POTO Reflection No. 2
The use of music during the beginning of today’s class sort of ignited a thought regarding Sean “Jay-Z” Carter and his burgeoning entertainment empire. When Jay-Z became known beyond the New York City hip-hop scene, he seemed to take the industry by storm. In the beginning, his lyrics spoke of the world he knew best – fast cars, money, and women (or whatever term he used to describe them). However, the Jay-Z of today is not the Jay-Z of yesterday. It is as if he went through some metamorphosis and has become this respected guru.
As relates to Jay-Z, he seems to have evolved from being a “sub-oppressor” to a liberator. I would peg him as a “sub-oppressor” because while his music was popular, it spoke to what most might consider the more carnal side of humankind. As a matter of fact, when he released his album 4:44, in 2017, there seemed to be so much acclaim due to the content of his lyrics. He had gone from what some would say was being a purveyor of denigration to a prophet of transformation. He often spoke of such in a number of the press interviews he held. One of the songs that truly reveals his growth is “The Story of OJ.” The premise of the song is for a Black man, no matter your economic status, there’s an expectation and obligation that your actions benefit the greater good of your race.
It would be interesting to gain a better understanding of how he came to this revelation. What conversations did he have to become so enlightened that his more recent music represented what we would all want for our children – an indication of a changed life. Was it his exposure to high net worth individuals, in general, or specifically, his conversations with Warren Buffet? It would be interesting to gather the thoughts of others who may have watched Jay-Z’s transition from being a “sub-oppressor” to a liberator. If it were due to his exchange of knowledge with others and not so much his own thoughts, the duality of Freire’s dialogical theory would prevail.
Viewing urban entertainment through the lens of Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed” is very helpful with breaking down unspoken presumptions. This seemed to be very evident in Tuesday’s lively discussion regarding the “6 Degrees of Being Woke.” The author’s use of comedy, sarcasm, and satire “plucked the nerves” for a number of colleague’s. In the end, it was a good discussion and can be touted as an example of why following a dialogical approach to problem solving or enlightenment is best. It is likely when his career began Sean Carter, as a person, was a Level 1 Woke person. However, as his career traversed through its stages he simultaneously went through the next five stages and now represents a Level 6 Woke person. While Jay-Z is not what many would refer to as a conscious hip-hop artist, those who have followed his music seem to agree, he has shifted his focus from the “get money” culture to “creating a legacy” for future generations.
