Above is a song from a popular 90s rap group called N.W.A. The group consisted of Ice Cube, MC Ren, DJ Yella, Dr. Dre, and the late Eazy E. Straight Outta Compton is based on the group's journey all the way up to the death of Eazy E and Ice Cube's writing of Friday (a comedy released in 1995).
Being black in Compton, California in the 1990's was not easy. Racism was high, and consequently, so was police brutality. Even after they became famous their art, "gangsta rap" was considered worthless according to the police. Straight Outta Compton highlights a few of their encounters with California Police Department.
One of these encounters takes place outside of one of their recording studios where they are eating and having a conversation. Two police cars pull up and start antagonizing them. The men do not take this very lightly and do not readily oblige the policemen's orders. Seeing their fellow police officers having trouble, a few other cop cars approach. The police proceed to bully them and force them to throw their food to the ground and lay down as well. Regardless of the fact, N.W.A.'s manager tells them to stand up, but the police refuse to allow them to get up until they feel like it.
It did not matter whether the policemen were white or black; they oppressed people of color all the same similar to what is happening in present-day society. Day after day, there are stories coming out about "unjust" treatments and shootings of people of color. It shows how the problem just has not gone away but has been swept under the rug until recent years.
Just like then, black men especially are taught to lie down and take whatever these racist cops throw at them no matter what the cost. They are forced to accept both physical and mental abuse. It has caused a racial war between blacks and whites. Unlike then however, black people do not have to fear all cops.
It has been 20 years and racism has declined. Not all cops need to be feared. Many of them protect the rights of all despite color. However those few bad apples have ignited a conflict between black people and white cops causing casualties on both sides.
On another note: Go see this movie. It is phenomenal especially if you want to see where gangsta rap began. The movie also shows how Snoop Dog, Tupac, and many others got their start.
