Three decades of the weapon of sound above ground.
When rage against the machine arrived on the scene, right-wing groups like PMRC feared what their music would do to young kids.
When rage against the machine arrived on the scene, right-wing groups like PMRC feared what their music would do to young kids.
Imagine taking a 10 year old in 1996 and locking him in a windowless room with nothing but hundreds of live RATM VHS recordings. What came out of that room 10-20 years later was me. I am one of those kids. And I am better for it.
I grew up in white suburbia ashamed of my brown skin and feeling like I had no place in this society. Then I read Zack's words, studied every single one of his speeches, and saw the example he set. I found myself, my identity, my fucking voice, because of him and rage.
They taught me how to survive daily acts of racism I've experienced my entire life. They helped me connect with my big brother and recently my sister who finally understands their message. Finite words will never convey what I feel so viscerally.
The trajectory of my life and how I choose to wield it is wholly because of rage. Save me your tired 3 decade old concerns about their intent. Their decision to play Coachella isn't out of touch, it's textbook.
They are hijacking that stage and every phone pointed at them to disseminate a very targeted message directed at the very people who need to hear it, much like how they hijacked the radio and MTV to reach me in my home when I was desperately trying to escape that room.
To say they never changed anything is to say I've amounted to nothing, and I will reject that with infinite fury until I draw my last fucking breath.
It's been 4,480 days since I saw them and 3,017 since the last show. Every morning since I've gotten out of bed wondering if that day would bring the news.
My Gmail has 8 years worth of emails for every new mention of "rage against the machine" uttered online. None contained the news I wanted until this day. I heard a few days ago, but I'll save that story for another time.
Today marks 20 years of Battle of Los Angeles. I am on the steps where they shut down the NY Stock Exchange months later.
It has to start somewhere, it has to start sometime. What better place than here? What better time than now?
hate5six.com/rage5six
#rage5six
It has to start somewhere, it has to start sometime. What better place than here? What better time than now?
hate5six.com/rage5six
#rage5six
