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Public Enemy, "Fight The Power" (1990)

[media=https://youtu.be/mmo3HFa2vjg]
This remains a very powerful song from some of the pioneers of this genre. I remember the following being lyrics many in the mainstream culture strongly disliked. But what they might not have realized was, in my community many had been saying this sort of thing for [b]decades[/b]—to each other:

[quote]Elvis was a hero to most
Elvis was a hero to most
Elvis was a hero to most
But he never meant s- to me you see
Straight up racist that sucker was
Simple and plain
Mother f- him and John Wayne
'Cause I'm Black and I'm proud
I'm ready and hyped plus I'm amped
Most of my heroes don't appear on no stamps
Sample a look back you look and find
Nothing but rednecks for 400 years if you check
[/quote]
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luckranger71 · 51-55, M Best Comment
This hit in undergrad for me in Madison, Wisconsin. It did have a huge impact on a disproportionately white student body. Mostly in positive, conscious raising respect. As always, there was some backlash "Elvis/John Wayne wasn't a racist". For those who wished to glom on to attacking a few lyrics rather than trying to understand the larger meaning.