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Kansas City Rapper Vigalantee has made some waves with a song about Emmett Till, a 14-year-old boy from Chicago who was brutally murdered in Mississippi in 1955. The perpetrator killed Till for whistling at a white woman. The murder sparked national outrage, and the suspects were acquitted despite admitting to the crime.
Vigalantee made the song as a tribute to Till, but the song has not been without controversy. Beyond speaking on a painful time in American history, the song also uses a shotgun as part of the beat. When he was asked to remove the shotgun blast from the song, the rapper refused to do so. I agree with him. There is no point in sugar coating the story for anyone.
The Emmett Till story is one that reminds us of our country's sick racial foundation. This event happened just a few decades ago, and many members of Congress, heads of corporations, major media executives and teachers of our children were alive and well during that era. They were raised by people who thought that whistling at a white woman was an unacceptable thing for a black man to do. So, given the direct impact that such warped attitudes had on the creation of modern-day America, it might be a bit silly to think that we live in a post-racial society.
If our nation doesn't work hard to fulfill Dr. King's dream, we will always be living a big American lie. In some ways, when it comes to honestly dealing with racism, we are still a nation of cowards.
The video for the song is below.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a distinguished scholar with the Barbara Jordan Institute for Policy Research at Texas Southern University. To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered directly to your e-mail, please click here.
Comments: (23)
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By: sadstory on 8/14/2009 3:13PM
I agree we are a nation of cowards when it comes to race relations. (US Attorney General was right when he said that I'll never understand the backlash he got over it)I didn't know the men were acquitted but it doesn't surprise me because they were in the deep south and White. (my word and White men now have the nerve to be upset over Affirmative action) These men eventually confessed to what they did (smh)...SICK! They probably lived on to be heroes in the White communities and told their children/grandchildren about the incident with pride. (but Black people are savages to these racist)....
White people (liberals&conservatives) would rather African-Americans not speak on prejudice, discrimination at all and that is not going to solve anything. There are a lot of open wounds that can be healed with correct, transparent communication.
I like the rapper's song. Hopefully it will wake up the younger Black male generation like Soulja Boy who wants to thank "masters" for "bringin' us here??!" WTF? was that about he should've known better isn't he from Miss.?
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By: Black Moses on 8/15/2009 10:06AM
Deep what happen to this little brotha behind a white tramp. I had an uncle that use to say that everytime he thought about been with a white woman he saw the face of Emmett Till and that is what I see now when I look at a white woman. Black men have paid too much of a price to be able to lay up with the white man's rejects. Damn this still hurts real bad. Great project, we need more like it so we will never forget. Stating is not hating!
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By: Ms.Unique on 8/15/2009 12:12PM
That video made me cry and the lyrics was the truth! I remember when my son did a report on Emmet Hill and I did most of the work to help him. I cried and it was hard to get through doing this report. What a fine young boy he was and a beautiful family. There is still hate and racism in the world and it will never go away. What a shame! Excellent job Vigalantee! There should be more rappers like you doing the right thing, getting the message out in a positive way, and having respect for others and self!
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By: Baddkitty on 8/15/2009 4:43PM
i hope that our people are able to overcome in this struggle. most racist would like blacks to forget, we should never forget the blood that has been taken from our people. we should progress but never forget. forgetting allows a person to pretend like the badd never happened. and allows the pass to repeat itself. shame should be felt all around. shame on you who want to pretend that we don't have a struggle.
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By: IMHOTEP on 8/16/2009 6:57AM
I GIVE THIS YOUNG BROTHER FROM K..C. CREDIT FOR MAKING THIS SONG IN A DAY AND AGE WHEN MOST OF THE RAPPERS ARE TALKING BOUT SOMETHING STUPID LIKE CARS AND JEWELRY HE ACTUALLY MADE SOMETHING OF THE CONCIOUS NATURE WHICH IS ALWAYS POSITIVE.BLACK PEOPLE NEED TO START LOOKING AT THINGS FOR WHAT IT REALLY IS CAUSE THE PRESIDENT IS BLACK DOESN'T MEAN THE COUNTRY HAS CHANGED,ITS STILL THE SAME OLE DAMN RACIST AMERICA,AIN'T NOTHING CHANGED BUT THE DATE
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By: Black Moses on 8/16/2009 6:10PM
Great post. I remember when Blacks were all jubilant when Black mayors were been elected and crack cocaine ravaged all these cities. For example L.A. had Tom Bradley, Philly had Wilson Goode, Detroit had Coleman Young, etc., (there is emperical data on this one). Booker T. Obama is a red-herring that I didn't and won't fall for. What do Booker T. Obama and the rappers that are not talking about crap have in common? You got it, jewish influence. Harold Cruse stated that one of the many myths imposed upon the negro was that the jewish community was our best friend (something to that effect). Hotep!
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By: ssrltyltd on 8/16/2009 3:07PM
wow, it was a great thing to see a rapper brings
something positive to the table. the song brought joy and pain to my heart.
Thank you for keep Mr. Till store alive and requesting that we come out of out safety zone.
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By: monique on 8/16/2009 3:23PM
The song is real nice too. He hits it right on the head with this one. This is better than the other bull that rappers usually put out.
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By: kimberly on 8/16/2009 5:36PM
One of the wives of one of the murderers I believe is still living but both of the two white men that stood trial are both dead. A lot of people believe that there were other eyewitnesses to the murder of Emmett Till. When those two men dragged him out of the house, Mose Wright his Uncle could see the outline of one or two other people in the back of the truck. One of them reportedly correctly identified Till to the two white men. Mose Wright stated that he believed that the other people in the back of the truck were black...
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By: Brandon on 8/17/2009 1:56AM
Thats what the f@%k Im talkin about.A rapper finally comes out and talks about something thats real and addresses a topic that most of these Amos and Andy types are scared to do.I rap too but I haven't put out no CD.My raps have always been on topics like this.If not that then they talk about current issues like CNN and not this bling bling,circus rap that the rap game has became.
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