Introduction
“To serve and protect.” or to beat, kill and conceal? Police brutality has remained a worldwide issue through the years. It is recently a major problem in the United States, with technology and social media being more active than ever, video recordings of beatings and deaths caused by police officers are being broadcasted and viewed worldwide on popular websites and news channels. Other video recording tools such as dashboard police cameras and surveillance videos have also recorded unjust treatment some people have received from police officers, making it evident that that it is a major existing problem.
Many artists and bands have described their views on the topic through music, Tupac Shakur does …show more content…
Can barely walk the city streets without a cop harrassing me, searching me, then asking my identity”. He tries to address not only how he feels but how many African Americans feel, that go through the same situation and are fearful of cops due to the way they have been treated or seen their own people treated. The Clash describes their view on the topic in the song “Know Your Rights” as a public announcement for everyone they state, “Murder is a crime unless it’s done by a policeman or aristocrat”. Their stance is clearly addressed and they want to share it to create consciousness, that the power bestowed upon a police officer can easily bring negative …show more content…
The music is the same throughout the song, constant drumming and the guitarist strumming the guitar likewise. This reveals a feeling of seriousness as they warn people that they have rights however, those rights aren’t fully applicable. The vocalist pauses various times while he sings creating suspense and an eccentric feeling as if you’re watching a horror film where the people are the victims and police are the evil antagonists. The song overall, including vocals and sound together portrays a dark, hazardous message against police and the government, and how everyday rights are being denied to people beginning with what are supposed to be our unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This all gets taken away by police when they kill people by using unlawful methods or when they simply kill innocent people without a justified