In fact, this weekend I listened as both music genres were represented at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas. As far as rap/hip-hop artists, the two day concert event included rappers 50 Cent, Childish Gambino, Nicki Minaj, and Iggy Azelea. Also, a surprise guest artist to sing a song with singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran...Macklemore.
The thing that surprised me most about Macklemore's performance is that it didn't surprise me at all. Because he played "Same Love" which is the song that's brought him national recognition as a progressive artist in the hip-hop industry.
If you're one of the very few people left that hasn't heard the song, you've probably at least heard about it. That is, that it's a commentary on the homophobic state of American society, especially in the hip-hop genre. Within the song, Macklemore calls for equal rights for gay/lesbian couples (hence, the title).
For a lot of people, especially gay rights activists, this is an inspirational song and the fact it comes from a straight male, a member of the dominant culture, is even better.
But is it?
The thing I find problematic about Macklemore's glorification as an equal-rights activist is that he's never had to face the bullying, rejection, and unequal social status of which he sings.
And why can he speak of these things and not face overwhelming scrutiny?
Honestly, because of his privilege.
Privilege so often comes tacked on after the word "white". However, privilege is applicable in many other ways. A person with privilege occupies a higher status in society because they meet the standards of what is normal and acceptable.
Most relevant to Macklemore, is white privilege in a dominantly black music genre, of course, but with this particular song it's important to note he also has the privilege of being straight in a heterosexual society.
He has never endured the pain of conditional love by friends and family that so many people who identify as homosexual have faced. Nor has he been denied the right to marry his beloved because government didn't see his relationship as legal and the church saw it as sin. Of course, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with singing about the problems our society faces in terms of gay rights. And to a large extent the fact Macklemore is a member of the dominant culture, who occupies a good amount of social standing because of his privilege, helped the national movement for equal love.
However, Macklemore's song focuses a lot on equating oppression of black America and the Civil Rights Movement ("a war based on skin color" to quote the song directly) with homophobia in the predominantly black genre of rap music. What seems questionable about this, again, is that Macklemore himself is white, a somewhat outsider in the hip-hop industry (which was actually started as an outlet for the black community to comment on white supremacy), who has never endured the oppression, stereotyping, or categorization as a criminal or thug that the black artists he's calling to in "Same Love" have. It makes it seem as though Macklemore is trying to be a leader to a group that he almost doesn't belong to, and by implying that black rap artists should know how it feels to be criticized and rejected by society, they should know better than to do it to another group of people.
You can see why as straight, white man, Macklemore's call to action may not be completely credible. Not to say it isn't admirable and that Macklemore as an artist is completely oblivious to his privilege (Sidenote: rewind in time he even has a song titled "White Privilege" in which he discusses the issue) BUT as far as "Same Love" is concerned, we should be questioning why the only song most people know about that addresses gay rights is coming from Macklemore.
Here is a link to a clip of Macklemore's "Same Love" performance on Saturday night with Ed Sheeran.
I really liked what you had to say in this! Its good to keep in mind that just because the message Macklemore is singing about is a positive one, he really has never gone through any of the things he is advocating for. I totally agree that he has a right to sing about whatever he wants but I think those listening to his music really need to stop and think about privilege. Being that he has the privilege of being a heterosexual white male in today's society, he is praised for being a forward thinker in the hip hop genre. I think you're accurate in your statement that he is trying to be a leader of a group he doesn't belong to.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the comment Lauren! And yes, as I stated I personally like the song and think it's a great one. But, like Macklemore, I can't say that I can relate to the struggles of the LGBQ community is attempting to speak and stick up for. It'd be like me looking at someone who has broken an arm and saying "I know how you feel" even though I've never broken a bone in my body.
ReplyDeleteI always thought that this song by Macklemore had a great message, however you definitely made me think about it in a different light. You are absolutely correct in saying Macklemore does have privilege and I never thought about the song from that standpoint. He is trying to get a message across however he has never really experienced some of the things he is singing about, that makes you question if he really does understand what it is like to not have as much privilege as he has had in his own life? I do think his song still has a powerful message but now I might find it probably more credible if he was a gay male living in society because I would know he really experienced some of the harsh realities that come with being a homosexual in our culture. You definitely made me think more about the idea of privilege, especially from a heterosexual /homosexual point of view.
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