Analysis: Eminem And The Cultural Politics Of Authenticity

In Gilbert B. Rodman Race … and Other Four Letter Words: Eminem and the Cultural Politics of Authenticity he argues that much of the public moral outcry that relates to rapper Eminem is a part of largely unspoken questions that relate to race, identity, authenticity, and his performance. For starters to dismiss Eminem as a white rapper and place him in the category of just a rapper would be the idea that the individual does not see race or ethnicity at all. The term is colorblind. Colorblindness is a radical idea that advises the best way to end discrimination and racism is by treating individuals as equally as possible while disregarding someone else’s race, culture or ethnicity. As described in the reading The End of Racism by Eduardo Bonilla Silva and Austin Ashe they

That belief is invalid. So when Einem steps into the rap scene, which was created and intended for black listeners, in the early 2000s and he becomes an instant phenomenon it has everything to look at race. Rhetoric such as “I don’t see race in rap music,” or “I don't care what color Eminem is he is just a rapper to me” all have to underline color blindness tone. Rap was a musical genre that was extremely popular in low-income communities where the majority of blacks and Hispanics lived. When rap hit mainstream and started moving towards the suburbs and higher income neighborhoods where the majority of white people lived than the genre became problematic. Race plays a huge role because white people were said to be oblivious to the musical genre but it was only after their white kids started listening to it then it became an issue. Eminem being white and appealing to the white population was big. Much bigger than Vanilla Ice’s attempt. Eminem also didn't help his cause because his lyrics are homophobic, promote domestic violence while referring to women in derogatory