Open Mike Eagle

"Smiling (A Quirky Race Doc)" is a new video by rapper Open Mike Eagle and producer Paul White. And it is one of those releases that will make people call Open Mike Eagle an important rapper and be right. This song is simply about walking around, and the ensuing micro aggressions, full on aggressions, and overall lack of humanity that gets paid to a black man walking down the street. 

Cross the street? Autolock the doors? Clutch the purse? Simply ignore?

Ignorance. It’s an ignorance. The instance of being ignored. Choosing to ignore another person’s basic humanity because you never bothered to leave the cul de sac. And OME is such a fucking awesome person. It’s so painful to see someone you know is a really good dad and family man, who is college-educated and kind, talented, funny, and who biggest threat to society is that he loves professional wrestling for some reason, it’s painful to see someone have to go through that. And, unless you’re a real shitface, realizing that it’s happening to most of the people you know in some way. 

There’s a scene in “Master of None” where Aziz Ansari and his friends leave a bar and walk home. The show follows the two men as they romp and frolic down a carefree city street at night. The show also follows their female friend as she proceeds to live out a suspense-engorged nightmare. It was eye-openingly well done. 

This is the rap equivalent. 

There are no more excuses.