IDK: Forget the Historical Context

 The LA Riot Spectacular 2005 starring Snoop Dogg, Emilio Estevez, etc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g52ZSnNB500 - [The LA Riot Spectacular trailer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWjAPFcw7Tc - Crips & Bloods [The LA Riot Spectacular]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lJtE7DzyTc - Mr. Kim's Riquor Store (that was the actual spelling) [The LA Riot Spectacular]

 Fabolous ft. Chris Brown- Ready (January 2013): http://youtu.be/7VpYgPdGgn4?t=2m14s
Need ice to numb it down, 

Night stick to beat it up
Rodney King that team girl
Can’t we all just get along
You could get along
You already know
But is you ready though

 So...in relation to these two examples, there is something to be said about erasure of historical context toward Rodney King's beating and the reason how it became a catalyst for the LA riots of 1992. there is something to be said that he has now become the symbol of commercialization. How can a symbol of injustice as well as an engine for change and reform turn into a commercialized figure to be exploited for the sole purpose of how profitable and renowned his namesake is?

The first example is set 13 years after the riots. The film, The LA Riot Spectacular, directed my music videographer, Marc Klasfield,  was released in 2005 as a satirical comedy about the riots starting with Rodney King's beating all the way through the trial and the riot itself. The film also gives other perspectives within the main narrative by looking into the urban landscape of LA by focusing on different aspects of LA life i.e. LAPD, the media, gang life, etc. However, the film fails in its commentary on high crime rates, gang violence, police brutality, etc. by showcasing these events in such a ludicrous manner that these sketches are just morally wrong as well as a tool to reinforce stereotypes. For example, the scene listed above tries to explain the reason for the Bloods and the Crips peace treaty which is staged in a cemetery. The two groups are lined up on opposite sides of an empty grave as they shoot each other. Their bodies falling into the plot below. When another pair are about to shoot each other, a member from the Bloods basically asks why are we doing this? The Crip  replies "for colors." Once each side hears the stupidity in it, they hug it out while telling the other the atrocities they committed to the other member's family and friends. For example, one says to the effect that I am sorry for kidnapping your grandma and putting my dick in her mouth. What The Fuck? Then the scene finishes with Snoop Dogg, the godlike figure or narrator within the film, by pouring some Malt Liquor onto the grave for all the fallen soldiers and justifies it by saying its a Black thing just do it. Again, What The Fuck? This scene alone is disregarding the historical context of the treaty itself by rationalizing to fit into the memory of Black stereotypes. The malt liquor as an association with African American males in and of itself is call to memory in popular culture that has its own negative connotation that cancels out the socio-poitical commentary the film is trying to make in relation to gang violence and the famous peace treaty. This film is just one instance in which the La riots have become a call to memory that can now be exploited for commercial gain.

The second example is set 21 years later in the current year of 2013. The song Ready by Fabolous ft Chris Brown is about literally being ready for the sex that is about to happen between the speaker and the female partner. However, the line listed above stating, Night stick to beat it up/Rodney King that team girl, are you serious? Well in order to analyze the song, I tried to ignore the fact that line was used and take the song for what it is. It is a commercialized anthem to be used as a slow jam, but that's only if you can ignore the choppiness of Fabolous' rap game and focus on Chris Brown's generic chorus to the tempo of an R&B song. But by doing this, you realize it is a sex anthem. So why in the world would they use a line about a brutal beating in reference to "beating the pussy up." Sorry had to use that phrase. But, this phrase helps to explain what exactly this song is doing. Sex becomes a violent act through association alone. Hell, you want another example of guilty by association, check out the controversy with Justin Timberlake's song title, Take Back The Night, in relation to the actual event, Take Back The Night.

Personally, I do not have a full fledged conclusion to how these two atrocities have supplanted themselves into popular culture, but it goes to show how the lack of education and historical distancing has allowed these two instances to occur. I think by learning and  acknowledging our history, we are able to catch these atrocities and help to prevent others like these from happening. 

Sidenote: another example to add is Russell Simmions' Def Digital parody, Harriet Tubman's sextape. No joke it is real and it is atrocious.