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I found myself in a state of bewilderment, when asked the question, what is the significance of my culture? It was only then that I realized my culture ceased to exist because; it was stolen from my ancestors four hundred years ago by slave owners, who polluted our mind with symbols, false heroes, rituals, and values. I then became aware that Canadians, or for that matter, Americans, do not have a culture of their own as the back bone of these countries are built of the hardships, and sweat of immigrants, Native Indians, and Blacks persons who were slaves. So what is significance of my culture? The modern Canadian society was built by a diverse group of people from different parts of the globe who migrated to Canada in hopes of living a more rewarding life. My culture has been eradicated by Colonialism and Slavery. I now live in an artificial society surrounded with poverty, drugs, and an educational system that cannot fulfill my academic needs because my history is only a blur within the educational curriculum. The only significance of my culture is centered on the ideology of Hip Hop Music, which has become the voice for many, ethnics, or ghetto youths growing up in this society. The music explains and represents the reality of most struggles.
I am a Canadian citizen, born and raised in Canada, yet, I am still viewed as a black man and not a Canadian. Therefore, my culture becomes associated with the complexion of my skin. I am not perceived as Canadian.
I am asked, “Are you from Africa, Jamaica, or Haiti. Never once has anyone said, “Are you Canadian.” The importance of my culture mainly benefits research undertaken by anthropologist, sociologist, and psychologist who may document the grave aftermath when a race has been stripped from their natural way of life. The research appears to connect the chaos created from lost of psychological, sociocultural, spiritual, political, and economical imbalance by illustrating how a people can remain lost when confronting everyday hardships. My supposed culture has been mentally reprogrammed after centuries of physical and psychological abuse to accept the transplanted principles from the dominant culture.
The surfacing patterns from the abuse appear extremely challenging to overcome as my culture has learned to feel incompetent and hate ourselves. Most leaders who have become aware of these circumstances and attempts to lead its lost race is either assassinated or incarcerated.
In the 20th Century, many of the communities populated by Blacks’ were and continue to be flooded with drugs by the FBI as attempt to destroy Blacks. The ripple-effects have left us to fight and kill each other. This rain of violence crusading through these streets are said to be caused by my culture, yet we fail to acknowledge how these weapons and drugs are entering our communities. It is for one of these reasons Hip Hop has become a voice, a way to articulate feelings and life events.
It is also a way of life that has developed its personal norms, as the streets have become a world of its own. The rituals of Hip Hop music are fashioning a movement that communicates, in my opinion, medicinal antidotes to extinguish the psychological lock which has been implemented in my culture’s mind.
The music is meant to glorify heroes who were falsely persecuted and communicate to the wider society the realities of the street. Most Blacks are aware that our culture was destroyed four hundred years ago by a group of people desiring the need to control the political and economical markets of the world. To actualize their means, it was necessary to contaminate my culture with symbols, false heroes, rituals, and values. My realization is that modern Canada or Americans does not have a culture of their own unless the Natives culture is taken into account. How can we begin to discuss my culture when the Natives are being denied their rights?
For this reason, Hip Hop music has become an icon by which many glorify. Hip hop embodies the essence of life, as it is full of color and emotions and provides many with the opportunity to paint picture of history or describe the moment in time. “I am hip hop & hip hop is me”, she represents a world that was once shadowed, but is now praised.Hip-hop can be traced deep into the African ancestral roots, tribal members would once use the rhythm of a beat to tell stories, delivers messages, or to pass on history. Hip hop has evolved from spirituals to blues, which ten led to jazz who then created gospel.
Hip-hop is a combination of all these genres of music, but more importantly
hip-hop has bracken race barriers, and is shaping a world of togetherness. Hip-hop is a way of life and life is Hip-hop.
TO MY LADY
How can a person disrespect, such a beautiful lady,
Who only speaks in the forms, of honesty and purity?
For thousands of years, you have become a transcended art,
Being a voice for a nation, so people can hear us from the heart,
How can someone blame you for violence, when you have educated the mindless?
You tell us who we are, while history kept us in the dark,
You came at a time in desperate need, being an advocate for these streets,
My dear lady how things have changed, people now find new ways to hinder your name,
Have we forgotten the original essence, or presence of your sophistication?
Now you are in the stands or the corner, trying to make a buck,
They ignore the stories you tell, if the green does not come in a flock,
I am sorry my beautiful lady, for I will never change,
I will forever fight on your behalf, against those who set to tarnish your name,
For the person who wishes, to prostitute your amazing skills,
Or speak of your name, to fill their pockets with bills,
I will be your knight in shinning armor, and protect you I will,
For you are the soul of nation, a culture and a civilization,
My lady I refuse to let you die, else I would forever mourn and cry,
You are a living legacy, and you will survive my lady,
DEDICATED TO HIP HOP
By Da Reason
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