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The Soundtrack Of Social Change: Vol. 2
Despite the numerous boycotts and protests leading up to the signing of Arizona bill SB 1070, over 60% of Americans have now stated their support for such extreme actions to be taken in order to prevent illegal immigration. Although the same percentage of US residents used to express their concern that this bill could end up violating their civil rights, this no longer seems to be the case after the media once again cleverly twisted the story to suit their needs.
SB 1070 states that if an alien over the age of fourteen years is not carrying their documents at all times, proving their registration with the US government, police are able to determine themselves if they are an illegal immigrant. If so the first offense used to cost them $500 and 20 days in jail, cut to a $100 fine and 6 days on the inside after an initial uproar. The second offense increases to $1000 accompanied by a 6 month sentence. Cue: racial profiling.
But lets be real, this event only emphasized the already existing problem of prejudice and stereotypical viewpoints toward immigrants, as M.I.A had taken note of in her 2009 release “Paper Planes.” Whilst attempting to secure a working visa and gain entry to the US, M.I.A was kept waiting for long periods of time due to undisclosed “problems.” Stating that the only reason she could find was “…them thinking that I might fly a plane into the Trade Center,” as to why she was being kept in the dark, prompted her to write.
With the government analyzing her website and regarding her previous work as politically driven, M.I.A had already been denied access to work in America once, as well as being designated a spot on the Homeland Security Risk List in 2006. She therefore wanted to express her frustrations as well produce a song that described immigrants’ way of life, due to the lack of sensitivity that she had experienced first hand.
When interviewed about Paper Planes, M.I.A spoke in detail about what the words had meant to her and where they had come from, “People don’t really feel like immigrants or refugees contribute to culture in any way. That they’re just leeches that suck from whatever. So in the song I say “All I wanna do is [sound of gun shooting and reloading, cash register opening] and take your money.” “ By creating the sound effects, M.I.A gives permission to interpret the song in whichever way the listener wants to. “America is so obsessed with money, I’m sure they’ll get it. You can either apply it on a street level and go, oh, you’re talking about somebody robbing you and saying I’m going to take your money. But, really, it could be a much bigger idea: someone’s selling you guns and making money. Selling weapons and the companies that manufacture guns – that’s probably the biggest moneymaker in the world.”
With multiple talking points to the song, M.I.A then focused on why she, as well as anybody else, has the right to put such lyrics out there in public. In the same interview, standing up for herself against the US Government, M.I.A made it clear that if we are exposed to such events recorded and related to us through media, then we have the absolute right to talk about it. “You’ve made that a part of my life,” she stated.
When SB 1070 was under speculation, local artists also collaborated to put out their not-too-dissimilar messages. “Back to Arizona,” was a piece worked on by various talent, including Tajji Sharp, Mr. Miranda, Atllas, Pennywise and many more. Introducing the song with recorded footage form the demonstrations against the signing, placards saturated the crowds with messages such as “We lost the Battle but not the War,” written on them.
The lyrics are maybe not quite as ambiguous as that of M.I.A’s, with straightforward yet still meaningful lines such as “We’re still being oppressed in this day and age,” and “Get these clowns out of office because no one really wants them,” making up the content of the eight minute long track. With references to the land of the free also present throughout, it is hard to escape the damaging effects that this has had on immigrants who now call America their home.
At the same time Mexico’s president, Felipe Calderón, condemned the law as a violation of human rights, Arizona saw a significant drop of those attending churches, schools, health care facilities and work places. Perhaps because immigrants were moving states, or perhaps because they were just too scared to be seen after not being heard. With twelve more states now considering the implementation of similar laws, we will undoubtedly be seeing some new music with similar messages being released shortly.
To read The Soundtrack of Social Change: Vol. 1, click here.