Member-only story
“Turn your wounds into wisdom.” — Oprah Winfrey
Kendrick Lamar released his third studio album To Pimp a Butterfly in 2015, which largely focused on the Black condition in America. Of the songs featured “Alright” stands out as tune for the ages, succinctly depicting several hardships faced by Black individuals residing in the US since the country’s inception. Perhaps the most moving, and cryptic, part of this song occurs during segment in its chorus, when Lamar raps:
Wouldn’t you know
We been hurt, been down before, nigga
When our pride was low
Lookin’ at the world like, “Where do we go, nigga?”
And we hate po-po
Wanna kill us dead in the street for sure, nigga
Gut punch
The year 2020 has been especially difficult for Blacks residing in America. Soon after the start of this new decade, Kobe Bryant, a global icon, passed away alongside his daughter and other passengers in a helicopter crash. It seemed the world mourned Bryant’s death, but for Black people specifically a hero was lost. The late NBA star inspired millions of basketball players who shared his racial background, such as Kyrie Irving, DeMar DeRozan, and Carmelo Anthony. He was also a large part of Black culture, having taken Brandy Norwood to his high school prom and been referenced by several rap artists in music.
