Article by Maximus Lang
2023 has been a year of optimism–since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, the US has experienced an economic upturn. Yet systemic problems still exist within our society, particularly among lower-class African American males. Racism, poverty, and disparities in education have created an environment that places undue stress on this demographic, causing them to resort to unhealthy means of dealing with their condition. Mick Jenkins, in his video “Smoke Break Dance,” conveys that these coping mechanisms, as well as other behaviors among lower-class African American men, are a result of their environment. Several rhetorical devices are utilized to convey this message, namely pathos, ethos, contrast, and frequency.
Through pathos, which is the application of emotion appeal in order to persuade, the artist conveys the emotional strain of environment and circumstances on black males. Stress and anxiety are communicated through the lyrics. Lines such as “No feet going up,” “I ain’t been to sleep in ‘bout a week,” and “Try to find a little peace, but the mystery to me is unsolved” imply that the artists have found no rest or reprieve. However, there is one method of respite that is frequently mentioned—smoking. This is best exemplified through the line, “But through all the stress and madness, a n**** keep rolling up.” Visual cues in the video reflect these sentiments. There are several scenes of men with anguished expressions and multiple instances of anger leading to physical conflict. One of these men seems to be preparing for combat while the other appears to be drinking his troubles away, but to little avail. Mick Jenkins, however, in sharp contrast to the others mentioned, seems calm and indifferent. His constant smoking in the video allows him to maintain composure even while his surroundings are–quite literally–up in flames. The environment of poverty stemming from systemic inequality has created circumstances that adversely affect young black men, leading to higher levels of stress, and increased predispositions toward violence. Unfortunately, the most readily available modes of reprieve are drugs and alcohol, which run rampant among lower-class communities.
Jenkins was not the only one displaying so little emotion. Children are seen frequently in the video, often in schools, and always watching. Some are seen practicing the violence that they have observed in fighting each other, surrounded by an indifferent audience of their peers. This may imply that the detrimental behaviors present in previous generations have been learned and are being practiced by the younger generations, creating a cycle of self-destruction within the community. Additionally, school systems are doing little to help edify boys and young men, preventing them from rising above their circumstances. Instead, most are, as JID states in the second verse, “guided by the guns, guided by the streets,” or guided by violence and the prevalent culture.
The lack of emotion present in most of the characters in this video is linked to a quote present in the video by the author and philosopher bell hooks:
The first act of violence that patriarchy demands of males is not violence toward women. Instead patriarchy demands of all males that they engage in acts of psychic self-mutilation, that they kill off the emotional parts of themselves. If an individual is not successful in emotionally crippling himself, he can count on patriarchal men to enact rituals of power that will assault his self-esteem. (hooks 66)
The presence of this quote applies the rhetorical device ethos (persuasion through credentials of writers or works cited) to this essay, as its author is a distinguished professor and author known for exploring the topics of race, wealth, and class. It also explains the main theme of the video—the vicious cycle that perpetuates misconceptions among young black men about their emotions and mental health.
Another frequent element within the video is cellphones. Cellphones are seen being used to record acts of violence and harmful bravado, and to mindlessly peruse social media. In this context, the cellphone serves as a distraction and a separation from the realities of many black men’s current condition. Social media often displays an idealized perspective of the world quite distant from many’s current situations. And viewing acts of self-harm or violence through the camera lens serves to distance them from it, thus providing a small escape from reality.
In conclusion, many of the negative behaviors present among African American men in lower-class communities are a result of systemic issues stemming from racism and classism spanning back generations. In order to reduce violence and drug and alcohol abuse, these issues must be addressed and eliminated. In the meantime, measures must be taken to provide healthier means of respite that build men individually and as a community. School systems in these areas must also be addressed to prevent the same cycle of self-destruction from repeating with the next generation. It is the responsibility of this generation to break these patterns and create a new trend of positive development for young black men.
Works Cited
Jenkins, Mick. “Mick Jenkins – Smoke Break-Dance (Feat. JID, Prod. By Stoic) [Official Music Video].” YouTube, 7 Jul. 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgKL0eJXm88.
hooks, bell. The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love. Simon & Schuster, 2004.
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