Analysis Of 'Blacker The Berry' By Kendrick Lamar

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One of the most powerful forms of protest is through music. A great protest song is one that serves a purpose, provokes the listener, and most importantly; inspires us to make change. “Blacker the Berry” by Kendrick Lamar is a perfect example of a protest song that accomplishes this. The song focuses on modern black social justice and reflects on the consequences and struggles of being an African American in America.

Rap is not usually the first place one would think to find musical protest. However, Kendrick Lamar is known for his influential rap music addressing important world issues. One of his most powerful albums is his most recent one titled “To Pimp a Butterfly”, which speaks directly to Black America. It was nominated for 4 grammys, and for good reason. Aside from being great music, it sheds light on the racism, violence and police …show more content…

Not only does it address these issues, but it seeks to change society for the better. As a whole, the album has become an influence on society and had a major impact on the new civil rights movement currently occurring in the United States.

Although Kendrick has multiple effective protest songs, “Blacker the Berry”, is arguably the most influential of all. It is a political statement, and it specifically focuses on police brutality and the emotional turmoil that comes with being an African American. It’s aggressive and unapologetic, but effective because it makes us see this topic from a different angle. In the song, Kendrick repeatedly sings “the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice”. This line is meant to portray the beauty of being an African American, and he is conveying that one should be proud of their colour