Stephanie Kiley

English 101

Mrs. Phillips

5 April 2016

Racial influences in "Straight Outta Compton"

The #Blacklivesmatter campaign is a national organization created to rebuild the Black Liberation movement. The group was made in 2013 following horrific events such as the Trayvon Martin case where a black male was killed by a police officer. After, many people felt as if blacks had been deprived of basic human rights that every person is guaranteed in the constitution. Although racism has diminished quite a bit over the years, it is still prevalent today in some cases especially between minority groups and law enforcement. Movies and TV shows address race in many aspects, including "Straight Outta Compton", a movie released October 29, 2015 right around the time that the #Blacklivesmatter movement came about. The film addresses race in many different ways emphasizing the divide between blacks and whites at that time. It incorporates scenes with racism between cops and minority groups as well as anger and violence because of the separation and misunderstanding at that time. The film included a famous case of racism where law enforcement was seen brutally beating a man named Rodney King. The lack of justice led to even stronger segregations between white and blacks. The movie appearing in 2015 was a reminder of the issue of racism while also instilling freedom of speech and a strong sense of community. In "Straight Outta Compton", the film examines how the time period, racial profiling, and divide between cops and minorities influenced music and its listeners. The movie utilizes significant times and events where violent racism was prevalent and the release date reminds us similar issues still exist today. 

To begin with, the movie, "Straight Outta Compton", reiterates the negative relationship between cops and minority groups. From the beginning of the movie, one of the first scenes included police stopping one of the main rappers in the group, Ice Cube, for no reason and illegally searching him, yelling and cursing at him and his parents and calling him and other blacks the N word. When asked why he was being searched the officer responded, "I'm not explaining sh*t to you" and asked him "where you got the ... wraps" referring to drugs. ("Straight Outta Compton 00:17:00) These occurrences happen throughout the movie defining the hate that blacks had for white police officers through their unfair exchanges. Once again while the rap group NWA was recording music, cops show up outside of the recording studio and search the group for unjust reasons saying to their manager "we're trying to check these bangers and make sure they're clean", eluding to the fact that the group was selling drugs because of the color of their skin. When finding out the reason the group was there to record music they made remarks such as "rap is not an art" and "well you are wasting your time" ("Straight Outta Compton 00:50:00). One even came right out and said, "you heard what your master said, get inside boy" after their white manager told them to leave the scene ("Straight Outta Compton" 00:50:00) The discrimination the rap group felt influenced directly to their music, often promoting violence and hatred of law enforcement. One song especially stood out to the public called, "F*ck the Police", expressing hatred of cops because of their tendency to act unjustly and target black citizens. One line in the song states "and not the other color so police think, they have the authority to kill a minority" (14-15), describing how law enforcement acted wrong and prejudiced when they were supposed to be performing a job. Many whites and police in particular were outraged by the song and even the FBI got involved, releasing a letter to NWA warning them about how the song "encourages violence against law enforcement" ("Straight Outta Compton" 01:00:00). However, the government and other whites attempting to halt the performance of the song only enraged the group and other fans to revolt against them, protecting their freedom of speech to say what they feel. The group says, "We gave them a voice" after a riot ensued because the police stopped a performance ("Straight Outta Compton" 01:18:00). When questioned about how the song could be encouraging violence Ice Cube says, "Our art is a reflection of our reality" ("Straight Outta Compton" 01:18:00). Because of the discrimination that blacks felt at this time, especially between cops who targeted them looking for a reason to make an arrest, they were fighting back and revolting for their rights. Black people felt as if their rights were being obstructed, and the film accentuates this fact by providing scenes where blacks were intimidated, discriminated against, and even harassed by whites.

In addition, "Straight Outta Compton" includes a well-known social injustice of a black man, Rodney King, that led to an uproar in the black community. Four white police officers, unaware that they were being video recorded, continuously tasered, kicked, and beat a black male who laid there taking every blow without retaliating. The result of this was "crushed bones, shattered teeth, kidney damage and a fractured skull" (Daily News 1) The daily new remembers the disturbing day recounting, "The 12-minute video was aired that night by a local TV station, giving Angelenos and the rest of the world a glimpse of shocking behavior from those sworn to protect and serve" (Daily News 1). The video caught the attention of many, creating distrust in our law enforcement and brutality between the races. The community became filled with anger and violence after the four cops were acquitted of all charges by a mostly white jury. The article states how, "In three days of violence that spread from South Los Angeles to other parts of the city, 53 people were killed and nearly 2,400 were hurt. Looting, vandalism and arson resulted in an estimated $1 billion in damage" (Daily News 1). "Straight Outta Compton" accurately depicts this chaos and the way Americans felt, showing rioting in the streets with people firing their guns, causing mayhem, and civilians abandoning their cars because of fires in the streets. The movie included this scene because it shows how furious the world was with racism and its outcome. Occurrences such as the Rodney King case fumed the fire for racism, and affected the young peoples minds clearly shown in the movie through hate lyrics in songs.  Unbeknownst to many, 

from the (minority) community perspective, the video validated years and years and years of complaints that this was the treatment that they were receiving and no one took action or believed that these things were going on," said City Councilman Bernard Parks, a deputy chief of police at the time of the beating and later police chief. (Daily News 1)

This statement directly correlates to the movie for various times throughout the film, law enforcement made illegal searches and treated minority groups with disrespect. No one at the time knew that minorities were receiving this type of disrespect, however the Rodney King case brought attention to these cases of obstruction of justice.

The release of the film, following the Trayvon Martin case, cautions Americans that racism and fight between cops and minorities still exist in our world. Trayvon Martin, was killed February 26, 2012, at the age of 17 by George Zimmerman who was a neighborhood watch captain at the Retreat and Lakes community. Zimmerman stated that he shot Martin in self defense, however there was little proof of what happened that night. When the jury, made up of predominately white woman, acquitted him of all charges the world broke out into protest. According to a CNN article, "Cover Drive wrote, 'What kind of world do we live in where an innocent is killed, and the killer is found innocent?' Scotty tweeted, 'America has given a free pass to murder Black Youth.'" (CNN 1). Racial profiling became a huge controversy in this case, where many believe that had the victim been white, it would not have resulted in his death. Because of this, the rioting began again much like the Rodney King case. Protestors felt injustice and that racism played a big role in the case and that Zimmerman should be held responsible. CNN reports a civil rights group feelings regarding the decision:" 'This is another tragedy for black families... the verdict sends a clear message about the minimal value place on the lives of young black men and boys everywhere,' the group said." (CNN 1) Angry about the injustice, #Blacklivesmatter came about as well as other organizations that supported a change in todays justice system. The movie's release provides a voice for the people who have been attacked and targeted by law enforcement, while also showing us that racism has diminished significantly since the 1980's when the facts of the movie took place. Whites and blacks have joined forces in this protest for change, which contrasts with history.

Moreover, Black Liberation groups have been created to liberate African Americans from all forms of injustice that they face because of situations like Rodney King and Trayvon Martin. A peer reviewed source by Stokely Carmichael written in 1966 discusses the need for such movements toward Black Liberation historically. Here, his main argument is to include black power forces that will represent their own people. The time he lived in, which was before the making of "Straight Outta Compton", signifies the extent of racism historically, because of how broken the relationship was between black and whites. He discusses, "Negroes are dependent on, and at the discretion of, forces and institutions within the white society which have little interest in representing us honestly" (Carmichael 639). The black community felt disregarded and disrespected by whites who at the time didn't give them the same opportunities, and believed they needed their own form of power and positive society. He relinquishes how "it is violent white power in the form of armed white cops that enforces those laws with guns and nightsticks" and "Negroes ...  must endure these conditions of oppression because they are black and powerless" (Carmichael 644). In these times, blacks didn't have the same freedom that they have today. The solution to the problem was black liberation to make changes to the government and the environment in which blacks were raised. He emphasizes how black power should be, through organization and protecting meaningful specific issues. He states that, "such leadership will recognize that its power lies in the unified and collective strength of that community" (Carmichael 651). Although racism was a lot worse during the times the article in the Massachusetts Review was written, the idea of Black Liberation movements has become real as the #Blacklivesmatter movement came about as well as other civil rights movements created in order to make a change. The main goal is justice and the same treatment for all Americans, where every citizen's rights are protected and ensured. Movies like "Straight Outta Compton" demonstrate the need for such civil rights groups that act in ways to promote and support rights/justice for all. 

Researching historical events of racism has opened my eyes to how horrifying and brutal it could be. Many people, including myself, have been unaware in the past of the ways in which minority groups were disrespected when it came to fair treatment, especially when it came to the law. The film, "Straight Outta Compton" recalls the divide between white police officers and black kids who were taken advantage of and abused by illegal searches and disrespect from law enforcement. Although equality has severely improved over the years, the world we live in isn't perfect and there still rests some issues today with racism. The most important issue is that society can trust those who are supposed to be protecting our rights, and that's why movements such as #Blacklivesmatter and other civil rights group are essential to improve our world and make sure citizens are being treated fairly.

Work Cited

Carmichael, Stokely. "Toward Black Liberation". The Massachusetts Review 7.4 (1966): 639 -- 651. Web...

Castro, Tony. "Rodney King's March 3, 1991, Traffic Stop and Beating Turned LA into a Riot Zone  ...  Then Changed It." Rodney King's March 3, 1991, Traffic Stop and Beating Turned LA into a Riot Zone  ...  Then Changed It. New York Daily News, n.d. Web. 06 Apr. 2016.

Foreman, Tom. "The Race Factor in George Zimmerman's Trial." CNN. Cable News Network, 15 July 2013. Web. 06 Apr. 2016.

Straight Outta Compton. Dir. F. Gary Gray. 2015. Film.
