“Proud to be Black” by RUN-DMC
“You know I’m proud to be Black, y’all … and that’s a fact, y’all!”
RUN-DMC were Hip-Hop’s first commercial golden children. MTV adored them. Adidas dressed them. The Beastie Boys opened for them and in all of the swagger of their Hollis heritage, they had no problem saying loud and proud that they were proud to be Black. Why wouldn’t they have worn this pride like the black leather jackets and fedora hats that made them so popular … it was in the air around them.
The group grew up about 15 minutes away from James Brown, a long-time resident of Addisleigh Park in Queens, NY (just south of their 205th and Hollis Ave. home). In 1968, the “Godfather of Soul” released the singles “Say it Loud — I’m Black and I’m Proud!” part 1 and part 2. Later, after it rocked the charts and became an anthem for Black youth everywhere, in a bold liberation theological and ontological exercise of empowerment he put the songs on the A Soulful Christmas LP.
Surely, Joseph Simmons, Darryl McDaniels, and Jason Mizell, took that pride and incorporated it their music.
“Black, god damn, I’m tired my man … Don’t worry ‘bout what color I am … Because I’ll show you how ill, this man can act … It could never be fiction cause it is all fact … And if you get in my way, I will not turn back … I’m proud of my name, my name is Darryl Mack … I’m Black and I’m proud, and I’ll say it out loud … I’ll share my story with the whole crowd, augghh! You know I’m proud to be Black y’all … And that’s a fact y’all … And if you try to take what’s mine … I take it back y’all, it’s like that.”
The song was a quick history lesson, dropping jewels about Harriett Tubman, Malcolm X, George Carver Washington, Jesse Owens, and Martin Luther King, Jr. But also, the group introduced an understanding that Africans in American all think at one time in their lives … little Brown children need an extra portion of God’s protection.
“We’re gonna tell ya somethin’ put your mind in a swirl … God bless the next baby that comes in this world … The world’s full of hate discrimination and sin … People judgin’ other people by the color of skin … I’ll attack this matter, in my own way … Man, I ain’t no slave, I ain’t reelin’ no hay … Written a deposition, in any condition … Don’t get in my way cause I’m full of ambition … I’m proud to be Black (and I ain’t takin’ no crap) … I’m fresh out the pack (and I’m proud to be Black) … So take that!”
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers definitely know how to rock arenas, but inspire you to love yourself.