King
The black man is always targeted.
This was inspired by the intense reaction to Russel’s new “Dangerwich” campaign with Subway
Russell represents the liberal aspirations of black men. He’s a world famous football player who beat the odds make it to the league and became a future HOF’er. Not only that but he managed to recreate a perfect nuclear family with a famous R&B singer, despite his early struggles with divorce. In addition he’s been able to maintain a “John Everyman” suburban archetype without having to resort to popular stereotypical depictions of black men.
Yet he is almost universally disliked and viewed as “corny” by both black and non-black America. Is it that such a clean-cut black man makes people on both sides uncomfortable because it challenges pre-conceived notions? Or is it deeper than that?
Contrast this to Future who is a bit of an enigmatic figure, the contrasting depiction of black masculinity. A character built on a soulless, almost psychopathic buck who copes with his lack of meaning through casual sex and drug use. He had a rocky start as a rap artist, somehow finding a cult following on twitter focused on his drug-laden, sex fueled lyrics.
Unlike Russell he has no family, his lyrics depict a character wherein there are no personal connections beyond meaningless ones spurred by sex and/or drugs. For lack of better words, he is the stereotypical depiction of black men’s “criminality”, sexuality, and pain.
Yet Future is almost universally liked, or rather viewed in an esteemed lens compared to Russell. Where Russell should be the American hero, Future is the anti-hero.
In my view, Future is liked because he is the comfortable stereotype more aligned with the nihilistic view of the realities black men face in America. Whereas Russell, despite his imperfections, is too perfect and a reminder of the fleeting aspirations of wealth and family.
It’s a very interesting dichotomy in pop culture. Of course it’s not as cut and dry as it appears. Future has claimed to not even use hard drugs and Russell himself has never claimed to be a saint.
Interesting how these things play out
Russell represents the liberal aspirations of black men. He’s a world famous football player who beat the odds make it to the league and became a future HOF’er. Not only that but he managed to recreate a perfect nuclear family with a famous R&B singer, despite his early struggles with divorce. In addition he’s been able to maintain a “John Everyman” suburban archetype without having to resort to popular stereotypical depictions of black men.
Yet he is almost universally disliked and viewed as “corny” by both black and non-black America. Is it that such a clean-cut black man makes people on both sides uncomfortable because it challenges pre-conceived notions? Or is it deeper than that?
Contrast this to Future who is a bit of an enigmatic figure, the contrasting depiction of black masculinity. A character built on a soulless, almost psychopathic buck who copes with his lack of meaning through casual sex and drug use. He had a rocky start as a rap artist, somehow finding a cult following on twitter focused on his drug-laden, sex fueled lyrics.
Unlike Russell he has no family, his lyrics depict a character wherein there are no personal connections beyond meaningless ones spurred by sex and/or drugs. For lack of better words, he is the stereotypical depiction of black men’s “criminality”, sexuality, and pain.
Yet Future is almost universally liked, or rather viewed in an esteemed lens compared to Russell. Where Russell should be the American hero, Future is the anti-hero.
In my view, Future is liked because he is the comfortable stereotype more aligned with the nihilistic view of the realities black men face in America. Whereas Russell, despite his imperfections, is too perfect and a reminder of the fleeting aspirations of wealth and family.
It’s a very interesting dichotomy in pop culture. Of course it’s not as cut and dry as it appears. Future has claimed to not even use hard drugs and Russell himself has never claimed to be a saint.
Interesting how these things play out
