Over the past couple years I’ve heard a lot of rationalizing discussion about violence conducted my members of urban populations. Although dialogue of this nature is wide-ranging, there are generally two major stances regarding the issue.
One group claims that predominately non-white and relatively youthful individuals are responsible for elevated crime rates in places such as Baltimore, Detroit, New Orleans, Atlanta, Chicago, and other urban areas. Generally, the violence is attributed to black males.
Yet, a separate group proposes that discussion of this matter is inherently racist and overall harmful, because the topic stigmatizes disenfranchised, marginalized, and oppressed people. Typically, obfuscation of the initial claim results in ad hominem attacks for those who remain critical of causative hypotheses related to observable violence.
Personally, I maintain that in the interest of dialetheism, two opposing things can be true at once. As such, it serves as a true contradiction to propose that relatively youthful black males are often responsible for spikes in violence regarding urban populations, while also concluding that knowledge of this sort may stigmatize this particular cohort.
However, I disagree that dialogue relating to this matter is bigoted or injurious. Logically and reasonably speaking, the infusion of irrational beliefs regarding observable critiques and use of name-calling isn’t an argumentation tactic I support. To better understand what I mean, consider the following syllogism:
Form –
If p, then q; if q, then r; therefore, if p, then r.
Example –
If people discuss how youthful black males are responsible for heightened levels of violence, then black people will be stigmatized to a degree by which others may oppress them when unhelpfully overgeneralizing.
If black people will be stigmatized to a degree by which others may oppress them when unhelpfully overgeneralizing, then the people who discuss black crime statistics are racists.
Therefore, if people discuss how youthful black males are responsible for heightened levels of violence, then the people who discuss black crime statistics are racists.
Viewing this matter through the lens of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I understand the function of irrational beliefs inherent with low frustration tolerance (e.g., I can’t stand black people) and global evaluations (e.g., All black people are innately violent).
According to one source, “two categories of irrational beliefs (frustration intolerance and global evaluation of human worth) is more responsible for the manifestation of externalizing behaviors,” and, “frustration intolerance beliefs specifically predict unruly and disruptive behavior, and global evaluation of human worth specifically explained conduct disorder.”
Although the aforementioned source examined preadolescent behavior, one imagines that low frustration tolerance (LFT) and global evaluation of human worth (GEHW) may impact behavior for people across the developmental lifespan. Therefore, I dispute irrational beliefs of this sort when evaluating the current topic.
Is it rational to conclude that not a single inner-city black individual of relative youthfulness is capable of committing acts of violence? Is it reasonable to demand that people shouldn’t, mustn’t, or oughtn’t to discuss the issue of elevated criminal statistics in this regard?
I’m ill-prepared to address the matter of causal links between youthful black males and violence herein. Nevertheless, I offer one case study that challenges the notion that discussion of this matter isn’t worthwhile – albeit a concocted notion for the sake of this blogpost, so I’m open to criticism concerning an apparent straw man fallacy pertaining to this issue.
When working out earlier this morning, I listened to “All We Do Is Drill” by the late Chicago drill rapper King Von, who reportedly died as a result of gun violence. For those unfamiliar with the drill subgenre, one source clarifies:
Drill is a subgenre of hip hop music that originated in Chicago in the early 2010s. It is sonically similar to the trap music subgenre and lyrically similar to the gangsta rap subgenre. Early drill artists are noted for their explicit, confrontational style of lyricism and association with crime in Chicago, especially the Black Disciples and Gangster Disciples.
As is the case with United States (US) musical trends, drill rap has caught on in places such as the United Kingdom (UK). Regarding a clarified meaning of “drill,” and expanding upon this exported term, one source states that drill can be used as a verb:
To murder or otherwise severely injure someone; slang associated with gang violence. Can be used as a verb as a well as a noun. In an American context, it usually refers to someone getting shot. In a UK context it usually refers to someone getting stabbed or even the occasional gang-related acid attack, but it can mean getting shot as well.
Keeping the context within the realm of US influence, King Von’s “All We Do Is Drill” contains the following lyrics:
Get Back Gang, I’m with my squad
Don’t compare, y’all not like us (Nah, nah)
How many shots? Like fifty-two (What?)
Like I got a deck of cards (Boom, boom)
Chiraq, bitch, we trained to go (Trained to go)
Cock back, up and aim, and blow (Aim and blow)
Headshot made him lose his mind (What?)
Now that boy insane for sure (Damn, damn)
Gun too big, can’t be concealed
High speed, Boss Top got the wheel (Skrrt, skrrt)
Magic trick once it’s revealed (Huh? What?)
Makin’ niggas disappear (Disappear)
Yeah, I’m known to be a nuisance (Yeah)
He ain’t doin’ no hits, he useless (Nah, nah)
One may surmise that King Von lived and died by his reputation at the age of 26. He ostensibly bragged about drilling people and apparently wound up being drilled.
Do my remarks about this seemingly obvious example of drill and violence relate to racism? No. Is my observation a source of harm to black people on mass? No.
Is it likely that I’ve used irrational LFT and GEHW related to a pragmatic case of violence begetting violence herein? No.
Rather, I’ve provided a single case example that may be applicable to a large number of relatively youthful black males. Noteworthy, I don’t make the claim that all, most, or even the majority of black males aged 15 to 30 are involved in violence.
However, I think that it’s not unreasonable to claim that many within this age range and racial demographic meet the standard of my critique. Admittedly, “many” is a relative term. Still, what number lives is too many when it comes to senseless violence? It all depends on who one asks.
Still, I’m not unaware of the debate regarding whether or not drill music chronicles or exploits violence. Likewise, I’m not here to tell people that they shouldn’t, mustn’t, or oughtn’t to appreciate the drill subgenre.
After all, I’ve already stated herein that I listen to King Von’s music. Therefore, the assessment pertaining to this blogpost centers on the belief concerning critiques by some members of group X regarding behavior exhibited some members of group Y.
I argue that it isn’t racist or harmful to critically examine these matters. And while correlation doesn’t imply causation, I assert that there’s a strong correlation between drill rap and violence. Moving from focus on the US, I now turn towards the UK.
The website UK-Drill contains information about the UK’s drill scene, to include a map indicating territory of various drill collectives. When the map is cross-referenced with London’s gang map, a strong correlation between drill artists and gang activity becomes apparent.
Moreover, one source reports that “one in three London homicides in 2018 was linked to drill music.” A separate source states of these UK artists, “Several drill rappers are identified by the gangs they are affiliated with and the beefs-or longstanding feuds-between these gangs are a main subject of the raps.”
Additionally, one source proclaims, “Many UK drill artists are second or third-generation immigrants from Africa.” Reportedly one in three homicides apparently committed by black UK drill rappers, who are supposedly affiliated with gangs, suggests a strong correlation between the subgenre and violence at the hands of black males.
Highlighting this relationship does not a racist make, nor does my citation of evidence offered herein result in harm. Keep in mind what I stated in a blog entry entitled Drills:
Personally, I enjoy drill when working out, having first become familiar with it when Chief Keef released “Love Sosa” back in 2012. Drill music hypes me more than conscious rap when lifting up heavy things and putting them back down.
Although I appreciate the subgenre, I won’t be guilty of rationalizing in regards to the probable violent tendencies of those who create drill music. Also, herein, I offer no solutions about how to address assaults or homicides correlated with violence and drill.
This is because I don’t have answers to the woes of this world. As such, I use REBT to unconditionally accept others and life as it is, not as I would otherwise propose it ought to be.
Drill music never caused me to make “niggas disappear,” as King Von stated. And for those who take personal responsibility and accountability for their actions, I suspect they, too, will admit that drill hasn’t caused them to perpetrate acts of violence either.
It’s when we take personal ownership in this way that we can stop making paltry excuses for poor behavior. Indeed, this is what I advocate with clients through my practice of REBT.
If you would like to know more about how I accomplish this, I’m here to help. It’s my hope that you reach out before a relatively short existence of only 26 years on this planet pass you by, as was the case for King Von.
If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As the world’s foremost old school hip hop REBT psychotherapist, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
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