You know, all my life I’ve seen people around me tell me that they are “real”. Now some people might not know what this term means since this term is mainly used in black culture. Well according to urban dictionary, the term “real” means the action of being true to the code of ethics of one’s self, culture and environment. While I agree with this definition, the only problem I have with this term is that being “real” has changed so much over the years that it damn near can mean anything. When this happens it makes people ask the question, “What’s real anymore”?
You see, in black culture although the term “real” started off with that very meaning, I feel as though it started to change when rap music started to become more and more popular. When gangsta rap started to become popular in the late 80s and early 90s, it showed the use of gang violence and selling drugs. Gangsta rap was so popular and influential at the time that it had a big impact on young inner city blacks. Many young black males were so moved by the wave of the “gansta image” that they started associating it with what it means to be “real”.
This is still something the black community that I continue to see. Growing up in the inner city I would hear kids my age talk about someone they knew from their neighborhood getting locked up for selling drugs or killing someone and glorifying them for doing it. As a kid, I never really understood how f#cked up it was, but as I got older I realized how crazy it was to do that. Like seriously? You think someone is “real” or cool for killing someone and going to jail for the rest of their lives? That sh$t sounds “real” stupid if you ask me.
Look, you can ask any one who knows me how much I love rap music with a passion. But I just think as a community we need to fix our definition on how we look at “realness." Some of us are so focused on fitting into the gangsta image stereotype to be seen as “real” to our friends that we are completely ignoring what real was intentionally supposed to mean. Being real is being yourself no matter what anyone thinks. Being real is handling your responsibilities. That’s what real is supposed to be. I’m not trying to preach to the younger generation or anything but you guys might want to reevaluate your meaning of what real is because trust me, there isn’t anything “real" about sacrificing your freedom being in prison. Think about it. Peace.
