The African-American Revolution

The history of the African American liberation in the United States has been defined by the efforts of the collective. Within that collective, individuals utilized their own personal gifts, passions, and crafts to give voice to the African-American community and take a stand against the systematic oppression black people were subjected to. Of these efforts, various forms of art were, and have been, extremely instrumental in the fight for civil rights in the United States. The multitude of poets, painters, and musicians painted the picture of the plight of African Americans and vocalized their struggles and ideals of freedom and equality. One of the most renowned and profound pieces of art detailing this activism and progressiveness can be seen …show more content…
Heron stresses the idea that a true revolution will never be properly accurately depicted by by news media and television outlets. The only aspects of a revolution one may view through these sources are the residual effects of revolution such as rioting, looting, and fighting (1). The common misconception is that these actions are the true representation of revolution. Throughout this poem, Heron draws connection between these poor representations and various aspects of pop culture and media with statements such as “The revolution will not be brought to you by the Schaefer Awards Theatre” and “The revolution will not go better with coke” (Heron 1). The true revolution, Heron speaks of is a change in the mentality of the oppressed. The restlessness and demand for change will be the true definition of a revolution. In this change of my mindset, Heron stresses the futility of standing by coolly as the revolution takes place. “You will not be able to plug in, turn on, and cop out” because successful efforts toward the liberation of the oppressed must be preceded by the liberation and change of ones mind …show more content…
For example, Kendrick Lamar’s controversial song “Alright” details the modern plight and loss of life in the African American community as a result of police brutality (1). This song garnered such critical-acclaim that it was widely considered the “protest anthem” to the Black Lives Matter Movement. Many of these modern-day artists follow in the footsteps of individuals, like Heron, and utilize their platform to promote and express socially conscious content in a way that younger generations may comprehend. This allows for the continuation of the education of the masses through artistic means and the paying of homage to artistic predecessors who too pushed socially conscious and relevant content, such as Gilbert