I'd encourage you to listen to the song and read through the lyrics before diving into the post.
For hip hop heads who don’t wanna be black
Who love black people more than they love rap
For all the real friends who grieve for Black lives
‘steada diggin’ up dirt and tryin’ to justify
For all the white folks with the ears to hear
who don’t make black pain all about your guilt
Don’t make black rage all about your fear
Who never stay quiet when verdicts is unfair
Who join us in the fire stead’a stayin’ in the clear
‘Cause they know they ain’t free till we all get there
This the ally anthem
Rule number one
Make sure this track is not your favorite song
Gratitude to activists of every hue
Especially if you woke without havin’ a black boo
Ya do it ‘cause it’s right
And ya do it ‘cause it’s true
And ya do it ‘cause you love Fresh Prince and soul food
Ya do it ‘cause you think that my people is beautiful
So glad you do, y’all pretty fly too
Wit’ our boots to the ground
Fist in the air
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
Wit’ our boots to the ground
Fist in the air
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
For Daddys wit’ all daughters
Who ain’t wishin’ for sons
For sons brothers and fathers
Who love who they come from
For lovers of strong women
Who never intimidated
But celebrating their ladies
Like my baby the greatest!
For the male womanist
Killin’ their inner chauvinist
Never lookin’ for credit
For doin’ what should be obvious
Gender equality ain’t a noble belief
It’s basic humanity
Be glad that you ain’t a beast
Unafraid to release
emotion because you see
compassion and sympathy
is strength, don’t be weak
No man is free if just men are free
We fight for her rights but she take the lead
Wit’ our boots to the ground
Fist in the air
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
Wit’ our boots to the ground
Fist in the air
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
6 - Ally Anthem
Up until this song, the album has been a heavy handed critique of America. More specifically pointing out the many different ways white supremacy and white privilege are expressed throughout american culture and law. Such critique is necessary, appropriate, and motivated by love. I know my white friends who care about justice and equality will seriously consider these critiques. Even for the open minded ally, these conversations are taxing on the mind and heart. I deeply appreciate everyone of all backgrounds willing to take a stand for justice. I wanted to take a moment on the album to express gratitude for allies. When I say ally, I mean any person who stands for the basic human rights of a people group that they do not belong to. This could include a non-black person participating in a Black Lives Matter demonstration, a male-womanist who passionately pushes for gender equality in the workplace. A Christian who speaks out against hate of Muslims, a straight student who stands up for a gay classmate that gets bullied. You can never cover everything in a single song. The chorus of “ally anthem” is all encompassing, addressing every type of ally for every type of people group, but the verses focus on two specific issues that I believe are most pressing in the american context, anti-blackness and sexism. Verse one is directed towards those who are allies to black americans in our struggle for equality.
For hip hop heads who don’t wanna be black
Who love black people more than they love rap
There are misguided expressions of false unity that swallow the identity of the aspiring ally or the oppressed people group. I’ve met certain non-black people who are sympathetic to black suffering and admire black culture, but to an unhealthy degree. They go beyond experiencing, appreciating and participating in black culture in an honoring way. They go so far as to self-deprecate their own ethnic heritage and fetishize or idolize blackness. They do not only enjoy black culture, they themselves wish they were black. It is not cultural appropriation every time a non black person wears black fashion, uses black lingo or is influenced by black art. There must be room for participating in other culture’s traditions in a way that is not offensive. I’ve met many non black people who grew up in a predominantly black context or have been deeply influenced by hip hop and genuinely engage in certain aspects of blackness that is true to themselves and respectful of black culture. These type of people authentically engage in blackness because they authentically engage with black people. They love us, not just our culture, “they love black people more than they love rap”. Problematic allies are those who attempt to assume a black identity. Those who say things like, “white people suck, I’m black on the inside”. Those who hold tight to a joking comment by a black friend that once called them an “honorary black person.” If you are not black, you are not black. Whether joking or serious, do not ever attempt to consider yourself one of us. This is unhelpful in the quest for equality. Although desiring to be black might seems humorous and harmless, it is a very dangerous idea. It suggest that the best way to stand with an other people group is to become the other people group. It implies that our differences are a hindrance to unity. It assumes that we could have better community if we were not different. But that is untrue. I do not wish to be anything but myself. Likewise, I wish for my non black friends to desire no other racial identity but their own. In doing so, only then can we truly celebrates the beauty of diversity and reinforce equality. We should seek to be one in spirit with all humanity, but we are from many tribes, tongues and nations. We should praise God for that.
False unity swallows identity in the other direction as well. Some who seek unity among people groups do not desire to become the minority, but instead claim to be color-blind. They claim to actually see no difference at all between people groups. They are lying to themselves. We all possess the ability to see differences in physical traits. We all become aware of our otherness when experiencing different cultures. What is too often meant by, “I don’t see color” is, I see all cultures as the dominant culture . It is a way of thinking that encourages assimilation. In the american context, it means, I consider all people to be as white people, requiring the would-be ally to project a white identity onto minority peoples in order to consider them equal. Reggie L. Williams explains in the introduction to his book
“Bonhoeffer’s Black Jesus” “Abusive empathy is prone to projection, in which the dominant, self-determining, autonomous persons within the social hierarchy bounce their image off the fungible body of fixed, commodified human subjects, only to see their own reflection returned to them. Empathy can be distorted to make it another way of keeping the subject in subjection, requiring an imagined white body overlaying a black one to humanize it (Williams, 4).”
It is not necessary or good for you to desire to become an oppressed minority. It is not true or helpful to claim colorblindness. It is not right to project your identity onto others in order to treat them justly. See my difference, see my black, celebrate it for me, love yourself the way God created you, consider us equal, love me as brother. This song is celebrating those who do just that.
For all the real friends who grieve for Black lives
‘steada diggin’ up dirt and tryin’ to justify
Whenever there are reports of police brutality or another loss of black life at the hands of the police, some people, in the name of objectivity and fairness have a bizarre initial reaction. Their instinct is to look for reasons to justify the police’s actions. They tell black people not to jump to conclusions, reminding us that according to the law, each person is innocent until proven guilty, even though these instances are so often the result of police treating black people as guilty of a crime without having committed one. This lyric is not suggesting that anyone should automatically assume the police have done wrong, but rather it is a reminder that true allies should respond with grief and empathy. Learn to mourn the loss of life even without having all the facts. In addition, pay attention to the pattern and understand how each instance will bring up fears and pain in the hearts of your black friends. If a woman you loved (friend, daughter, spouse) told you she was raped, how would she feel if the first thing you said was, “Well, let’s not jump to conclusions, what exactly happened? Are you sure you were raped? What did you do to make him think you wanted to sleep with him?” If this is how you responded, that person would no longer believe you cared about them at all. Obviously further details are necessary, but the first thing that comes out of your mouth ought to be grief, and support particularly when things like this occur in contexts that have proven over and over again to oppressive to black people and to women. An accusation does not automatically make a person guilty, but objectivity does not require you running to the defense of the accused, or refusing to empathize with the alleged victim.
For all the white folks with the ears to hear
who don’t make black pain all about your guilt
Don’t make black rage all about your fear
Who never stay quiet when verdicts is unfair
Who join us in the fire stead’a stayin’ in the clear
‘Cause they know they ain’t free till we all get there
This the ally anthem
Rule number one
Make sure this track is not your favorite song
Particularly when you belong to a privileged group, it is easy for activists to become discouraged and self-focused. It is easy to “make black pain all about [your] guilt” . When a person of privilege resists injustice, they are constantly confronted with their personal privilege and the wrongs of their people group. Guilt is a difficult thing to sort through and should be given appropriate attention, however the focus should remain on changing oppressive institutions and liberating oppressed people. Of course you might feel down at times. Guilt should not discourage you from working towards equality, neither should it be your motivator. Be motivated by a desire to see truth, love, and justice prevail, not by a personal quest to ease your own conscience. Guilt gets us nowhere, it only seeks to shame us for unchangeable pasts, which is why guilt does not disappear even when present good is being done. Giving up on working towards justice because you feel too guilty is self defeating and will only cause a greater sense of guilt. Learn to acknowledge the injustice in society and take responsibility for the unjust things you have done, but at the same time, accept what you cannot change (the past), and choose to operate in a new reality. Don’t allow guilt to hijack the good work. I also acknowledge those who “don’t make black rage all about they fear.” Who wouldn’t be angry after centuries of oppression? Sometimes injustices can be explained calmly, at other times, oppressed people need to rage, need to shriek, need to lament loudly. Privileged people should learn to listen with sympathetic ears that consider the context. They should not condemn minorities for being too angry, but rather seek to understand why the are so angry in the first place. Again, to liken it to sexims, I was at an open mic at which several women performed poems that were brutally critical of men and masculinity. Within the poems however, they all made mentioned that they were victims of sexual assault. One poet in particular had been raped more than once by different men. The women were angry and disgusted at men and masculinity and they were not shy about it. As a man, I was uncomfortable, but to make that moment about my fear of their anger would miss the point. I need not tell them to be less angry if they want me to listen, what I need to do is work towards a culture in which they are not raped. I need not scold them for being unkind to me as a man, but I need to commit to being a man who makes them feel safe.
The last part of this verse is meant to be a reminder to not make your activism about you. Americans will often take trips to third world nations to dig wells or do good deeds. The way some talk about their justice work seems to emphasise how good they are instead of the importance of the work and the dignity of the people they’re serving. Do-gooders will take pictures and tell stories that paint themselves as heroic. It seems they have missed the point. After listening to this album, which addresses all sorts of issues of justice, I would be suspect of your motivation if your favorite song was the one in which I thank allies. It is something I find important to do, but receiving gratitude from the people they are serving should not be the focus of justice-minded people. “Make sure this track is not your favorite song.”
Gratitude to activists of every hue
Especially if you woke without havin’ a black boo
Ya do it ‘cause it’s right
And ya do it ‘cause it’s true
And ya do it ‘cause you love Fresh Prince and soul food
Ya do it ‘cause you think that my people is beautiful
So glad you do, y’all pretty fly too
“Gratitude to activists of every hue. Especially if you woke without havin’ a black boo.” This line is not at all intended to look down upon interracial couples. It makes sense that non black people in romantic relationships with black people will likely end up learning and caring more about the plight of black folks, however the majority of people in America are not in romantic relationships with black americans. This cannot be the main strategy to combat racial injustice. It is not necessary for you be romantic with a black person for you to learn and care about us. I am thankful for those who have a commitment to justice and a love for black people even without being in love with a particular black person.
Wit’ our boots to the ground
Fist in the air
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
Wit’ our boots to the ground
Fist in the air
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
For Daddys wit’ all daughters
Who ain’t wishin’ for sons
For sons brothers and fathers
Who love who they come from
For lovers of strong women
Who never intimidated
But celebrating their ladies
Like my baby the greatest!
This second verse addresses sexism. In many cultures around the world, women are treated as less valuable from the moment the parents find out the sex of their child in the womb. Because many societies are patriarchal, daughters are not considered as valuable as sons. They will likely be given in marriage to another family and take the husband’s name. The wealth and the honor of a family is passed down through sons alone. Also, in America, a skewed acknowledgement of violence against women has caused many fathers to desire sons more than daughters. The running joke says, american men have to buy a gun when they father a daughter. Men are well aware of the way we harass and abuse women. Many american men would rather have sons so they don’t have to worry as much about the safety of their child. On one hand, the lamenting of having daughters and the “time to buy a gun” joke acknowledges how awful and dangerous our culture is to women, but at the same time it continues to devalue women by preferring male children. A true ally for women will rejoice in fathering daughters with just as much enthusiasm as he would in fathering sons. He would also be committed to dismantling a culture which is unsafe for women and his daughter, instead of continuing the toxic masculinity by buying a gun or threatening their daughters’ dates with violence.
A true ally willl keep in mind that every man came from a woman. That truth alone should create a sense of gratitude and respect towards women. A true ally will not be intimidated by powerful women. A lot of men disapprove of women with leadership capabilities because both their culture and often theology teaches them that women should be subordinate and submissive, that a woman’s primary role is to aid her male partner in his life pursuits as well as sexually please him. This is ignorant and evil. A true ally will rejoice when women embrace their full potential and have opportunities to utilize their leadership capabilities.
For the male womanist
Killin’ their inner chauvinist
Never lookin’ for credit
For doin’ what should be obvious
Gender equality ain’t a noble belief
It’s basic humanity
Be glad that you ain’t a beast
In Yona Harvey’s poem “Turquoise”, her husband denied the advances of a woman inviting him to commit adultery, after which he felt very proud of himself. But Yona felt differently
[My husband’s] brush with temptation
isn’t as noble as he’d like to believe, more like
cleaning the house when it gets dirty—he could
mark it on a table of triumphs, but, at the end of the day,
it mostly amounts to what he is supposed to do.
Yona points out that men have low standards for themselves. Not cheating on your wife does not make you a particularly good man, just not a cheater. Similarly, I rap “gender equality ain’t a noble belief, it’s basic humanity. Be glad that you aint a beast.” Believing that women are equal to men ought to be obvious. If you are man who believes in the equality of the sexes, you should not expect exceptional treatment from women simply for being against their oppression. Sadly many men parade their faux-feminism in order to impress women. Such behavior only contributes to the problem.
Also, it is worth pointing out that in the song, I use the term “male womanist” instead of “male feminist.” Womanism instead of feminism was an intentional and important distinction. Most expressions of feminism in american history are very narrow in scope. The historical suffrage movement was dominated by white women. They fought fervently for their rights but hypocritically excluded women of color in their movement and show very little care to combat racial oppression. This trend continues today in mainstream american feminism. Because of this, some women do not identify with the feminist movement, but rather prefer the term womanist. In “Black Feminist Thought,” Patricia Hill Collins explains how womanism considers the overlapping nature of various injustices. It acknowledges that certain expressions of sexim cannot be dismantled without also destroying the racism, classism, or other form of oppression attached to it.
Unafraid to release
emotion because you see
compassion and sympathy
is strength, don’t be weak
To be an ally to women, men must realize that emotions are nothing to be ashamed of. All emotions belong to all humans. By refusing to allow yourself to feel certain emotions deemed feminine by culture, you are stunting your ability to grow into a healthy human being. This will hinder your ability to relate to all people, particularly women. American culture tell us things like courage, confidence, and power are masculine, while compassion, empathy and gentleness are feminine. This way of thinking polarizes humanity to its detriment. Women too are courageous, confident and powerful, and men need to be compassionate, empathetic, and gentle. In his poem “My Mans N Them”, Rasheed Copeland points out that even macho men express emotions all the time, just in an unhealthy and imbalanced way.
My mans n them don’t do well with affection Swear they ain’t emotional My mans n them don’t know that anger is an emotion that rules them into loving with their fists No man is free if just men are free We fight for her rights but she take the lead
Only when men embrace the full spectrum of emotions will we be able to love anyone well. Only then can men be allies, friends and lovers of women. Though we are in the privileged position, men will never be free as long as we suppress certain aspects of our humanity, disdaining them as feminine. Femininity should not be feared, as long as it is, men will never be healthy humans. Men will never be free as long as women are oppressed. Men will never be free as long as we are unwilling to allow women to partner with us as equals, and lead us as intelligent, gifted human beings from whom we must learn.
No man is free if just men are free
We fight for her rights but she take the lead
Wit’ our boots to the ground
Fist in the air
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
Wit’ our boots to the ground
Fist in the air
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
We ain’t gon’ stop ‘till we all get there
Grace and Peace,
Micah
