I skimmed thru this cd last night. I dig the music...........but the "N" word assault in every track just bored me 2 tears. I wasn't 3 seconds into the cd before it started. Are they being paid by the word with this nonsense?

[Edited 3/19/15 8:20am]

http://www.thefader.com/2015/03/16/get-to-know-the-players-in-kendrick-lamars-house-band

189 out of 211 homicides in Baltimore City last year were young black men. Out of the 85 suspects arrested, 75 were black. You do the math. I think Kendrick has a fucking point. While everyone decides to focus on what the media reports and the BlackLivesMatter movement, the real problems get ignored. But don't bring this up in the P&R forum because you will get shot down by racists.

3rdeyedude said:

189 out of 211 homicides in Baltimore City last year were young black men. Out of the 85 suspects arrested, 75 were black. You do the math. I think Kendrick has a fucking point. While everyone decides to focus on what the media reports and the BlackLivesMatter movement, the real problems get ignored. But don't bring this up in the P&R forum because you will get shot down by racists.

Tupac was also aware of these things.

he made plenty of tracks about "it's my own kind doing all the

killing here".

3rdeyedude said:

189 out of 211 homicides in Baltimore City last year were young black men. Out of the 85 suspects arrested, 75 were black. You do the math. I think Kendrick has a fucking point. While everyone decides to focus on what the media reports and the BlackLivesMatter movement, the real problems get ignored. But don't bring this up in the P&R forum because you will get shot down by racists.

Are you saying institutional racism, the incarceration of black men for minor drug offenses that most white men walk away from, Furguson police force and the courts colluding to prey on and exhort the entire black population, and cops killing a 12 year boy for carrying a toy gun in open carry state is not the real problem?!

As far as black on black crime, it has been in sharp decline for the past 20 years. According to FBI statistics, Black-on-Black homicides have decreased by 67% in 20 years, a sharper rate of decrease than white on white homicide. Among black youth, rates of robbery and serious property offenses are the lowest in more than 40 years. On top of that only 15% of black Americans even own guns compared to 31% of white Americans.

But for some reason, African Americans were two times as likely to be arrested and almost four times likely to to experience the use of force during encounters with the police. Five times as many whites are using drugs as African Americans, yet African Americans are sent to prison for drug offenses at 10 times the rate of Whites. African American women are three times more likely than white women to be incarcerated for the same offense.

Kendrick Lamarr is probably one of the most compelling hip hop artists out there right now. I just thought drawing parallels between institutional racism and black self hatred is misguided. By comparing the two he just ends deluding his message on both sides of the issue. If he did that on purpose, then it just comes off as a cynical ploy, a way to criticize without offending or challenging anyone.

lrn36 said:

KingSausage said:

lrn36 said:

Kendrick Lamarr is probably one of the most compelling hip hop artists out there right now. I just thought drawing parallels between institutional racism and black self hatred is misguided. By comparing the two he just ends deluding his message on both sides of the issue. If he did that on purpose, then it just comes off as a cynical ploy, a way to criticize without offending or challenging anyone.

I've really enjoyed reading your posts and the article you linked to. I've been listening to The Blacker The Berry a ton since it came out, and have been trying to sort out my thoughts about its ending. I'll be considering it from a different angle the next time I listen. Anyway, thanks for your posts.

No problem. Hey, the song got us talking so on that level it works.

lrn36 said:

KingSausage said:

Nobody ever talks about white on white crime. Most crimes happen in the community, among and between the people that live there. It's an artifact of our history (and present) of segregation. So there's no moral failure or other bullshit to try to pin on African-Americans. The focus on black on black crime is just some BS for white people to toss out rather than deal with institutional racism and power structures that play against POC every day. (Also, I'm white as hell, so this isn't some anti-white people post.)

The mayor of Baltimore is a black woman and the article I got my info from was about her new plan. the following is a quote from her:

"“Too many of us in the black community have become complacent about black-on-black crime,” she said afterward. “While many of us are willing to march and protest and become active in the face of police misconduct, many of us turn a blind eye when it’s us killing us.”

Here is the article for your information: http://urbanintellectuals...she-right/

Again, Kendrick has a point that needs more attention.

Graycap23 said:

I skimmed thru this cd last night. I dig the music...........but the "N" word assault in every track just bored me 2 tears. I wasn't 3 seconds into the cd before it started. Are they being paid by the word with this nonsense?

[Edited 3/19/15 8:20am]

Nah my dude....U missing out of some great art if you boil down Kendrick's new album in that very conversative way...

Put it this way. Lamar uses the N word the same way that the Last Poets and Gil Scott Heron does. When Lamar uses that word it's either in the mode of the concept or character he is playing in the song or VERY political. Do yourself a favor. Listen to To Pimp A Butterfly and as you do that check out the site Rap Genius to get annotations of each song. The concepts are pretty deep. This ain't no NIGGA-NIGGA-NIGGA shit. Lamar put together a concept album dissecting the modern American black male that needs to be heard. BY EVERYONE.....

lrn36 said:

KingSausage said:

lrn36 said: I've really enjoyed reading your posts and the article you linked to. I've been listening to The Blacker The Berry a ton since it came out, and have been trying to sort out my thoughts about its ending. I'll be considering it from a different angle the next time I listen. Anyway, thanks for your posts.

No problem. Hey, the song got us talking so on that level it works.

When u listen to the entire album "The Blacker The Berry" makes a lot more sense. It's no cop out when u hear it in its entire context.....

murph said:

Graycap23 said:

murph said:

Nah my dude....U missing out of some great art if you boil down Kendrick's new album in that very conversative way...

Put it this way. Lamar uses the N word the same way that the Last Poets and Gil Scott Heron does. When Lamar uses that word it's either in the mode of the concept or character he is playing in the song or VERY political. Do yourself a favor. Listen to To Pimp A Butterfly and as you do that check out the site Rap Genius to get annotations of each song. The concepts are pretty deep. This ain't no NIGGA-NIGGA-NIGGA shit. Lamar put together a concept album dissecting the modern American black male that needs to be heard. BY EVERYONE.....

I'll peep with this in mind. I'm just tired of hearing the word.

I got no issue with the N word when it's used in a way that makes sense in a song. This is a brilliant album, Cap. The N word is not used cheaply. To Pimp A Butterfly is bigger than the N word. MUCH bigger...

murph said:

Graycap23 said:

murph said: I'll peep with this in mind. I'm just tired of hearing the word.

I got no issue with the N word when it's used in a way that makes sense in a song. This is a brilliant album, Cap. The N word is not used cheaply. To Pimp A Butterfly is bigger than the N word. MUCH bigger...

I'll be queing it up in the studio tomorow.

Graycap23 said:

murph said:

I got no issue with the N word when it's used in a way that makes sense in a song. This is a brilliant album, Cap. The N word is not used cheaply. To Pimp A Butterfly is bigger than the N word. MUCH bigger...

I'll be queing it up in the studio tomorow.

Dope...while u listen to that joint read the below post from Rap Genius. It's a great guide to understanding the concepts and meanings of each song....

----

I swear was just working out this same connection between the poem and the songs... then I went to genius that they had a (much) more fully fleshed out version of what I was putting together.

http://genius.com/Genius-...fly-lyrics



Kendrick Lamar's third studio album To Pimp A Butterfly was released this past Sunday, twenty years and one day after 2Pac dropped Me Against The World. The almost 80 minute epic is a celebration of music, black culture, and storytelling. The straightforward storyline chops of good kid, m.A.A.d city may not be evident, but the poetry exceeds its predecessor. Kendrick plays multiple characters as he navigates his way through fame, weaving extended metaphors through multiple songs to deliver his message. To Pimp A Butterfly can be read as a short story, visualised like a film, or listened to like a sermon a top of Sinai.

"Every Nigger Is A Star" are the first words we hear. Then it's Kendrick, fantasising about fame and fortune, followed by rhymes from the perspective of the "pimp" (Uncle Sam) on "Wesley's Theory". Themes of fame and exploitation continue in "For Free (Interlude)", where a woman (possibly Lucy) highlights the dissimilarity between Kendrick and a "baller ass, boss ass nigga". The two opening cuts describe Kendrick as the caterpillar whose only thoughts are consumption.

He continues on "King Kunta" - an unapologetic track that captures his vanity. Kendrick questions the loyalty of his closest friends, claiming to have risen from "a peasant to a prince to a motherfuckin' king" - when in reality he's getting "pimped," ready to become the next Wesley Snipes.


Vanity turns to vice throughout "Institutionalized" & "These Walls." Kendrick faces two of fames main vices: money & women, as well as the added temptation to use his influence for noxious means. The intro on "Institutionalized" : "I'm trapped inside the ghetto and I ain't proud to admit it / Institutionalized, I keep runnin' back for a visit" and Snoop Dogg's outro portray Kendrick in the "consumption" mindset. As he's trapped in the cocoon, things take a turn for the sinister during "These Walls". While Kendrick describes having sex with a woman in the first two verses, the third details she's the baby momma of the gangbanger who killed his homie in "Sing About Me" from good kid, m.A.A.d city.

Abusing my power full of resentment
Resentment that turned into a deep depression
Found myself screaming in a hotel room

Kendrick screams "loving you is complicated" - slipping into a deep, self loathing depression on "u" Kendrick comes to realise Lucy (the devil...Lucifer) and Uncle Sam have trapped him in fame, and goes so far to suggest suicide, guilt stricken over his teenage sister becoming pregnant and the death of his friend Chad Keaton. He tries to find God on "Alright", yet still struggles, promising to either beat his depression or commit suicide: "I keep my head up high / I cross my heart and hope to die".

I didn't wanna self destruct
The evils of Lucy was all around me
So I went runnin' for answers

Immediately after seeking out God on "Alright", Lucy (Lucifer) comes to the forefront on "For Sale (Interlude).".Juxtaposing the earlier "For Free (Interlude)," Kendrick wrestles with Lucy as she tries to "pimp" him into guaranteed fame and success: "Lucy gone fill your pockets / Lucy gone move your mama out of Compton / Inside the gi-gantic mansion like I promised".

Until I came home

As he begins to remember who he was before the fame, Kendrick returns to Compton during "Momma" and "Hood Politics". In the third verse of "Momma" he goes home to Africa where he meets a boy who gives him an ultimatum, which he agrees to: "I can be your advocate / I can preach for you if you tell me what the matter is." After taking his vow, Kendrick soon realises on "Hood Politics" that the caterpillars continue to consume everything, and the plight of the caterpillar has a cause-effect relationship the ghettos (cocoons) internal struggle: "From Compton to Congress / Set trippin’ all around / Ain’t nothin' new but a flow of new DemoCrips and ReBloodlicans / Red state versus a blue state, which one you governin’?"

But that didn't stop survivors guilt
Going back and forth
Trying to convince my self the stripes I earned
Or maybe how A-1 my foundation was
But while my loved ones was fighting
A continuous war back in the city
I was entering a new one

Money, race, and violence are represented by the subsequent three tracks: "How Much a Dollar Cost", "Complexion (Zulu Love)" & "The Blacker The Berry." It's here Kendrick completes the evolution from caterpillar to butterfly and is free of Lucy & Uncle Sam. He attempts to unite his brothers and sisters against racism during "Complexion (Zulu Love)" , however becomes angry and frustrated by the hypocrisy of the ghetto in "The Blacker The Berry": "So why did I weep when Trayvon Martin was in the street? / When gang banging make me kill a nigga blacker than me? / Hypocrite!"

Kendrick's journey is a manifestation of his own experience. As he weaves through Compton (the cocoon) he gains wisdom - "The Blacker The Berry" is one approach, "i" is another. On the prelude to "i", "You Ain’t Gotta Lie (Momma Said)" - he explains to the caterpillars (people in Compton) they don't have to indulge in drugs, money & violence, and completes this advice with the penultimate track: a live version of "i". When a fight breaks out in the crowd, Kendrick begins to acapella. Slowly the fracas ceases and the crowd becomes mesmerised with their leader and his words: "NEGUS": "N-E-G-U-S definition: royalty; King royalty - wait listen / N-E-G-U-S description: Black emperor, King, ruler, now let me finish".

The caterpillar consumed, the cocoon institutionalised, and the butterfly flourished. Kendrick reflects on his journey and looks towards the future throughout "Mortal Man". Like Mandela, Malcolm X & Martin Luther King - Kendrick Lamar Duckworth requests unwavering loyalty from his fans: "generation X, will I ever be your X?" He wants everyone to join him.

To Pimp A Butterfly is a vicarious journey through K.Lamar. While the caterpillar and the butterfly are one in the same; the struggle, triumph and emotion are all experienced to ask one question: what's your perspective on that?

A war that was based on apartheid and discrimination
Made me wanna go back to the city and tell the homies what I learned
The word was respect
Just because you wore a different gang colour than mine's
Doesn’t mean I can’t respect you as a black man
Forgetting all the pain and hurt we caused each other in these streets
If I respect you, we unify and stop the enemy from killing us
But I don’t know, I’m no mortal man, maybe I’m just another nigga

murph said:

Graycap23 said:

I'll be queing it up in the studio tomorow.

Dope...while u listen to that joint read the below post from Rap Genius. It's a great guide to understanding the concepts and meanings of each song....

----

I swear was just working out this same connection between the poem and the songs... then I went to genius that they had a (much) more fully fleshed out version of what I was putting together.

http://genius.com/Genius-...fly-lyrics



Kendrick Lamar's third studio album To Pimp A Butterfly was released this past Sunday, twenty years and one day after 2Pac dropped Me Against The World. The almost 80 minute epic is a celebration of music, black culture, and storytelling. The straightforward storyline chops of good kid, m.A.A.d city may not be evident, but the poetry exceeds its predecessor. Kendrick plays multiple characters as he navigates his way through fame, weaving extended metaphors through multiple songs to deliver his message. To Pimp A Butterfly can be read as a short story, visualised like a film, or listened to like a sermon a top of Sinai.

"Every Nigger Is A Star" are the first words we hear. Then it's Kendrick, fantasising about fame and fortune, followed by rhymes from the perspective of the "pimp" (Uncle Sam) on "Wesley's Theory". Themes of fame and exploitation continue in "For Free (Interlude)", where a woman (possibly Lucy) highlights the dissimilarity between Kendrick and a "baller ass, boss ass nigga". The two opening cuts describe Kendrick as the caterpillar whose only thoughts are consumption.

He continues on "King Kunta" - an unapologetic track that captures his vanity. Kendrick questions the loyalty of his closest friends, claiming to have risen from "a peasant to a prince to a motherfuckin' king" - when in reality he's getting "pimped," ready to become the next Wesley Snipes.


Vanity turns to vice throughout "Institutionalized" & "These Walls." Kendrick faces two of fames main vices: money & women, as well as the added temptation to use his influence for noxious means. The intro on "Institutionalized" : "I'm trapped inside the ghetto and I ain't proud to admit it / Institutionalized, I keep runnin' back for a visit" and Snoop Dogg's outro portray Kendrick in the "consumption" mindset. As he's trapped in the cocoon, things take a turn for the sinister during "These Walls". While Kendrick describes having sex with a woman in the first two verses, the third details she's the baby momma of the gangbanger who killed his homie in "Sing About Me" from good kid, m.A.A.d city.

Abusing my power full of resentment
Resentment that turned into a deep depression
Found myself screaming in a hotel room

Kendrick screams "loving you is complicated" - slipping into a deep, self loathing depression on "u" Kendrick comes to realise Lucy (the devil...Lucifer) and Uncle Sam have trapped him in fame, and goes so far to suggest suicide, guilt stricken over his teenage sister becoming pregnant and the death of his friend Chad Keaton. He tries to find God on "Alright", yet still struggles, promising to either beat his depression or commit suicide: "I keep my head up high / I cross my heart and hope to die".

I didn't wanna self destruct
The evils of Lucy was all around me
So I went runnin' for answers

Immediately after seeking out God on "Alright", Lucy (Lucifer) comes to the forefront on "For Sale (Interlude).".Juxtaposing the earlier "For Free (Interlude)," Kendrick wrestles with Lucy as she tries to "pimp" him into guaranteed fame and success: "Lucy gone fill your pockets / Lucy gone move your mama out of Compton / Inside the gi-gantic mansion like I promised".

Until I came home

As he begins to remember who he was before the fame, Kendrick returns to Compton during "Momma" and "Hood Politics". In the third verse of "Momma" he goes home to Africa where he meets a boy who gives him an ultimatum, which he agrees to: "I can be your advocate / I can preach for you if you tell me what the matter is." After taking his vow, Kendrick soon realises on "Hood Politics" that the caterpillars continue to consume everything, and the plight of the caterpillar has a cause-effect relationship the ghettos (cocoons) internal struggle: "From Compton to Congress / Set trippin’ all around / Ain’t nothin' new but a flow of new DemoCrips and ReBloodlicans / Red state versus a blue state, which one you governin’?"

But that didn't stop survivors guilt
Going back and forth
Trying to convince my self the stripes I earned
Or maybe how A-1 my foundation was
But while my loved ones was fighting
A continuous war back in the city
I was entering a new one

Money, race, and violence are represented by the subsequent three tracks: "How Much a Dollar Cost", "Complexion (Zulu Love)" & "The Blacker The Berry." It's here Kendrick completes the evolution from caterpillar to butterfly and is free of Lucy & Uncle Sam. He attempts to unite his brothers and sisters against racism during "Complexion (Zulu Love)" , however becomes angry and frustrated by the hypocrisy of the ghetto in "The Blacker The Berry": "So why did I weep when Trayvon Martin was in the street? / When gang banging make me kill a nigga blacker than me? / Hypocrite!"

Kendrick's journey is a manifestation of his own experience. As he weaves through Compton (the cocoon) he gains wisdom - "The Blacker The Berry" is one approach, "i" is another. On the prelude to "i", "You Ain’t Gotta Lie (Momma Said)" - he explains to the caterpillars (people in Compton) they don't have to indulge in drugs, money & violence, and completes this advice with the penultimate track: a live version of "i". When a fight breaks out in the crowd, Kendrick begins to acapella. Slowly the fracas ceases and the crowd becomes mesmerised with their leader and his words: "NEGUS": "N-E-G-U-S definition: royalty; King royalty - wait listen / N-E-G-U-S description: Black emperor, King, ruler, now let me finish".

The caterpillar consumed, the cocoon institutionalised, and the butterfly flourished. Kendrick reflects on his journey and looks towards the future throughout "Mortal Man". Like Mandela, Malcolm X & Martin Luther King - Kendrick Lamar Duckworth requests unwavering loyalty from his fans: "generation X, will I ever be your X?" He wants everyone to join him.

To Pimp A Butterfly is a vicarious journey through K.Lamar. While the caterpillar and the butterfly are one in the same; the struggle, triumph and emotion are all experienced to ask one question: what's your perspective on that?

A war that was based on apartheid and discrimination
Made me wanna go back to the city and tell the homies what I learned
The word was respect
Just because you wore a different gang colour than mine's
Doesn’t mean I can’t respect you as a black man
Forgetting all the pain and hurt we caused each other in these streets
If I respect you, we unify and stop the enemy from killing us
But I don’t know, I’m no mortal man, maybe I’m just another nigga

murph said:

I'm going to put him in the misguided category after reading the full quote from billboard magazine.

http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6436333/kendrick-lamar-on-ferguson-police-michael-brown

"I wish somebody would look in our neighborhood knowing that it's already a situation, mentally, where it's f--ked up. What happened to [Michael Brown] should've never happened. Never. But when we don't have respect for ourselves, how do we expect them to respect us? It starts from within. Don't start with just a rally, don't start from looting -- it starts from within."

It sounds like something Bill Cosby or Bill O'reilly would say. If all us black folks would just act like human beings, there would be no problem. Well go ask Henry Louis Gates, a college professor arrested for entering his own home that question. Ask John Crawford III who picked up a toy gun at Walmart for his son and got killed. Ask civil rights activist John Lewis who as a young man who wore a suit and tie and spoke eloquently as he fought for his rights and got his skull cracked open in Selma. Hell, ask me! I'm a pretty reasonable guy and I had a cop put a gun in my face for walking down the street with my hands in my pockets!

Does anyone realize how demented this sounds? That the unruly or criminal behavior of some black people justifies the treatment of all black people. This logic is a literal support of racist behavior. How about all the young white men who commit mass shootings. Should we treat all young white men based on the action of those few?

How about this crazy idea? Let's treat everyone like individuals. If every black person is some how responsible for cleaning up bad behavior in their community, then white America, you have a shit load of white supremacist, militia gun nuts you have to deal with. Oh let's not forget Wall Street. There are alot of white predator type white guys doing a lot of damage, too.

Sorry, but not sorry for the rant, but this kind of talk really gets under my skin. Pun intended.

lrn36 said:

I'm going to put him in the misguided category after reading the full quote from billboard magazine.

http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6436333/kendrick-lamar-on-ferguson-police-michael-brown

"I wish somebody would look in our neighborhood knowing that it's already a situation, mentally, where it's f--ked up. What happened to [Michael Brown] should've never happened. Never. But when we don't have respect for ourselves, how do we expect them to respect us? It starts from within. Don't start with just a rally, don't start from looting -- it starts from within."

It sounds like something Bill Cosby or Bill O'reilly would say. If all us black folks would just act like human beings, there would be no problem. Well go ask Henry Louis Gates, a college professor arrested for entering his own home that question. Ask John Crawford III who picked up a toy gun at Walmart for his son and got killed. Ask civil rights activist John Lewis who as a young man who wore a suit and tie and spoke eloquently as he fought for his rights and got his skull cracked open in Selma. Hell, ask me! I'm a pretty reasonable guy and I had a cop put a gun in my face for walking down the street with my hands in my pockets!

Does anyone realize how demented this sounds? That the unruly or criminal behavior of some black people justifies the treatment of all black people. This logic is a literal support of racist behavior. How about all the young white men who commit mass shootings. Should we treat all young white men based on the action of those few?

How about this crazy idea? Let's treat everyone like individuals. If every black person is some how responsible for cleaning up bad behavior in their community, then white America, you have a shit load of white supremacist, militia gun nuts you have to deal with. Oh let's not forget Wall Street. There are alot of white predator type white guys doing a lot of damage, too.

Sorry, but not sorry for the rant, but this kind of talk really gets under my skin. Pun intended.

Yeah...u kinda late on that quote homie. He's done more interviews since then (read the Rollingstone one comes to mind...Lamar gives more perspective on what u may deem as respect politics)....

Also, what Lamar said is no different than what Public Enemy has stated in some of their best work (Chuck D attacks white supremacy and preaches black folks taking responsibility for their own backyard as well...)...

But this is all moot of course. Listen to To Pimp A Butterfly. I believe that any artist's words and work deserves to be read/heard in full context and not just one quote or a sound bite....The album best captures Lamar's views on the subject at hand.....

KingSausage said:

This is beside the point and I don't want to interrupt the flow of the discussion, but I want to take a moment and say that it's pretty amazing to have an album that's so musically stellar and has lyrics actually worth analyzing and discussing. That's a rarity these days. More people need to hear this album and think about the things Kendrick is saying.

Yep^^^^^^^

lrn36 said:

3rdeyedude said:

189 out of 211 homicides in Baltimore City last year were young black men. Out of the 85 suspects arrested, 75 were black. You do the math. I think Kendrick has a fucking point. While everyone decides to focus on what the media reports and the BlackLivesMatter movement, the real problems get ignored. But don't bring this up in the P&R forum because you will get shot down by racists.

Are you saying institutional racism, the incarceration of black men for minor drug offenses that most white men walk away from, Furguson police force and the courts colluding to prey on and exhort the entire black population, and cops killing a 12 year boy for carrying a toy gun in open carry state is not the real problem?!

As far as black on black crime, it has been in sharp decline for the past 20 years. According to FBI statistics, Black-on-Black homicides have decreased by 67% in 20 years, a sharper rate of decrease than white on white homicide. Among black youth, rates of robbery and serious property offenses are the lowest in more than 40 years. On top of that only 15% of black Americans even own guns compared to 31% of white Americans.

But for some reason, African Americans were two times as likely to be arrested and almost four times likely to to experience the use of force during encounters with the police. Five times as many whites are using drugs as African Americans, yet African Americans are sent to prison for drug offenses at 10 times the rate of Whites. African American women are three times more likely than white women to be incarcerated for the same offense.

gee, let's pick a city.......how about Philadelphia.........read the stats here: https://www.phillypolice....t-2013.pdf

want me to find more? I bet you dont! maybe Kendrick is just trying to point out that you can't place the blame on just one thing (like the media has you and others believing).......and to do so is just ignorant

Impressive in places but ugly and abrasive overall. I have no desire to hear it again.

3rdeyedude said:

lrn36 said:

Are you saying institutional racism, the incarceration of black men for minor drug offenses that most white men walk away from, Furguson police force and the courts colluding to prey on and exhort the entire black population, and cops killing a 12 year boy for carrying a toy gun in open carry state is not the real problem?!

As far as black on black crime, it has been in sharp decline for the past 20 years. According to FBI statistics, Black-on-Black homicides have decreased by 67% in 20 years, a sharper rate of decrease than white on white homicide. Among black youth, rates of robbery and serious property offenses are the lowest in more than 40 years. On top of that only 15% of black Americans even own guns compared to 31% of white Americans.

But for some reason, African Americans were two times as likely to be arrested and almost four times likely to to experience the use of force during encounters with the police. Five times as many whites are using drugs as African Americans, yet African Americans are sent to prison for drug offenses at 10 times the rate of Whites. African American women are three times more likely than white women to be incarcerated for the same offense.

gee, let's pick a city.......how about Philadelphia.........read the stats here: https://www.phillypolice....t-2013.pdf

want me to find more? I bet you dont! maybe Kendrick is just trying to point out that you can't place the blame on just one thing (like the media has you and others believing).......and to do so is just ignorant

How about Furguson? The entire police force and criminal justice system colluded to prey on and exhort money from the entire black population like the mafia. How about New York's broken windows culture which led to the death of Eric Garner? How about the horribly racist tweets sent between cops in San Francisco? Who were largely in charge of these institutions? White men. But do we ask every white man to take responsibility for the actions of others?

And just how is the average black person supposed to help lower crime in the black community despite the fact that crime in the black community is actually dropping? Do we create some vigilante force where we police and arrest black criminals ourselves?

You should read Ta-Nehisi Coates article for the Atlanctic about the concerted effort to steal black wealth while building white wealth. After WW II black soldiers were prevented from collecting on the G.I. bill which help many white soldiers go to college and buy homes. Institutions used redlining to selectively grant home loans to only white citizens. Black americans couldn't even collect social security because it excluded domestic work, the only job black people could get back in the 30s. You should also check out jon Stewarts interview with Bill (pull yourself up by your bootstraps) O'Reilly who grew up in a community that was developed so lower middle class families could afford homes. The same community denied access to African Americans.

If you deny a group's ability to attain wealth then you deny their ability to build a stable community. If the same thing was done to white people, the results would be the same. In fact, look at the crime waves of the 1920s thru the 40s. First and second generation Jewish, Italian, and Irish men who were marginalized by society entered organized crime and buillt wealth. You can see the same all over the world. Look at the way, Muslim communities are marginalized in France. Is it any suprise that extremism is catching on when you deny people access to the system? I saw the same issues when I went to China a few years ago. The minorities groups are marginalized by the majority group the Han. If you are not a Han, you are going to be at the bottom of the ladder no matter what. You also see abject poverty and crime in these communities. I remember seeing little kids who were no older than 8 years old in tattered clothing running around begging for money or trying to pick tourists pockets.

Fixing problems in the black community is not going to help with issues of racism. When we were at our most reasonable and respectable during the civil rights movement, we still caught hell for it. Barrack Obama is probably the most affable black man on the planet and look how he is treated by the very government he is a part of. Dealing with marginalization, racial tribalism, police state tactics, stealing of wealth,and irrational fear is at the heart of the problem. Everything else is the symptoms of a larger illness.

[Edited 3/22/15 12:22pm]