The song “Modern Day Slavery” by Joell Ortiz featuring Immortal Technique and DJ GIJOE reflects upon the parallelisms of past American Slavery and the slave like lifestyle that is common in present day America. The song claims that slavery and other types of discrimination are still existent, and that they have only experienced a change in form. This is evident by the lyrics “aint nothing changed except the chains that restraining our physical frame.” These lyrics allude to the past barriers of chains that physically restrained slaves and they also state how slavery remains present in more than just directly visible ways.
Joell Ortiz declares that “mentally we still living the same”. This relates to our class discussion on Wednesday as we considered the persistency of discrimination through early slavery, the progressive era, and up through the civil rights era and beyond. We discussed how people continued to justify discrimination and slavery even though other surrounding circumstances were changing rapidly and many of the arguments seemed illogical. The song describes how those with power are still oppressing minorities and it also contemplates how atrocities are being understated and declared unproblematic. The lyrics “Cuz cops hate blacks, and Hispanics they draw gats” show the unjustified violence that countless minorities have been unable to escape. The song also illustrates how those with authority can make claims against minorities without having to deal with any of theconsequences. The lyrics contain much relevance to the recent Treyvon Martin case, and“I don’t see how a wallet can be mistaken for a cannon, so please don’t let em play us no more” illustrate the egregious errors in judgment that the police can make which leave minorities feeling taken advantage of. The song shows how it is normal in both past and present, for minorities to be discriminated against, and then for the discriminator to be unprosecuted or even supported.
The lyrics “we pay the devil rent for living in hell” are used to represent the oppressive capitalistic nature of America that leaves many paying for poor treatment. This relates historically to the treatment of slaves, and even the free African Americans in the 18th and 19th century. Slaves and free African Americans would be told that they could work for their freedom, but in actuality would only be the victims of white’s manipulation. It was often true that no matter how hard a slave, or free sharecropper worked, that because of the white land owner’s math, they would perpetually end up in the red.
The song “modern day slavery” and our class discussion both explain the lingering and consistent effects of discrimination and the desire for those in power to justify their oppression of those who are considered inferior.
Source of lyricsWebsite URL – http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/joellortiz/moderndayslavery.html