N.W.A

For years the popular rap group “Niggas with Attitude” or NWA for short was a powerful political figure throughout society. Their popular hit “Fuck the Police” was a political message directed towards the government speaking in defense of the minorities. Although they have played a prominent role in fighting for equality of people of color many neglect to realize that the groups send hate crimes towards the Asian community in many of their popular songs. One of the groups lead artist Oshea Jackson stage name Ice Cube was being globally known to be considered a racists and has no fear about it. Many viewers of their movie Straight Outta Compton were upset at the fact that it was portrayed that the group stood by the Asian community through the LA riots when it really was the complete opposite.

Following the Rodney King beating and the death of a fifteen year-old Latasha Harlins killed by a Korean groc er Ice Cube makes an attempt to reveal the bigotry of Asian merchants in South Central Los Angeles through his rap “Black Korea.” Latasha Harlins was in a local deli with the intention of buying orange juice. She then placed the bottle in her backpack, as she proceeds to the counter to pay for it fifty-one year-old Soon Ja Du grabs her backpack with the accusation of her stealing. In retaliation Latasha Harlins strikes Soon Ja Du. As the young lady heads to the exit Soon Ja Du fires a .38 caliber pistol killing Latasha Harlins.

In his explicit rap “Black Korea” Ice Cube discusses the common interactions young men of color face when shopping in a local convenience store.

 

“Every time I wanna go get a fuckin’ brew
I gotta go down to the store with the two
Oriental one penny countin’ motherfuckers
That make a nigga mad enough to cause a little ruckus

Thinkin’ every brother in the world’s out to take
So they watch every damn move that I make
They hope I don’t pull out a gat and try to rob
They funky little store, but, bitch, I got a job

“Look, you little Chinese motherfucker
I ain’t tryin’ to steal none of yo’ shit, leave me alone!”
”Mother fuck you!”

Yo, yo, check it out

So don’t follow me up and down your market
Or your little chop suey ass’ll be a target
Of the nationwide boycott

Juice with the people, that’s what the boy got

So pay respect to the black fist
Or we’ll burn your store right down to a crisp
And then we’ll see ya

Cause you can’t turn the ghetto into black Korea” The threat to “burn your store down to a crisp” was a reflection held by many young African Americans held in the South Central community. Many observers in both the Korean-American and black communities in L.A. cited “Black Korea” as an inspirational spark for the conflagration that caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage.

 

The song was an over generalization of how many Korean store owners treated blacks when entering a store. The lyrics were perceived as a threat when really were wrote to establish awareness amongst other ethnic groups while still trying to relate to the black community. Although the lyrics are degrading to the Asian Community Ice-Cube was displaying truths that have been swept underneath the rug. At the time hip-hop and rap was the only voice for blacks in the media industry. Rap being an aggressive form of music by itself many wrongly interpreted the lyrics to Black Korea to an extreme.

Fast forwarding over a decade later the movie Straight Outta Compton was released. In a sense the rap group N.W.A was portrayed in the movie as glorified political figures in the fight for equality. A particular scene towards the end of the movie the group was driving through South Central right after people had been rioting and two local rival gangs had tied their rags together symbolizing unity. Many people failed to realize that this action is a symbol for the end of a war and peace. In the late 1980’s gangs in Los Angeles would do this once so many members of each gang had fallen. Peace was the complete opposite in South Central Los Angeles. Many viewers were disrespected by the false representation of the group. The movie completely leaves out the attacks on Korean shop owners in Los Angeles.

With all the recent shootings of innocent African Americans there have been uprisings in Ferguson and Baltimore law enforcement have made efforts to not let the LA riots reoccur. The government’s tactics have caused even more problems with issuing the local police with military equipment. The 1033 program set up by the defense department allows state police access to armored vehicles, weapons and military equipment at the cost of the tax payers money. Programs like these only contribute to the racial inequality because law enforcement officers are predominantly Caucasian. Hopefully the government can gain control in a less militant mindset bringing peace amongst everyone.