issues, you were not aware of before.

Mindflux said:

I'm saying that where I live and, more importantly, how I live, racism is not that big an issue. We have a very small minority of black people in Hereford which is typical of most of the UK.

We do however have a large number of Eastern European workers what with it being an agricultural area and these people being prepared to work for lesser wages than the average UK citizen and also be prepared to suffer less pleasant working conditions/accommodation. It's a step up from slavery but still exploitation. How do I feel about them? Couldn't give a fuck as long as they pay into our society and adapt appropriately. No country should harbor those unwilling to fit in or work, regardless of origin.

As for relocating to apartheid South Africa I gather you are calling me a racist? How nice of you to make that assumption. You may be right but I sincerely hope you're wrong. Hard to tell when I come into contact with so few 'other races'. Those I have met I've spoken to as I would anyone else. It mattered not the colour of their skin or whom their ancestors were or how they were treated: they were either a pleasant person or they weren't. Life's very simple like that.

iloveannie said:

Based on your comment, I suppose if an individual is not experiencing racism, then they would not recognize it, so for that individual, it is easy to assume it doesn't exist.
[Edited 12/23/09 6:50am]

2elijah said:

But, that would require that the person does not watch television, read or listen to the news, in fact, be completely cut off from the outside world. Many things that we are aware of we do not necessarily experience for ourselves first hand. I'm aware that man has been on the moon, but I haven't been there myself

2elijah said:

Well in all honesty, Dick Gregory made me aware that he believes black people are being doped lead in malt liquor by white people, and that the vapor trail on jets is a chemical that is used to induce hate among inner city communities. Wouldn't it be much easier to just poison the water? And I seriously, logically, rationally, reasonably doubt that any of these conspiracies are true. And I was not aware of these conspiracy fears. What I am speaking of is Dick Gregory is charismatic enough to make one believe in this stuff while speaking.

Are there white people who make assumptions on any one just because they are black?
OMG yes.
Are there black people who make assumptions on any one just because they are white?
OMG yes.

This is a two way street. Racism does not fly in one direction.

I remember Gregary mentioning that black people have the fear that they are being pulled over simply because blue lights pass them by.

Well... there are certain neighborhoods white people are afraid to drive through period.

We feel the targets of hate also.

I think both races need to come to the table realizing that we both have fears and concerns before anything can be resolved.
[Edited 12/24/09 3:36am]

2elijah said:

But, that would require that the person does not watch television, read or listen to the news, in fact, be completely cut off from the outside world. Many things that we are aware of we do not necessarily experience for ourselves first hand. I'm aware that man has been on the moon, but I haven't been there myself

2elijah said:

But, that would require that the person does not watch television, read or listen to the news, in fact, be completely cut off from the outside world. Many things that we are aware of we do not necessarily experience for ourselves first hand. I'm aware that man has been on the moon, but I haven't been there myself