He wrote the soundtrack for Gloryalongside John Legend, and also starred in this film. Common has taken on a role as a musician that has enabled him to contribute to the diverse political issues in America.
2) What is the 13th Amendment of the American Constitution?
The 13th Ammendment acted as a loophole that allows to still enslave Black Americans. It states that slavery is outlawed, unless it is a form of punishment for prisoners.
3) What were the Black Codes?
They were used in order to prosecute Black Americans for petty crimes. This law only applied to newly emancipated slaves, so it was a way of taking their freedom and a method for White America to remain powerful..
4) Why do people suggest that the legacy of slavery is still a crucial aspect to American culture 150 years after it was abolished by the 13th Amendment?#
It's clear that slavery still exist, even after 150 years. The difference is that now they simply use different ways to enslave black people, creating new laws, like Jim Crow laws were introduced which led to the segregation of blacks and whites in America.
5) Why was Ava DuVernay inspired to make the Netflix documentary 13th?
She wanted to address the issue of a slavery, and how it still exists, imprisoning black people for minor crimes.
6) Focusing on genre, what was the most significant time period for the rise in political hip hop?
The late 80's and 90's was the time when hip-hop and black culture started to appear next to other genres. It was the time to embrace the black culture, with black empowerment and love and overall awareness. 1980s was the time of diversification of hip hop creating more complex styles, for example the political issues.
7) Common talks about other current artists that have a political or protest element to their music. Who are they? Are there any other hip hop artists that you are aware of that have a strong political element to their work?
Common thinks that artists like Kendrick Lamar and Chance [the Rapper] are aware of the issues and speak about issues important to their culture. 'Kendrick Lamar. I also think that Chance [the Rapper], though he may not speak in black consciousness, he has a consciousness about him, self-awareness and a spirituality.'
8) What album is Letter to the Free taken from? What was the critical reception for this album? You'll need to research this - the Wikipedia entry for the album is a good place to start.
Black America Again is the eleventh studio album by American rapper Common. It was released on November 4, 2016, by ARTium Recordings and Def Jam Recordings.[1][2]
Black America Again was supported by two singles: "Love Star" and "Black America Again". The album received widespread acclaim from critics, debuting at number 25 on the US Billboard 200.
Close-textual analysis and representation
Re-watch the music video several times to complete the following tasks in specific detail:
1) How does the Letter to the Free music video use cinematography to create meanings for the audience? (Camera shots and movement).
There're a lot of long shots, which is very unique for a hip-hop music video, here there're a lot of close-ups. The long shots capture the artists as a small part of the frame, showing the unnecessary background and leaving the frame almost empty. That can refer to the slavery and racism, and how black people felt and feel, separated and out of place.
2) What is the significance of the constantly moving camera?
In the first part of the music video, the camera moves towards the artists, but in the second part the camera moves away, creating a symmetrical feel to the music video. The movements wants to engage us into the music video.
3) Why is the video in black and white?
It can represent the differences between the black and white people. It can also make us concentrate on the lyrics more, signifying that we have to listen closely.
4) How is mise-en-scene used to construct meaning for the audience - prison setting, costume, props, lighting, actor placement?
The setting (prison) refers straight to the issue of enslaving black people in prisons in America. the artist wear very casual/ a little formal clothes, not really seen in hip-hop music videos. That also adds to the seriousness of the music video. There're not a lot of props used in this video, mostly the instruments that the artists use. There're drums used by one of them, representing the American culture. The lighting changes depending on the room that is shown, but it doesn't really effect the meaning of the song. The artists don't look at the camera once, which represents how slaves must of felt.
5) Focusing on the track, what are the key lyrics that suggest the political message of the song?
It says that slavery still exits and that there's hope that the freedom and justice for blac people will come eventually.
6) What is the significance of the floating black square motif? Discuss your own interpretations alongside Common's explanation of it in the Billboard feature linked above.
I feel that it represents the slavery of black people and how it looks exactly the same as it did before.
7) How does the video reference racism, slavery and the oppression of black culture? Make reference to specific shots, scenes or moments in the video.
The black square is a great example, appearing in shots in prison and then, at the end, in the final shot, on the field, in the same form as in prison, suggesting that nothing had changed, except for the place that the black people are being enslaved.
8) How can Gilroy's idea of black diasporic identity be applied to Common's Letter to the Free?
The Letter to the Free is a great example, asGilroy suggests that black music articulates diasporic experiences of resistance to white capitalist culture. It can be applied to the idea that because of slavery, black people often don't feel like they belong in America.
9) What other theories of race and ethnicity can be applied to this video? E.g. Hall, Rose or Dyson.
It's a good example of Dyson's thinking, saying that hip-hop is a an art form used to show a point and make a statement. This music video can be applied perfectly to this music video.
10) What current events in America and worldwide are referenced in the song and video?
- Mass incarceration of blacks/non-white in America
- Racism within the government and police system
- Underlying tones of racism within contemporary America
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