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Cultural Analysis inspired by The Roots' 1999 album
It was a warm sunny day in Philadelphia, the summer of 95’. My siblings and I were cruising downtown, and I was about 12 years old. I’m not sure, why? But what caught my eye was the people. They moved differently from in the south; it was freer, it was as though they knew something about themselves that most didn’t. My curiosity grew more intense when my brother played The Roots. I listened intently to the rhythm of Black Thought’s flow. At the time, I didn’t necessarily understand everything that Black Thought was saying, but what I did understand is that he and the sounds that thumped through the speakers were informing the people of what we are hearing, seeing, and missing. There’s one album that continues to be relevant, Things Fall Apart,1999. The titles of the songs flow like a revolutionary speaking at the podium, broadcasting to the audience, “The revolution won’t be televised”. The album cover takes us into the horrors of the past. To the blood and tears in the streets of people fighting for their freedom to live. Sadly, the actions of the United States are mirroring those of the 1960’s and 1800’s.
The Americans who have disconnected from the past are feeling like life is falling apart. The shock, the sadness, the pain, the tears, the long-lasting scars of mistrust; African Americans have been there. Because of our toxic relationship with the narcissistic side of America, we try our best to inform others of the potential pitfalls that American behaviors have ignored. The pitfall is a lack of empathy for their fellow human. The lack of technology didn’t stop the images of the 60’s to circulate that also didn’t stop the lack of empathy provided to the people experiencing it. When this Album came out, it was 1999, and supposedly all was well here in America for black people. The actuality of the situation, what was really going on, was suppressed and not acknowledged by anyone. They ignore the facts and continue to enforce laws that disproportionally harm black communities. The Roots’ album cover is a reminder of the continued fight against injustice and oppression. It was easy then to ignore the plights of black people but it’s no longer easy when everyone is exposed to the truth when one of their own falls victim to the same evil as African Americans.
Why is this not familiar? Why is seeing black suffering not shocking? Why do we see the pain of every other race being acknowledged? These are only a few questions I ask myself while watching the news in 2026. It’s not selfish to wonder why? Why do they only speak about two individuals being killed when there have been several? Or why the big papers want to leave out individuals like Keith Porter? Who was also was shot by an off-duty ICE agent.
Things fall apart because the foundation it was built on had/have cracks. The crack is an acknowledgement of all suffering. It’s not selective, it’s human.
Revolutions are inevitable if the conditions of suffering are not met with resolution. Before the Civil Rights Act was signed in 1964, African Americans pushed through the years with revolutionary movements, creating changes towards more democracy for all. In All Things Fall Apart- the song Next Movement chorus is what 2026 is all about.
Yeah, you go
Hey, you listeners, stop what you’re doin’ and
Set it in motion, it’s the next movement
You listeners, stop what you’re doin’ and
Set it in motion, it’s the next movement (Word up).
The next movement is not starting from the outside, but from the inside. First, it starts with empathy. The Compassion for another life, to be pro-life, is a protection for life until death. To be pro-human is to protect the human qualities that make each unique. The next movement starts on an individual level, it’s taking a look retrospectively, unlearning, and making room for human connection.
There are plenty of people who connect on a human level daily. Maintaining the unification as a human, not as a race. Historically, movements have created change when everything is falling apart. The French Revolution is one of the most written about,
In the Greek War of Independence (1821-1829), the Greeks fought against the Ottoman Empire to establish Greek independence.
The Reform War (1857-1861) - between Mexican conservatives and liberals. It was a civil conflict resulting in an over throwing of conservative Antonio López de Santa Anna. Codifying the political program ratification of the constitution, separating church and state.
Argentinian war of independence -1810-1818:Emancipation from Spanish Rule
1822- Denmark Vesey’s slave uprising in South Carolina was suppressed. Regardless, it didn’t stop
Nat Turner's slave rebellion-1831. 8 years later, the Amistad Rebellion, 1839- United States vs The Amistad.
Rebellion is not negative by definition- the Merriam-Webster dictionary definition:
1. the opposition to one in authority or dominance.
Open, armed, and unusually unsuccessful defiance of or resistance to an established government.
Rebellion, according to the definition, is usually unsuccessful, but it’s productive.
It’s the start of people’s frustration, when a rebellion happens, a revolution follows.
The successful outcome happens within the revolution.
According to Merriam, a revolution is:
A. A sudden, radical or complete change
B. activity or movement designed to effect fundamental changes in the socioeconomic situation
C. a fundamental change in the way of thinking about or visualizing something: a change of paradigm.
The movement is the revolution, prompted by the pressure for change.
Revolution doesn’t need flash to get started; it needs compassion for human rights.
The change is realizing it’s a human right to feel and be free to be oneself, and the only way to fight is to create solidarity. Solidarity within our communities, solidarity with each other, regardless of race, because we are all human beings with the right to live.
“We’ve got to face the fact that some people say you fight fire best with fire, but we say you put fire, but we say you put fire out best with water. We say you don’t fight racism with racism. We’re gonna fight racism with solidarity.”- Fred Hampton