Have you ever read any of the opinion about Brown v. Board of Education. There's not as much equality-under-the-law talk in it as you'd think. A lot of it is about sociology and how our "separate but equal" society gave African-Americans poor self-esteem. But, so long as they sided with Brown, who cares how they decided it?
Let's see if any progress has been made on this self-esteem issue, through the prism of African-American music.
1930-50s: Economic discrimination. Racial Segregation. This sad set of muses spawns the Blues.
1950s: Brown is decided. Finally, the music gets a little more upbeat but still there's still an element of tragedy. See Frankie Lymon's "Why do fools fall in love".
1960s-70s: Social Policy Success! Aretha Franklin demands "Respect" while the Jackson 5 sing about how reading is fundamental in "ABC"
1980s: After all moral conquests materialism inevitably sets in. See Billy Ocean's "Get out of my dreams and into my car"
1990s: Self Esteem problem? If anything now it's the opposite with Rappers singing odes to themselves about their greatness. It's not enough to be good anymore you have to denigrate others, it gets so bad that even a "Momma Said Knock You Out".
2000s: 50 Cent sums up the American credo in his breakthrough album "Get Rich or Die Trying." He then moves to Conneticut. If this isn't successful integration, what is?
