Several prominent Black rappers have recently aligned themselves with conservative politicians and media figures, which the author finds concerning. Rappers like Ice Cube, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne have sat down with Tucker Carlson and supported Donald Trump. However, the author argues that right-wing populism threatens Black communities. While some see these moves as opening dialogue, the author believes shared values around money, religion, and distrust in institutions have brought these unlikely groups together against vulnerable people. As the hip-hop industry has become more commercialized and corporate, rappers have also gained wealth and political influence, but supporting policies that don’t help everyday Black Americans. The author maintains that rap artists have a duty to use their platforms responsibly by advocating for politics that materially improve conditions in Black communities.

  • Neato@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    I’m sure you have great success talking to anyone socially conservative lol

    Why the fuck would I talk to people who want to oppress people? Stop talking to bigots. Ostracize them. They don’t deserve people to listen to them.

      • immibis@social.immibis.com
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        1 year ago

        @acastcandream @Neato You do not have to treat people with respect who do not treat others with respect. You do not have to advocate for civil rights for people who advocate for taking away civil rights. You do not have to tolerate intolerance. Tolerating intolerance makes society intolerant.

      • iAmTheTot@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        I don’t speak to family members that are bigots. I don’t tolerate bigot strangers. And I don’t tolerate bigots that are coworkers.

        You do, in fact, have a choice.

          • iAmTheTot@kbin.social
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            1 year ago

            If I work with bigots, I don’t know about it, because I don’t talk politics at work. If I did find out I worked with a bigot, I’d make it clear that at cannot work together and ask for differing assignments.

            If I find it that a stranger I’m dealing with is a bigot (also rare, because politics doesn’t come up often with strangers), I walk away. If a business owner is a bigot, I do not shop with them.

            If I find bigots online, I block them.

            The magical place I live is called being principled and using the tools at my disposal to ignore bigots.

      • Neato@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        I was mostly talking about online or in personal situations but let’s address.

        But I don’t get to choose who I interact with at work

        For most people this is unfortunately true. I would encourage people, when possible, to seek employment at places that prevent bigots. For me, my giant employer has an Equal Opportunity office. You’ll get fired for being openly bigoted, and people have.

        Do you have any family members with problematic views?

        I talk to my dad only to make my mom happy. A few times a year. If he starts in on politics, I leave the room or at least ignore him. Non-engagement.

        Do you open the door going, “Hey there, good to see you, bigot!”

        That’s just it: if you have to interface with a known bigot, stick to professional topics. If they bring up bigotry, leave if you can, ignore if you can’t. Ostracizing people also includes minimal engagement. There’s also tacts for dog whistling “jokes” like pretending ignorance and asking them to explain.

        But if you are frankly that just means you’re incredibly arrogant and/or have completely intractable view points

        Yes. I am totally arrogant and intractable for not wanting to hear about how black people, gay people and women should have their rights taken away. I’ll listen to alternative viewpoints until they dive into fascism and similar. Then they can fuck off.

        I promise you one of your current views will be dated one day and you will need to be able to change your mind.

        Lol. No shit? I’ve been doing that since my early 20s. I look back at my past and regret. I can only do better if I change. I hope I realize quickly when my viewpoints are dated and offensive so I can change them.

        I find it particularly offensive you are seemingly preaching civility in the face of oppression. Whenever you can get away with it, FUCK civility. Being polite while taking away rights is what American Conservatives have been doing since they lost the civil war. Don’t go lose your job, but nothing is stopping you in your personal lives from cutting out the cancer. Not doing so just enables them and that’s part of the problem.

          • circularfish@beehaw.orgM
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            1 year ago

            Speaking of civility, I think you are both coming from a well meaning place and are making interesting points, but you are starting to make different points. It is even likely you are visualizing two totally different interactions when you are typing out your replies.

            I could be wrong about that, but what is clear is that there is a lot of “you this” and “you that” in the discussion. As this is the nice Lemmy instance, please depersonalize the interaction or consider disengaging.

              • circularfish@beehaw.orgM
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                1 year ago

                I am aware of the rhetorical device you are talking about, but I did not read that into the replies to you. Maybe I am just dense. What I do pick up from all corners is a lot of motive attribution without sufficient evidence, which continues with the post above. I think disengagement is a wise move.

                We can all agree that there is a lot of daylight between punching literal Nazis and what to do about Uncle Bob who won’t shut up about border security, and leave it at that.

      • Five@beehaw.org
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        1 year ago

        The lesson to be learned from Daryl Davis is that bigots should be ostracized, ignored, and de-platformed. Once their movement has been defanged and members isolated to their anti-social groups, you can more safely reach out to those groups to deprogram the people on the margins, if that’s what you want to do with your life.

        The story would be very different if the KKK still held social and political power. A black man who didn’t support the KKK’s mission attending a KKK rally would not last very long. No one should give these people a platform, or treat them civilly when they’re spreading their brain worms in civil society.

        • someguy3
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          1 year ago

          Some methods will work for some, others for others. But what you said is the exact opposite of what he said. Like exactly opposite. Say what you want but please don’t misportray others messages.

          • Five@beehaw.org
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            1 year ago

            Sometimes people’s message is different from their words. Please don’t tell me not to say it like it is. And please don’t try and shame the oppressed for not being civil to oppressors.