If you’ve seen a vast majority of rap videos, there are usually three things that will catch your eye: the rapper/performer, the gorgeous women, and the ungodly amount of material possessions placed in the rap video. Now, nothing would make me happier than to talk about the ideology of the rapper, or the male gaze that are the rap video women, for those topics are for another time. What I would like to talk about, is material possessions and the African-American community’s fixation of it that leads to “materialistic slavery”. What do I mean by “materialistic slavery”? Well, it definitely doesn’t mean that having nice things is a problem. However, the issue lies within the unchecked obsession to have those nice things.
In the black community, we are taught that fresh shades and Air Jordans make the man, and not the character. Rap videos constantly show rappers and artists flaunting what they have, from glistening chains to cars that would make yours look like a Flintstone mobile. We even seen people on social media, rocking it and showing off their best. In one story, music artist Tory Lanez literally spent $35,000 at a jewelry store after employees assumed that he wouldn’t and actually couldn't buy anything. One could ask “How can you spend $35,000 on jewelry you might never wear?” or “What did you accomplish, other than proving to people you can waste money quickly?”
It all comes down to the idea of success. Studies show that a wealthy person is perceived to have it all: intelligence, education, control, success, etc. These are all the things people want, especially those of an impoverished background. So, flashing $35,000 would mean that you’re the big man on campus, who has more control and success than anyone around you. As columnist Khaya Dlanga stated:
“Material possessions are the easiest way to say you are all of these things without having to say a word.”
Let’s take a look at the black community, who were oppressed for centuries in this country. Names such as “poor”, “ghetto”, and “nappy” labeled us, and still do today. Meanwhile, Caucasian-Americans had everything, such as expensive things and wealth. They were viewed as “stable”, “fair” and “American”, constantly boasting that if you can make it in America, you can make it anywhere. From that moment, we have dedicated our lives to be successful as our white neighbors. Along the line, the quest to equate our personal worth with materials turned into a sociological issue.
Again, there isn’t a problem with owning anything at all. We all want good things in our life like owning a house or means of transportation. It’s when we worship materialism and devalue all else, is something that has to change. There would be some times where I would watch MTV’s Cribs and become very unimpressed by the people showing me how well they got it. To me, it just seems as if mankind has lost their sense of worth in all the clothes, bling, and cars in the world.
