AFRAM Blog Post #4

In light of the musical genres we know today, we commonly take for misinterpret what we understand to be true. Ludwig Hurtado touches bases with this theme of misinformation as Trump highlights that he enjoys country music as he recruits border security from country music festivals. Hurtado explains that, "we take for granted that country music sounds white, looks white, and in many ways, is white. But country's music's origins are from white." Hurtado then identifies that the way we understand country derives from how the recording industry compartmentalized its genre with race. I then began to question where the music I commonly listen to stems from. I realized that I was possibly taking for granted musical influences in some of my favorite songs. By acknowledging Hurtado's explanation of how people consider country music to be America's nationalism, I am appalled at how people are so attached to such pride that elicits itself as a fallacy.

Furthermore, Laina Dawes explains the historical background of  Seattle's self-defense group, Home Alive. She explains that it was established after Mia Zapata was raped while walking home. I found misinterpretation to exist again when Dawes interviewed individuals about the self-defense group. Dawes explains, "One of the interviewees said that there was a misperception about what 'self-defense' constituted. That there was this fear that people might miscontrue self-defense as simply teaching women to beat someone up?" This claim is infuriating to hear as the framework of the self-defense grou[ is to protect women from unwanted violence. In relation to Hurtado's portrayal of misinterpretation about Trump, I found that people still to this day, commonly misinterpret gender, race, and music. If not handled appropriately, it creates large-scale problems as we see how people question women's rights to self-defense and how Trump demonstrates a sense of faulty pride.

YG - Go Loko = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2cFkVfVf2Y

Mustard - Baguettes In The Face = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQuJFJCtvPs

Both of these songs highlight the clear musical influences utilized throughout the song. Listening to songs like these reminds me of how to appreciate the integration of music and culture.