It seems the lyrics in "Dreamer" really ruffled some of your feathers.

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Dude, seriously, talk about blame. I think you need to stop blaming Black people for how you feel about slavery. Your generalizations and assumptions are astounding, but hey you are entitled to your opinion. Should no one discuss any historical tragedies, and just wipe them out of the history books, for those who are too sensitive to deal with the topic? Is the issue of past "slavery" in America too hot a topic for you?

There's nothing wrong with discussing America's past or its act of slavery. No one is going to stop discussing the topic, because it may be too much for some to handle. Doesn't mean Black people are sitting around with a "begging cup" waiting for white people to throw a nickle and dime in it. Blacks have moved on long ago, since the days of slavery, jim crow, segregation, and the civil rights movement, etc., despite the racial events that took place. That never stopped them from making accomplishments for themselves, their people or making contributions to America, despite any racial tensions or obstacles they had/have to face. They live their lives on a daily basis, like the rest of society. They didn't crawl in a hole and die post-slavery, they survived dude.

There will always be struggles and historical events, that people will talk about for years to come, and sing it in song, it doesn't mean people are playing victim to social/political ills. Take the 9/11 situation that happened 8 years ago, New Yorkers are still talking about it, doesn't mean they are playing victims. Discussing the civil war between the North and South doesn't mean Northerners or Southerners play victim to it, because they do reenactments or discuss it. What about the Jewish Holocaust, should people not remember that too, because you or others may not be handle the harsh details of all those tragedies?

It's ridiculous to think no one should sing about any historical events, and if they do they are "playing victim or the race card?" That's a bunch of malarky dude. During the sixties and seventies many musicians/artists/actors/actresses, including poets sang and talked about social and political ills and strived for changes within our system, which brought awareness to the situations, and motivated people to do something about it. From Bob Dylan, Gil Scott Heron, Curtis Mayfield, Harry Belafonte, Joan Baez, Sonia Sanchez, The Temptations, Jose, Feliciano, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, so why should it be any different for Prince to sing about social ills to enlighten and raise awareness about it?

Today you have Bono from U2 singing songs about current social/political ills to bring awareness to particular situations in the world. Would you accuse him of playing the "sympathy" card? Don't be ridiculous. Prince has a right, as an artist, to express his opinions about how he feels about any social situation in this country or the world, whether it is in song or spoken publically during an interiew. It seems to me he recognizes that race, unfortunately is still an issue in America, even more than 40 years after Dr. King was murdered. He hones in Dick Gregory's comments about racial profiling in the track "Dreamer", which is still an issue many in the Black community are dealing with. It's not the end of the world dude because an artist decides to express a social ill in a song, life goes on in America dude, and so do the struggles.
[Edited 11/19/09 7:49am]

He has done worse, but i am not very fond of this song.

Why?

Musicwise he can do a lot better then yet another 'Hendrix-pastiche'. It appears like some cheap bid. Just like you thought he had left his Hendrix-fixation behind with Purple Rain and Another Lonely Christmas years and years ago, he is portraying himself again as some Hendrix-ripoff years on.

Lyricwise he is playing the annoying 'victim'-card again. How long are black people going on with blaming others for all of their problems? How long are black people going to whine against white people: your ancestors were slavetraders, so you 'owe' me something!
The simple fact is: white people nowadays 'owe' you nothing at all. You have the opportunity to make something out of your life. I don't feel responsible for my slavedwelling ancestors, and i sure don't feel responsible for blacks playing the victim / racism-card. Its your own life, dont blame others.

It is to much Hendrix (Voodo child) and I have always prefered his funk over his rock. Take away songs like Kiss, When doves cry or even Dance 4 me from his cataloge and you have a rather ordinary songwriter.

Dick Gregory makes up more lies-than BUSH!Prince needs 2 make lyrics that He KNOWs r FACTS!NOT Gregory LIES!!!!!

Many complain about the ridiculous, so-called music with bad grammar that many rappers, sing about that makes absolutely no sense at all, but let an artist sing about societal ills and concerns, and makes sense, suddenly it is not worth listening to? I believe "Dreamer" has some "uncomfortable truths" for many, and this is why some fans may not like what they hear in that song, because it's just too close to the truth.

Good try. Playing the denial card, and pretending to have a "bout of amnesia" about the crimes of the past is easy for you isn't it? You need to appreciate, respect and remember the many who plowed the soil of this land, so those in the past were able to have fruit on their tables. Not to mention, how wealthy many became off the blood, sweat and tears of those individuals who were enslaved, and helped to build the foundation of America, so future generations, including yourself, could enjoy the spoils of this land, despite the hardships and hatred the enslaved had to face while building it.

Secondly, why would I be angry at present day white people? I am not responsible for what their ancestors did to mine nor are present day whites, responsible for what happened to my ancestors in the past. But, when present-day individuals, are raised to believe and practice those racist beliefs and actions of the past, and "act upon it", by promoting, false, stereotypical, racist assumptions about "all" Blacks, then that's what I have a problem with, because I'm not going to stand for it.

I also have no hatred towards those that took part in America's past crimes, because I'm sure their Karma caught up with them eventually, and in the end, they had to answer to a higher judge.

You're afraid of successful, strong and intelligent Blacks, which is why you continuously use a "certain" segment of the Black population, to define and degrade all of them, and put them in one pot, while turning a blind eye to the the facts and truth that there are Black Americans from various economic/social/political/religious/cultural and educational backgrounds.

You're afraid of facing the truth about America's racist history and present day racism, because you're scared of the reality of it. It terrifies you, so you prefer to blame Black people for the guilt and shame you impose on yourself. That's the reality that you run from. I sleep well at night, because at least I don't fear any truth about this country's history or present day wrongs, nor am I afraid to stand up to those wrongs.

Let's face it, the lyrics to "Dreamer" made you freak when you read it. It ruffles the feathers in your pillow and keeps you awake at night. It made you "think" about an "uncomfortable truth" you don't want to hear about. So accusing the artist (Prince), who wrote the lyrics to "Dreamer", of "playing victim" or "playing the race card", is an easy way out for you, rather than accepting the truth that racism is still a part of the many societal ills Americans are fighting against.

Oh, by the way... my life is "wonderful"...smooches.

Somethings that I am always bothered by in racial discussions:


Most white people I know do not have ancestors that lived in the U.S. of A back when slavery was still around. My ancestors were bakers and bricklayers and certainly didn't run around in hoop skirts. I doubt if hardly any of them could read.

Second, except for the recent imigration of Africans, most people I think of as African American have a history in this country that goes back sometimes 300 years. In that sense they have more of a right to call themselves American that most of the white people I know do.

I have read that African Americans make up only 15% of the population. Given that I think they have easily given to America their 15% of it's culture and advancements.

Black people may disagree with me, but I see African Americans as having a culture of their own. I also think that most corportations and businesses are based on white culture. I only speak from observation, but I would think it must be difficult to choose between ones own culture and success based on conforming to another culture.

It's weird that the people who have been here the longest, ancestor wise, are considered the outsiders.

Somethings that I am always bothered by in racial discussions:


Most white people I know do not have ancestors that lived in the U.S. of A back when slavery was still around. My ancestors were bakers and bricklayers and certainly didn't run around in hoop skirts. I doubt if hardly any of them could read.

Second, except for the recent imigration of Africans, most people I think of as African American have a history in this country that goes back sometimes 300 years. In that sense they have more of a right to call themselves American that most of the white people I know do.

I have read that African Americans make up only 15% of the population. Given that I think they have easily given to America their 15% of it's culture and advancements.

Black people may disagree with me, but I see African Americans as having a culture of their own. I also think that most corportations and businesses are based on white culture. I only speak from observation, but I would think it must be difficult to choose between ones own culture and success based on conforming to another culture.

It's weird that the people who have been here the longest, ancestor wise, are considered the outsiders.

I have read that African Americans make up only 15% of the population. Given that I think they have easily given to America their 15% of it's culture and advancements.

I believe they make up close to 13% of the American population.
[Edited 11/21/09 17:36pm]

That's more propaganda to decieve the public.
About 3-5 % of Blacks are not counted in the census.

I can't say I disagree with you, as that can be attributed to some Blacks not identifying as African-American on the U.S. census. Also, there has definitely been an increase in Africans (from Africa)moving into the U.S. so it surprises me that the numbers for Blacks on the census aren't higher.
[Edited 11/22/09 9:12am]

I was born on a slave plantation, the United States of the red,white, and blue.

Everybody is living on a slave plantation in a sense regardless to when you are born. I reference the movie Zeitgeist where I found out that you are a debt slave because the monitary(sp?) system is set up for you to be in debt. Everyone who is not part of the 1% that owns 90% of the wealth is in this category.

Peanut butter logic served on a bed of lies

Your news media in the USA has turned into a glossy version of Pravda. Fox News is the best at this game but the others are not blameless. It's hard to find out the truth when multibillion dollar corporations buy commericals during the news. Why does gas cost so much now? How many Blacks have been killed in drug/gang violence since 1984? Things that are real news does not get on the national news programs instead we get Bradglina bullshit that has no relivance to anything.

Yes, I saw the movie "Zeitgeist", and you're right, that line in "Dreamer" that states " I was born and raised on the same plantation of the Red, White and Blue" can also reference we're all "slaves" to the system, paying into the system by debt and taxes. Basically stating Americans live in a Matrix, many unaware of what's going on around them, because they have been so conditioned by the American system, that many don't "think outside of the box" and are "sleeping walking", so-to-speak. Those that are "awake" are seen as troublemakers and dangerous, because they dare to challenge the system.


The "Peanut butter logic served on a bed of lies" - I agree with your version as well as my own interpretation of it, which I believe both are pretty much interwoven into the peanut butter logic. The media for one thing has the power to influence and control the minds of "sleepy" or "ignorant" Americans. Those who control the media, know exactly what can be spun to "specific" segments of the population. All they have to due is "spin it" continuously until it "owns" the audience it intended or intends to target, and once they do, they "own" them, just like a spider enticing her prey into her web.

We live in a society where often times, its citizens will embrace "negative news and sugar-coated lies" rather than accept or deal with "uncomfortable truths".

At the end of "Dreamer" though, when Prince starts to recite the "Pledge of Allegiance", it's like he is saying that the pledge of allegiance is a verbal contract, obligating one's life/freedom as a form of collateral or security, towards a lifetime debt to the system. In other words, we are all slaves to the American system, and we make payments to it with our taxes and debt. The American system is designed to divide and collect.
[Edited 11/22/09 9:41am]

Hallelujah (or.. Hundelesiliah, if you like)

I am not degrading black people here, you are. You keep putting on and defending some bombastic drama-scene that has nothing to do with reality.

What crimes are so deep-rooted? are you still mad at all white people nowadays because 'they threated your ancestors so wrong'? I could easily play the racism card, which one? Black person accusing white people of all of his or her problems, but I wont: Its plain ridicolous.

Get a life, please.