When talking about culture and the history that surrounds it, one does not have to look far to find it. In fact, culture is found everywhere around whether it be through reading, speeches, or music. History is being created and made every day. Currently in the US, the hottest topic seems to be racism, white on black crime, and inequality. That is the present day history being created. In an attempt to explain and relate to these issues people such as authors and poets write, speakers speak, and artists paint and write music. So is the case of Kendrick Lamar's song "The Blacker the Berry", off his latest album To Pimp a Butterfly. Through the song, Kendrick attempts to bring light to the issues surrounding the African American culture and community, and invites people to take a look in the mirror before complaining about what is going on around them. The song goes along hand in hand with and has become important in the black lives matter movement.

Lamar tackles racism and inequality head on in the song opening it up with calling himself the biggest hypocrite of 2015 (Lamar 0:56). To understand exactly why he refers to himself in this way we must first take a look at the events surrounding the song and its lyrics, and then note the end of the song in which he finally tells us why exactly he portrays himself as a hypocrite. Currently in the US, the perception of African Americans is that they are stereotyped, low on in socioeconomic status, their only destination is prison, their culture is not accepted, and racism and inequality is still alive.

People of every cultural and ethnic background are stereotyped, but here in the US, African Americans are especially susceptible. To combat this, in his song, Lamar writes "I'm African-American, I'm African, I'm black as the moon, heritage of a small village" (Lamar 1:08). This is showing that Lamar is not only acknowledging his heritage, but also the fact that he is proud of his heritage and proud of the fact that he descended from Africa. "My hair is nappy  ... . My nose is round and wide" (Lamar 1:15). He's not being self-conscious about these stereotypes or looking at them negatively, but rather, embracing them and pointing them out. This is used as a way to make African Americans not feel ashamed about themselves but instead accept the fact and feel pride. The message behind Lamar's lyrics here is to love one's self and to be proud of your heritage. I think this can also mean that instead of looking at these things negatively look at them as being a part of who you are. Don't perceive one's self as different because then others will perceive you in that same way. Monkey is a derogatory term used to call African Americans, and Lamar uses it as a way to again, show his pride. He says "I want you to recognize I'm a proud monkey" (Lamar 1:22). He takes the term "monkey" and turns it into a sense of empowerment, throwing it back in the faces of racists.

Kendrick Lamar shines light on the topic of racism and economic inequality by saying "it's evident that I'm irrelevant to society, that's what you're telling me, penitentiary would only hire me" (Lamar 2:21). This is going to show the perception white America has of African American people, and again the stereotype that goes along with their culture. Lamar later says "I know you hate me just as much as you hate yourself, jealous of my wisdom and cards I dealt", which I think means that people didn't expect Kendrick to make anything of himself, but he did (Lamar 2:38). And because of this he is hated by racists who feed on the failure and suffering of African Americans. Talking about dealing his own cards, means he did not just accept the stereotypes, did not just say that's how it is going to be, but rather went out and made something of himself and made his own path. By doing this, I think he is not only motivating but inviting others to do the same. Before people change their perceptions of African Americans they must first change their own perceptions of themselves.

Lamar finally tells us at the end of his song why exactly he claims to be a hypocrite. Through all that he has talked about, and the pride he has made listeners and himself feel, he steps back and looks in the mirror. The Black Lives Matter movement is an international movement attempting to campaign against the violence surrounding African Americans and police brutality African Americans face. However, Lamar points out the fact that at the end of his song that while all these social and cultural issues are problematic African Americans themselves, need to first learn to respect themselves and stop the violence amongst themselves. "So why did I weep when Trayvon Martin was in the street when gang bangin' made me kill a nigga blacker than me. Hypocrite!" (Lamar 4:33).  Here, Kendrick Lamar finally exclaims that he is the hypocrite he mentions throughout the song because he himself could have been responsible for the death of an African American. This verse alone speaks volume about what is going on in the African American communities. Everyone is the same and there is no need for violence amongst one another. Lamar realizes that he is weeping over the fact that a white man killed a black man, yet, he may have been responsible for a black death. African Americans however, don't see this as an issue and Lamar offers it as food for thought in that last verse. 

I think that this has become important in the black lives matter movement because Kendrick Lamar wants others to realize that everyone is the same, and he thinks that African Americans have to realize that in order for others to love and respect their culture African Americans themselves must first do the same. 

