Le racisme chez les francophones
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Baldwin describes French people as menacing, snide, and condescending toward Algerians. He claims that the increasing hatred toward Algerian people is related to the fact that Algeria became independent and is no longer French (Baldwin, 3). He also states that Algerians are treated like dirt by French people. Algerians in Paris live in miserable conditions. They must share rooms, as they can’t afford to live alone, since they have a hard time finding work. However, these Algerians have a homeland that they can go back to, unlike Black Americans, who have no home country other than America (Baldwin, 2). Baldwin claims that French people perceive Black Americans as civilized, unlike Arabs. Although Algeria was colonized for 130 years, Algerians held onto their culture, their languages, and their religious beliefs (Baldwin, 4). Black Americans may be perceived as civilized by French people because they lost their original languages, traditions, and religious beliefs (whether they were Muslim or Pagan). Thus, French people perceive African Americans as civilized because they were westernized.
Due to increasing racism and Islamophobia in Europe, many North Africans immigrated to Montreal. They came to Montreal to avoid racism and get rid of the constant burden that they felt in Europe (Mandin, 305). For these immigrants, coming to Montreal is experienced as an opening of new hopes, although the results do not always align with people’s aspirations (Mandin, 300). In Europe, they felt as if they were stuck in miserable living conditions, with no way of making it out (Mandin, 303). In Montreal they feel as if they are not judged because of their ethnic or religious background. They also feel that their identity is recognized and respected (Mandin, 306). However, over the years Quebec is becoming more racist and Islamophobic. Furthermore, the country is creating Bills that directly affect Muslim people (Bill 21). One of Mandin’s interviewees sees this as Quebec becoming a French province again (Mandin, 309). In a sense, these immigrants left Europe, searching for a better life. Montreal was a place in which they could find refuge, but Quebec is slowly becoming like Europe. Ultimately, the Maghrebi experience in Montreal is characterized by renewed possibilities mixed with persisting discrimination (Mandin, 310).
In his song, MC Solaar presents himself as an educated young man who spent his youth reading books at the library. This is unusual in rap, as a lot of rappers depict themselves as criminals. Furthermore, rappers often talk about not appreciating school during their childhood. MC Solaar also claims to be a pacifist and even compares himself to Gandhi. This is interesting because later he states that when dealing with racism in Paris, you can’t ask for help. You just have to accept it. Maybe his passivity is not a personal choice, but rather something that was forced onto him. In comparison, many rappers of his time, like the group NTM or IAM, would oppose themselves to racism and inequality. However, they would sometimes use discourse that would make them be perceived as dangerous (NTM specifically). In the song, MC Solaar’s character seems Muslim, as he presents himself as educated and calm. He also states that he uses his knowledge in order to fight oppression instead of using violence. -
@pierre-augustin_habrih said in Le racisme chez les francophones:
C Solaar presents himself as an educated young man who spent his youth reading books at the library. This is unusual in rap, as a lot of rappers depict themselves as criminals. Furthermore, rappers often talk about not appreciating school during their childhood.
I don't think it's fair to make overarching statements about an entire art form. It's similar to how some might dismiss graffiti as merely "the work of criminals". This viewpoint completely overlooks how graffiti often serves as a form of resistance and self-expression, especially for those who lack the privilege to have their voices heard in mainstream artistic spaces, spaces that are typically dominated by wealthy, white individuals.
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Rap initially stands for “rhythm and poetry”. In the 1980s, it was used as a way of depicting harsh realities all while criticizing oppression and violence. Artists like Grandmaster Flash, with his song “The Message”, shed light on the harsh conditions that people lived in. However, rap came to be perceived as a genre of music which promotes crime, drugs and sex. A lot of rappers criticize this, such as J Cole, Kendrick Lamar, etc. And there are also rappers who use Gangsta Rap (like NWA) to depict their reality. Sometimes, it seems as if they are glorifying crime. However, Ice Cube, a member of NWA, claimed that when he mentions violence in his songs he is only doing that to paint a picture and to illustrate the reality that many people live in. Ice Cube even compares his music to journalism. Sadly, although there are lots of rappers who make conscious music, many mainstream rappers (like Gunna, Future, Young Thug, Drake, etc) glorify sex, crime and the consumption of drugs without actually criticizing oppression. These rappers also say horrendous things about women, depicting them merely as sexual objects. This causes people to view rap music as something that promotes crime and violence.
This is what I meant when I said that rappers depict themselves as criminals. I did not want to claim that rap music as a whole is criminal. I was only stating that many mainstream rappers claim to be criminals, even when they aren’t. In some way, these specific artists are glorifying violence.