‘Crazy World’: Lucky Dube’s music is rapidly revealing violence and killings in today’s racially violent world
What Sort Of World Are We Inviting Our Children Into?
“Everywhere
in the world, people are fighting for freedom; nobody knows what is right,
nobody knows what is wrong. The black man says it’s the white man, the white
man says it’s the black man. Indians say it’s the coloreds, coloreds say it’s
everyone,” sings South African reggae legend, Lucky Dube, in a racial tension
song called ‘War and Crime.’
This is a perfect song whose lyrics describe the events of today’s racially chaotic world in
Europe and America. The world is increasingly becoming so dangerous that we
need to ask ourselves: What sort of world are we inviting our children into?
And what sort of future are we building for them in this racially bitter
society?
Years after
slavery, the relationship between African Americans and Americans remains very poor. After the 1992 riots in Los Angeles, regarding Rodney King, many
thought things would improve, but recent shootings of police officers to death reveal that there isn’t any imminent peace between
African-Americans and Americans. “How long is this gonna last, cause
we’ve come so far so fast,”- asked Lucky Dube, the South African reggae legend.
Lucky Dube
continued “I’ m not saying this because I’m a coward, but I’m thinking
of the lives that we lose every time we fight. Killing innocent people, women
and children yeah,” reflecting on last week’s events of the senseless
massacre of innocent people in Nice, France, as a truck plowed through Bastille
Day crowd, killing 84 people, including children.
In Nice, France, a truck plowed through the Bastille Day crowd, killing 84 people, including children. Two young women are laying flowers for the victims.
Children
are usually caught up in racially motivated crimes and violence, yet they are
not responsible for any of them. But many times influenced by the crimes
surrounding them and what they watch on television, they grow up to be
racists and criminals.
Actually, a child is never born a racist; adults and the harsh environmental experience influence them. World
leaders, schools, and parents have a huge task to create a happy and safe
environment for our children: “We should bury down apartheid, racism,
discrimination, and fight down war and crime,” Lucky Dube
advised.