Chuck D challenges me to confront myself
Few people in hip-hop command as much respect as Chuck D. But unlike many who���ve achieved his level of critical and commercial success, Chuck D has never stopped fighting for others. And he���s challenged me to do my part.
Growing up, I vividly remember my first introduction to Chuck D in the guise of Public Enemy. I was thumbing through the bins at my local record shop and was confronted by the bold cover of Fear of a Black Planet, Public Enemy���s third record. Given my musical taste at the time, I was probably on the hunt for a Pet Shop Boys��� record or something, so its unsurprising Fear didn���t come home with me that day.
My musical tastes did broaden a bit over the next few years, however, and I began to gravitate toward more overtly political punk and rap. And when I did, Public Enemy was there for me. Growing up a middle class white boy in suburban Orlando, their music was��� challenging to say the least. Not only was it aggressive, but the content challenged my worldview.
Unlike many people who reacted negatively when confronted with the themes of Public Enemy���s records���black radicalism, white supremacy, institutional racism���I felt driven to reflect on my own existence, my own privilege. In many ways, I didn���t feel like Chuck D���s lyrics were confronting me, but rather challenging me to confront myself.
As an adult, I experienced Chuck D in a new way as one of the hosts of Unfiltered on Air America Radio. I found a lot of solace in his wisdom and politics���and those of his co-hosts Lizz Winstead and Rachel Maddow���at the start of George W. Bush���s second term.1 And, as I���d come to expect by that point, he continued to challenge my comfortable life and made me question what I was doing to help others less fortunate than myself.
Though many years have passed since I first discovered Chuck D, I feel like he���s shaped both my life and my politics. He���s encouraged me to be more aware and take a greater���which is to say active���interest in the lives and well-being of my fellow humans. And, of course, he���s also provided a killer soundtrack to boot.
Thank you Chuck!
Which, and I feel shocked to say this, I almost look back on with fondness in light of the U.S.���s current leadership.��↩
