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Alejandro Salinas

Professor Granillo

English 101

December 2, 2019

Don’t Be Controlled

Thinking of Abdurraqib’s words of “patriot” reminds me of my disconnection to the

question, “What it is to be an American”? The rise of America incites another question, who is

consider an American? Referring to the original definition of patriot is a person who vigorously

supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors. An enemy is a

person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something. The definition of patriot

doesn’t define enemies as foreign or civil, giving a sense of perception. These songs unveil the

fight against a terror control American system that only benefits able bodied Caucasian Christian

males, but the same system strips rights and takes lives especially everyone else inferior and

different. The premises of these songs help overcome loss in times of hostile control living for

those who have passed. It is important for anyone to move forward from hardships grieve their

own way and express themselves due to their natural born given human rights.

The songs in the playlist define new patriots in America. This playlist demonstrates

overcoming adversities of being different in America consisting of five songs; “My Life” by The

Game & Lil Wayne, both rappers, “Uprising” by Muse, a rock band, “Angels” by Chance the

Rapper featuring Saba, “No Pressure” by Mahalia, an R&B female artist, and lastly “Express

Yourself” by Hall of Fame rap group N.W.A. These songs allow one to accept and embrace their

differences due to ethnicity, gender, and mind in progress of a new American System. America

was built by different ethnicities, yet not consider a patriot by patriots.

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America was founded on empirical beliefs replicated by their British counter parts. Since

the founding of the America’s, they killed all the natives and stripped them of their land to gain

superior power over them. They brought African Americans through slave trades in order to

acquire free labor for their empire. An empire is based off free labor in a society. In order to keep

things in control and prevent any kind of uprising, the second amendment was made. Americans

readily used their power to segregate and discriminate all ethnicities in their way.

Hostility in America strips the rights of African Americans and is resonated in today’s

sports. For example pertaining to African American athletes, they are persistently disrespected

by fans, mainly Caucasian male fans, at their place of employment and according to Kwame

Agyemang and John Singer in “Race in the Present Day: NBA Employees Sound Off on Race

and Racism”, they write “while the criminal allegations against prominent white male athletes

(e.g., Josh Hamilton and Ben Roethlisberger) are seen as one-time lapses in judgment, the same

allegations against an African-American male athlete represent African-American culture; it is to

be expected (Leonard and King 2011)”(Agyemang). The African American athletes play sports

to work, to work just like any other human. It’s unfair when they persistently have fans

disrespecting then at their workplace because its not like those fans have people disrespecting

them on a day to day basis. Fans need to have boundaries with players, which is why most sports

association are beginning to hold fans at a higher standard. Past athletes, like Muhammad Ali,

have fought for their rights in protest of a sport they love. African American athletes use the

sport to bring about change the way people who have passed have done. Not only does America

strip the rights of those inferior but lives are not safe.

A nation’s hostility manufactured into a weapon which terrorizes the people to live in

fear. The Game references lost artists including John Lennon, a peace activist, and on August 24,
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2017 Tim Dickinson, author, reviews the periodical "Rolling Stone" talking about gun control

since the 1980 assassination of musician Lennon and exposing the influence of the National Rifle

Association (NRA) as well as the culture surrounding gun ownerships; he says, “ the nation was

upended anew by the political muscle of the NRA, which spent $30 million to elect Donald

Trump, helping target rural gun owners in states like Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Wenner, who remains committed to pursuing the subject, acknowledges the frustration of the

beat. ‘You really feel,’ he says, ‘like you're shouting against the wind’(Dickinson).” Lennon and

the Beatles ahead of their time were a hostile threat to the American System. The patriots of the

American system eliminate Lennon from the scene, but don’t realize he will live on through new

patriots who strive for peace in America. Although the fight against gun control feels hopeless,

it’s the persistent efforts of the people who want to see change and are willing to express their

opinions on the matter. Only one of the many gone but not forgotten.

The best medicine of moving forward is knowing you are not only doing it for yourself.

Growing up as a child, I understood death and loss when I witnessed my sisters grieving at the

dentist over their beloved friend. It was quiet between them and everyone else for a week. They

made shirts in honor of her passing with a picture of her on the back. The shirt demonstrated that

she’s not gone but is a guardian angel for those who remembered her grace and love. Ever since

that moment, I began to accept death not as the definitive but as a fight for those who can’t

anymore. Being protected by their grace and their memories that one hold’s dear to mind.
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Works Citied

Agyemang, Kwame, and John Singer. “Race in the Present Day: NBA Employees Sound Off on

Race and Racism.” Journal of African American Studies, vol. 18, no. 1, Mar.

2014, pp. 1132. EBSCOhost.