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  • Essay / Why racist language should not be used in music

    As Australians, we would like to believe that we live in a diverse and tolerant society. Our generally privileged and protected environment allows the vast majority to feel accepted and proudly call Australia home. But we would also be ignorant if we believed that our culturally insensitive past of discrimination did not lurk in the shadows. We live in a multicultural society and must show tolerance and acceptance towards all. Words traditionally created out of hatred and disgust have become increasingly popular within the global music industry and provide too many opportunities for the wrong people to use the wrong words. This may come from the type of music we listen to. Mainstream artists often include racist slurs in their lyrics which, although censored on commercial radio, are easily accessible to everyone through other sources like Spotify or YouTube. It’s time for us Australians to stand up against this language and allow our country to unite, regardless of our skin color and cultural heritage. Using just one hateful word can set a precedent for violence and hatred, which I'm sure we can agree no one would want. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay On October 23, 2017, Kendrick Lamar, an African-American rap artist, invited a Caucasian woman to sing a strongly imbued with racist remarks. a slur that was once commonly used to offend people of one's ethnicity. This term has become extremely unacceptable and can be used as an insult, given its connection to slavery and the oppression of black people. In modern times, within the black community, its meaning has shifted from a derogatory term towards people of color to simply a friendly term, both within the rap industry and beyond. The n-word has become appropriated as a measure of status, forgetting the cultural context at its roots. Lamar was performing in Alabama, a southern state known for its long history of slavery, but one white woman didn't see the meaning of the word and simply thought people were booing her for not being "cool enough." ". A simple solution would be to ask rappers and people in the public eye to stop using racist words, because unfortunately, ignorant people use such words to justify their overt racism. The power and strength given to artists who create music, offer guidance to their listeners and, depending on their choice of language, can either help bring peace or widen the divide. Music is meant to be a platform for people to express their views and tell a story. a story with words, not a place where people have to skip every other word because the lyrics aren't suitable for all races. Statistics show that more than 50% of hip hop and rap listeners are Caucasian, although their target audience is African American. But it's not at all about prioritizing white comfort over racial and cultural empowerment for artists, but rather about mutual respect. In Australia, it is illegal to publicly behave or speak to others in a racist manner, so why is it acceptable to sing lyrics that we are taught not to say? The law specifically exempts music, but far more people will hear Kendrick Lamar's lyrics than any man's public speeches. Australian indigenous rap artist, Adam Briggs, aims to exploit the..