Remember Amadou Diallo? Race and policing in New York City!

Recently, the New York City Police Department released statistics for a single year pertaining to its controversial stop and frisk policies.

According to an article on officer.com, more than 31,000 people were stopped in 2011 and 97% of them were black or Hispanic!

People of color had long complained about this practice, and a judge found the policy to be unconstitutional.

New York Police Department Commissioner Ray Kelly said he was disturbed that the judge found Big Apple police engaged in racial profiling, saying that is "recklessly untrue."

"We do not engage in racial profiling," Kelly said. "It is prohibited by law, it is prohibited by our own regulations."

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the city will appeal the ruling by a federal judge. Incredibly, in spite of the evidence--which shows that police rarely find weapons or drugs or make an arrest in cases where they stop and frisk someone--Bloomberg said the policy is "an important part of [the NYPD's] record of success." See the reality here.

I've been following this story since way way back in the day.

In New York City, police have always used race as a warning sign of potential danger to profile people. Not all cops of course, but enough to create major disparities in stops and even use of force.

Remember the case of Amadou Diallo, followed then shot and killed because he (an innocent man with nothing but a wallet in his back pocket) fit the description of a suspect (why? because he was black?)? There have been far too many of these cases in the city.

Many people have forgotten. Some have not.

Like my man, Ziggy Marley. Check out his song, "I know you don't care about me." Nice use of music to make a point.

"I know you don't care about me. I'm just a nigga' walking down the street."

...

"And they say their Constitution's for the benefit of all. It's all a lie. It's all a lie."

And read Michelle Alexander's book, The New Jim Crow. Her argument? Criminal justice--especially mass incarceration--is the new Jim Crow. Woah!

Pop musicians MOCK domestic violence

So Chris Brown kicks the crap out of Rihanna.

Don't you remember the story from the news?

This guy ...

Did this to this woman ...

And now the two, still making music, have released some recent music together via Twitter to their millions of followers.

Some of the music is reportedly raunchy and suggests the two are back together, even after serious domestic violence for which Brown is still on probation.

"Something is not right with them," says Natalie Hopkinson, a contributing editor at The Root. "These are two deeply disturbed individuals that probably need to get off Twitter and spend some time on someone's couch, working it out."

But fans say it is ok with them:

Cherice McGlone, a sophomore at Howard University, says: "I feel like they've been back together for a while, but they're just now letting the public know. I'm cool with it. I love black love."

She adds: "The main goals of the songs were money, publicity. 'Why not draw attention to my song, generate more revenue?' I would do it," she says. "Makes more money, you know? The public is gonna eat that up. Whether good or bad, the public is gonna be talking about it."

And Howard sophomore Earl King agreed: "They did it for love, cause they do love each other," he says. "They're gonna make money off it too — good money. And it might cause some backlash, but their fans are gonna support them."

So let's get this straight. A guy kicks the crap out of his girlfriend. He is punished for it. Then the two of them release songs together suggesting they are getting back together--and they probably are not because this is probably just a publicity stunt orchestrated for money--and yet the fans are still going to eat it all up!?!?

And the media are not only going to provide means they use to do it (i.e., music via Twitter), but the media are also going to tell us all about it!?!? Even NPR?

Wow.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2012/02/22/147237101/rihanna-and-chris-brown-the-saga-continues

THIS is music????

Driving into work today, NPR was doing something boring so I turned the dial to a pop radio station, and this is what I heard.

Katy Perry, Last Friday

There's a stranger in my bed,
There's a pounding my head
Glitter all over the room
Pink flamingos in the pool
I smell like a minibar
DJ's passed out in the yard
Barbie's on the barbeque

There's a hickie or a bruise
Pictures of last night
Eended up online
I'm screwed
Oh well
It's a black top blur
But I'm pretty sure it ruled

Last Friday night
Yeah we danced on tabletops
And we took too many shots
Think we kissed but I forgot

Last Friday night
Yeah we maxed our credit cards
And got kicked out of the bar
So we hit the boulevard

Last Friday night
We went streaking in the park
Skinny dipping in the dark
Then had a menage a trois
Last Friday night
Yeah I think we broke the law
Always say we're gonna stop-op
Whoa-oh-oah

This Friday night
Do it all again
This Friday night
Do it all again

Trying to connect the dots
Don't know what to tell my boss
Think the city towed my car
Chandelier is on the floor
With my favorite party dress
Warrants out for my arrest
Think I need a ginger ale
That was such an epic fail

Pictures of last night
Ended up online
I'm screwed
Oh well
It's a blacked out blur
But I'm pretty sure it ruled
Damn

Last Friday night
Yeah we danced on table tops
And we took too many shots
Think we kissed but I forgot

Last Friday night
Yeah we maxed our credits card
And got kicked out of the bars
So we hit the boulevards

Last Friday night
We went streaking in the park
Skinny dipping int he dark
Then had a menage a trois
Yeah I think we broke the law
Always say we're gonna stop-op
Oh whoa oh

This Friday night
Do it all again
Do it all again
This Friday night
Do it all again
Do it all again
This Friday night

T.G.I.F.
T.G.I.F.
T.G.I.F.
T.G.I.F.
T.G.I.F.
T.G.I.F.

Last Friday night
Yeah we danced on table tops
And we took too many shots
Think we kissed but I forgot

Last Friday night
Yeah we maxed our credit cards
And got kicked out of the bar
So we hit the boulevard

Last Friday night
We went streaking in the park
Skinny dipping in the dark
Then had a menage a trois

Last Friday night
Yeah I think we broke the law
Always say we're gonna stop
Oh-whoa-oh
This Friday night
Do it all again
________________________

This was one of three straight songs about sex, drugs, and crime.

Now I am well aware that these issues have long been sung about, even on the radio, but these songs go into new territory where "singers" are actually promoting these behaviors.

Wonder what impact this has on listeners, especially the impulsive and naiive young?

A look at violence in music

Studies show that certain kinds of music tend to feature and even promote violence, especially in children and adolescents.

Marilyn Manson even got blamed for the Columbine High School shootings, even though the killers did not listen to his music.

Of course, rap music gets much of the blame. For example, a recent study by the Prevention Research Center of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation in Berkeley, Calif., suggests young people who listen to rap and hip-hop are more likely to abuse alcohol and commit violent acts.

And some claim increases in violence in their city are due to rap music!

Eric Armstrong analyzed lyrics from 490 rap songs produced by 13 different artists from 1987 to 1993. He found that 22% of gangsta rap music songs contain violent and misogynist lyrics. According to his study, the fastest selling rap album of all time—Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP—contains 14 songs, and violent and misogynist lyrics are found in 11 (79%) of them: “Worse still, nine of the eleven songs depict killing women, with drowning becoming a new modus operandi. Comparing the lyric content of gangsta rap music’s foundational period with that of Eminem shows the following: In terms of violent and misogynist lyrics, gangsta rap music (1987-1993) scores a 22 percent while Eminem (2000) reaches 78 percent.”

Here are some examples of his music:

"Kill You"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9Y-CSQor5s&feature=related

"Criminal"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hMSucrhQ3M

"Role Model"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0ZA3ulN6bg
Does this matter?

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry reports:

Singing and music have always played an important role in learning and the communication of culture. Children learn from what their role models do and  say. For many years, some children's television very effectively used the combination of words, music and fast-paced animation to achieve learning.

Most parents are concerned about what their young children see and hear, but as children grow older, parents pay less attention to the music and videos that capture and hold their children's interest.

Sharing music between generations in a family can be a pleasurable experience. Music also is often a major part of a teenager's separate world. It is quite common for teenagers to get pleasure from keeping adults out, which causes adults some distress.

A concern to many interested in the development and growth of teenagers is the negative and destructive themes of some kinds of music (rock, heavy metal, hip-hop, etc.), including best-selling albums promoted by major recording companies. The following themes, which are featured prominently in some lyrics, can be particularly troublesome:

• Drugs and alcohol abuse that is glamorized
• Suicide as an "alternative" or "solution"
• Graphic violence
• Sex which focuses on control, sadism, masochism, incest, children devaluing women, and violence toward women

Parents can help their teenagers by paying attention to their teenager's purchasing, downloading, listening and viewing patterns, and by helping them identify music that may be destructive. An open discussion without criticism may be helpful.

Music is not usually a danger for a teenager whose life is balanced and healthy. But if a teenager is persistently preoccupied with music that has seriously destructive themes, and there are changes in behavior such as isolation, depression, alcohol or other drug abuse, evaluation by a qualified mental health professional should be considered.

There are some great analyses of musicians available online for further study. Many of them are found in the excellent journal called the Journal of Criminal Justice and Popular Culture, available here:
http://www.albany.edu/scj/jcjpc/

They include analyses of
Johnny Cash’s music: http://www.albany.edu/scj/jcjpc/documents/Gerkin7_5.pdf
Portrayals of violence against women in rap music:
http://www.albany.edu/scj/jcjpc/vol8is2/armstrong.pdf
The lyrics of Rage Against the Machine:http://www.albany.edu/scj/jcjpc/vol9is3/finley.pdf

The source and meaning of the phrase “Stop Snitchin’”: http://www.albany.edu/scj/jcjpc/documents/Woldoff7_6.pdf

Justice, A One Word Prayer

Perhaps the greatest song ever written about justice.

From Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S13q4NFUaIw

Lyrics:

Justice, people say, justice
Justice, brother say, justice

Judge me if I am weak
Judge me if I am strong
Judge my days and all life long
They let the baby cry, let the mama cry
And youths like I and I have to cry

For justice, one, one, one word prayer
Justice, who yea, justice, justice

Is like a good friend
Who long time we don't see
Why they taking liberty
Who, is like a good friend
Who long time we don't see
Why they taking liberty, with I and I and I

Justice, yea yea yea
Justice, now not later, justice
Justice, people say

(solo)

For I and I, justice, justice
Justice, where are you
Justice, look what they do

They make the innocent cry
The innocent cry
Look what they do to Garvey
They make the innocent die
They make the innocent die
How dem lie on Steve Biko

Justice, justice, the one word prayer
Justice, who yea, justice
The poor man cry, why do they do the wrong
Justice, they make me sing this song

Justice, who yea woa, mmmh, yea, yea
Justice, justice, desert me not
Justice, they are on my back
Justice, the more the tears
The more, the more we want, justice, justice