AndreFelder

ProfessorSipin
English110C
3/15/15

BeFree
JermaineColeknownasJ.Coleisknownforhiscreativerapflowandabilitytotellstories
throughhismusic.J.ColeperformedontheDavidLettermanShowonthe10thofDecemberin
2014duringhisalbumcampaign.Hesangthesong
BeFree
whichwasoutoftheordinary
beingthathewastellinghowblacksshoulduniteandfightforourselves,whichwassuccessful
becauseitmadetheaudiencefeelthattheyweren'talone.

TherhetoricalsituationofJ.Colesperformanceshowshismessagewaspersuasive.The
messageofthisperformancewastoshowhownooneoranythingcanbreakhissoulortellhim
whoheis.Colewantsallofhispeopletofeelthisway.Colesaysallwewannadoisbefree
meaningbreakingawayfromAmericassystem(Cole).Colewantshisaudiencetofeelwhatitis
liketowalkinhisshoes,andtellsthemhowitfeels.InthesongColesayseverytimeIstep
outsideIseemyniggasdie(Cole).Heisreferringnotonlytopoliceandwhitesmurderingour
people,buttoblackskillingourownpeople.J.Colewasanunderratedrapperformuchofhis
careeruntilhisbreakoutalbum
TheSidelineStory
whichdebutedin2011.Colehasbeen
nominatedfor2GrammyAwardsandhaswonBestMixtapeandMostImpactfulSongatthe
BETAwards.ColeiscrediblebecausehewenttoFurgusonduringtheMichaelBrowncaseand
spokewiththepeopleabouthowtheyfelt.Colesaidthisgavehimtheinspirationtorightthe
song
BeFree
.Colehadaverystrongemotionalappealinhisperformance.Colesvoicewas
shakyandyoucouldseetearsbegantoformwhenhewastalkingabouthispeopledying.He
alsorapsabouthowblackpeoplewerehappywhenObamacameintoofficebecausetheyfelt

Felder,1

AndreFelder
ProfessorSipin
English110C
3/15/15

liketheyfinallygotapresidentthatcaredforthem,butwereletdownwhenObamacouldntdo
muchbecauseofthesystem.Colealsotalksabouthowouryoungblackmenskipgettingafree
collegeeducationtogoplayprofessionalsportsandleavecollegenotgettingtheirdegree.The
logos,pathos,andethoswouldnotbeaspowerfulifyoudidn'tknowthecontextandcultureof
thisperformance.

ThecontextofJ.Colesperformanceisfoundedinunitingandstandingourground,shows
howsuccessfulthisperformanceis.Colesaidinaninterviewthathedidntknowthesongwould
besoimpactfulbecauseofthefactthattheaudienceontheLettermanshowwas97%white
(Cole).Coledidnotthinkasongwithsuchcontentofbeingblackwouldresonatewith
uppermiddleclasswhitepeople.OnhiswebsiteColesaidthathewastiredofbeing
desensitizedtothemurderofblackmen(Cole).Colefeltlikethekillingofblackmenweren't
beingtakingseriouslikeitshouldbeandhefeelslikesocietyistryingtomakeitnormal.Cole
wrotethisinthetimewhereblackswererallyingtogetherbecauseoftheMikeBrowncase
whichiswherehegetshispainandangerfrominthesong.Thiscomingtogetherandfighting
forwhatisrightgoesbacktothecivilrightsera.TheBlackPantherspartyfirststatementwas
Wewantfreedom.WewantpowertodeterminethedestinyofourBlackandoppressed
communities(BlackPantherParty)Wewereoppressedbackthenandalothasgotbetterfor
blackbutwestillarentwhereweneedtobe.StacyBrownsaidthatthemostsignificantcases
of2014werethoseintheareaofpolicebrutality(Brown).Manyblacksstayawayfrom
policemenbecausetheyfeartheirlivescanbetakenanditwouldbejustified.Inthelastyear

Felder,2

AndreFelder
ProfessorSipin
English110C
3/15/15

therewerenumerousinstanceswhereacopkilledaninnocentblackperson,andColesaysthat
hewantstobefreefromthis(Cole).

J.ColePerformaceontheLettermanShowwassuccessfulintheactoftellingthestoryofhow
hewon'tstandaroundandletthesethingshappentoourpeople,heisgoingtotakeactionaswe
allshould.Coleistryingtoinfluencenotjustblackpeoplebuteveryonetostandupto
oppression.Inthissongcoleasksareweallalone,fightingonourowntoshowthathefeels
hispeoplearelefttofendforourselvesbeingthatthepoliceandgovernmenthavenotprotected
us(Cole).ColealsorapsIwillstandmyground,don'tjuststandaroundtellinghisaudienceto
stepup,anddosomethingtohelptheproblem(Cole).Inallthisperformancemovedme,Cole
hadthehearttogoinfrontofasupermajoritywhiteaudienceandtalkaboutourblackproblems,
healsochallengedthemtomakeachangeinoursociety.

J.Colerhetoricalsituationmixedwiththecontextandcultureproducedapowerful
performance.Hesangasongabouthispeoplesufferingfrompolicebrutality,government
oppression,andpeopleunitingtofightforwhatisright.Hisworkwassuccessfulinmakingme
feellikeIcanmakeachangeinthewaymypeoplelive.

Felder,3

AndreFelder
ProfessorSipin
English110C
3/15/15

WorksCited

Brown,Stacy."PoliceBrutalityTop2014LegalCases."
TheWashingtonInformer
7Jan.2015.

Web.15Mar.2015.

BlackPantherParty,132TheJournalofAmericanCultureVolume37,Number2June2014

Grow,Kory."J.ColeMournsMichaelBrowninSomberNewSong'BeFree'"
Rollingstone
15
Aug.2014.Print.

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