The year is 1991. Rodney King has just been brutally assaulted by four officers of the LAPD. After the trial, three of the officers are found innocent and one is found guilty, but only on the charge of assault with a deadly weapon.
Fast-forward to 2015. In the past few years, names such as Trayvon Martin and Sandra Bland have come to epitomize the social issues revolving around racially charged crimes and murder. The fact that police brutality of this caliber is still an issue today is highly disturbing and, quite frankly, disgusting on America’s part.
“Straight Outta Compton,” released in August 2015, portrays the road to success traveled by Ice Cube, Eazy-E and Dr. Dre, three world-renowned rap artists from the ‘80s. Their original group, N.W.A., catalyzed the gangsta rap scene, catching the attention of a nation with their strong beats, interesting melodies and, most especially, cutting-edge lyrics. Run-ins with the police, typically characterized by faulty charges or lack of probable cause, spurred angry lyrics for songs such as “F— tha Police,” describing their increased chances of being subjected to bogus arrests or unwarranted searches based merely on the color of their skin. A scene in the film depicts the group recording a new album at a studio and being forced to the ground by police as they returned from lunch because they “looked like gang members.”
The worst part, however, is not that these events seem to have repeated themselves in the past 25-30 years. The saddest revelation results from the fact that there are still people in this country who believe that these acts are acceptable and even encourage discrimination against those who are not white, middle/upper class males. Two men in Boston beat a homeless man merely because he was Hispanic, claiming that he was an “illegal immigrant.” People need to feel safe and protected in this country. What does it say about our society if someone doesn’t even feel comfortable walking down the street merely because of a genetic attribute that has absolutely nothing to do with intelligence, kindness or lawful behavior? The color of your skin does not determine your value as a human being; every single person deserves to be treated with kindness and respect, especially in a country supposedly founded upon freedom.
“Straight Outta Compton” brings the ever-growing issue of race in America full circle, highlighting issues of aggression and misplaced hatred that seem to still monopolize our society. By recognizing that such acts are heinous and outdated, we can begin to make America truly free.