Gucci Mane, featured on countless hits by The Black Eyed Peas, Plies, Mariah Carey, and 50 Cent was sentenced to one year in jail yesterday in an Atlanta federal court. His upcoming album The State vs. Radric Davis slated for a December 8th release is almost prophetic in nature as he will no longer don the icy chains and Gucci hats; his Fulton County jail inmate jumpsuit should fit just fine.
On a local radio station, Gucci's lawyer stated that Gucci, I mean Mr. Davis, had three opportunities to comply with the court's request to keep him out of jail: 600 hours of community service, attend drug and alcohol counseling, report to a probation officer, and make the court aware of any trips he would be taking out of state. He, in all his drunken stupor, has failed to even complete one hour of service.
This post, however, isn't about the music, man, or his inability to protect his own legacy. It's about the bigger, more detrimental issue that some African Americans are "upset", "angry", and "mad as hell" over the fact that Gucci is serving time.
Some are even posting on social websites such as Facebook that President Barack Obama needs to "pardon Gucci" because "we don't need another Black man in the "system."
Really?
Where does the glorification of ignorance end and responsibility begin?
As an educator, I meet hundreds of young Black boys who hear the stories from their parents, friends, and the media about how "the system" has taken another brother--these young boys don't understand why "Gucci can't just do his thang" and that "them folks always looking for a reason to lock a brotha up..." Through observation (the only way they can learn this poor lesson because many of them live in 2 story homes in the suburbs) that they do not have to be responsible for themselves or the people in their life. They can live a life that is contrary to reality and have no real understanding of consequences.
There seems to be an undercurrent of socialized thought that anytime a Black man is "oppressed" through the "system" that there's a need to rally, create t-shirts that say "Free (insert rapper's name here)", and spend countless hours discussing, not the error in a person's ways, but how unfair it is that he has to serve time for some "petty shit."
In consideration for the understanding of the subjectification of the Black male, the images in which he's been portrayed (many unfairly done), and how he must live in a state of double consciousness (see W.E.B. Dubois), it is time that we remove this cloud of ignorance that hovers above our conversations that inundate our communities, schools, children, and mindsets.
Gucci will serve his time, rightfully so. I can only hope that he uses it as a time to reflect and regroup versus an easy publicity stunt that will boost album sales. As I told a student today as he adamantly defended Gucci and his exploits: “Getting ‘wasted’ on jail juice boxes just isn’t cool. Nothing ‘fly’ or ‘icy’ about that.”
I think where people who realize the ridiculousness of this situation can contribute to raising awareness is to stop supporting folks like Gucci Mane when he's not being a blatant idiot. It's good that blog topics like this exist, but let's make sure we don't buy Gucci Mane's CD. Maybe we can go as far as turning the radio station when his songs come on or not jumping up at the club yelling 'this is my jam!' Younger generations pay attention to us ALL THE TIME and they pick up on our contradictions.
ReplyDeleteBoo Gucci Mane, but that beat for the Mario song goes hard! Wait, did I just shoot myself in the foot?
I agree-- I have not and never will buy a Gucci CD. I agree with you 100%; you can't tell a kid that Gucci is setting a bad example and every time his song comes on the radio, you're blasting it... walking contradiction.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, you shot yourself in the foot. :) It does go hard, though!
Thanks for the post!
Good piece Ms. Gordon,
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to see how "Free (person name)" was once a slogan used for actual "freedom fighters". However today it has been used for men and women who have actually committed crimes against themselves and humanity. There used to be a meaning behind its usage. Now that symbolism has been lost. It will be interesting to see how Gucci's record sales are impacted by his incarceration.
I don't know what age group is asking to "Free Gucci" but even if it is across the board, I think we should consider how someone feels who places Gucci as a hero? Now, it maybe far-fatched for some, but I think we should consider the perspective. If Gucci Mane, represents the 100s of students (many I teach and have taught) that wish to be removed from their socio-economic circumstances and believes hip-hop is an avenue, and many of these students have come in contact with the law then, I see where they are coming from. I have students who talk about the "pigs" (or some other name they have for police) are always messing with them (arresting them, harrassing them) when they aren't doing anything (also teachers, principals, other people with power in their lives) then they can easily replace Gucci with themselves. Not that this is ok, but I'm thinking maybe we can discuss less about how it is idiotic to exclaimed the supposed "injustice" experinced by a jailed Gucci Mane, and more so, how students are seeing themselves in people like Gucci Mane. To reference DuBois' double-consciousness: "…the Negro is a sort of seventh son, born with a veil, and gifted with second-sight in this American world, – a world which yields him no true self-consciousness, but only lets him see himself through the revelation of the other world. It is a peculiar sensation, this double-consciousness, this sense of always looking at one’s self through the eyes of others, of measuring one’s soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity. One ever feels his two-ness, – an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder (9)." If Gucci Mane is the epitome of contrived "blackness" in which many, (not only the white record buying public, but also the adminstrators and police) use him as a source to define what it means to be a black man, is it far-fetched for students to fall in the same trap especially if his circumstances mirrors their own? If Gucci, and those like him are a veil of sorts, would you want to protect and secure that veil? A desire to not see those who identify with Gucci with "content and pity" but somehow a desire to reverse it in a way, save the hero, the one who "got out"?...I think there is a larger discussion at stake...I also co-sign on being a responsible consumer.
ReplyDeleteOh, also, In many of these students' eyes, the police and people with power are NOT seen as facilitators of justice but rather the progenitors (of sorts) of INequality and community DISharmony. Those with power become the ones to attack not the ones who got catch doing some "petty shit".
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit lost on how Gucci Mane can not serve community service hours to avoid going to jail.
ReplyDelete