'White Minority' by Black Flag

[Black Dagger]

I was talking a friend of mine who is really into Punk music, and this song came up in our discussion. I hadn't heard of it before so i checked the lyrics (these are the right lyrics yeah?)- and they make no sense to me! I can't for the life of me figure out what the writer is trying to convey in the lyrics, racism/anti-racism? Maybe it's just not a very well written song :P

Some help would be appreciated :D


White Minority

We’re gonna be a white minority
We won’t listen to the majority
We’re gonna feel inferiority
We’re gonna be white minority

White pride
You’re an american
I’m gonna hide
Anywhere I can

Gonna be a white minority
We don’t believe there’s a possibility
Well you just wait and see
We’re gonna be white minority

White pride
You’re an american
White pride
Anywhere I can?

Gonna be a white minority
There’s gonna be large cavity
Within my new territory
We’re all gonna die

[Intifada]

It seems racist to me.

I think it is referring to the effect of non-white immigrants on the "white race".

[Ian]

This was written before Rollins was a member

[timbaly]

It seems like it's reffering to the increase in non-white immigrants in the United states. In the future whites will no longer be the majority and it seems like the writer is unghappy because of this, but he sees it as inevitable. He's probabl;y unhappy with the non-whites influence on the country's culture as well.

[Guerrilla22]

Henry Rollins is a liar

[bcbm]

I think its talking about the growth of non-white populations in the US, and how the whites who have practiced a policy of racism will continue to try and hold on to power and racial privilege (We’re gonna be a white minority/ We won’t listen to the majority).

The writer doesn't want to be lumped in with the racist douchebags (I’m gonna hide/ Anywhere I can). They refuse to accept the reality, while he acknowledges it (We don’t believe there’s a possibility/ Well you just wait and see) and realizes that if whites don't wake up and fight against racism and privilege, they'll have to deal with the consequences (We’re all gonna die).

[Ian]

Originally posted by [email protected] 28 2006, 09:48 AM
Henry Rollins is a liar
I think it was 4 years before rollins joined, and the writer of the song had left.

[KC]

I think it's more about how communities all over the US (i think this might even be specifically about LA) are no longer homogenously white, and that eventually, all the racism that the white majority has shown towards the minorities is gonna come back and haunt them when THEY'RE the minority. I don't think it's so much a "what if...." scenario as much as it is a prophetic warning about what's gonna happen because of racism. I mean, look at any country or community where one group initially mistreated other groups, but eventually lost their power. What happened to them? Most of the time, they got paid back for the shit they'd pulled earlier.

From songmeanings.net

[FULL METAL JACKET]

Originally posted by [email protected] 28 2006, 01:02 AM

I think it's more about how communities all over the US (i think this might even be specifically about LA) are no longer homogenously white, and that eventually, all the racism that the white majority has shown towards the minorities is gonna come back and haunt them when THEY'RE the minority. I don't think it's so much a "what if...." scenario as much as it is a prophetic warning about what's gonna happen because of racism. I mean, look at any country or community where one group initially mistreated other groups, but eventually lost their power. What happened to them? Most of the time, they got paid back for the shit they'd pulled earlier.

From songmeanings.net
Black banner you are pathetic. Please go kill youself now

[Eoin Dubh]

I think the guy singing was Mexican or someone in the band at the time was.
I heard some contradiction about it anyway.
It is like the 'Guns and Roses' song " One in a million", which is a very racist song, but the guitar player who is part black didn't seem to find it problematic for some reason. :blink:
Or the very latino Tom Araya of 'Slayer' tolerating that nazi creep in the band.
And even Ian Mackay of 'Fugazi' had a tune in his former band ,'Minor threat', titled "Guilty of being White".

[Eoin Dubh]

Originally posted by FULL METAL JACKET+Feb 28 2006, 06:13 AM--> (FULL METAL JACKET @ Feb 28 2006, 06:13 AM)
[email protected] 28 2006, 01:02 AM

I think it's more about how communities all over the US (i think this might even be specifically about LA) are no longer homogenously white, and that eventually, all the racism that the white majority has shown towards the minorities is gonna come back and haunt them when THEY'RE the minority. I don't think it's so much a "what if...." scenario as much as it is a prophetic warning about what's gonna happen because of racism. I mean, look at any country or community where one group initially mistreated other groups, but eventually lost their power. What happened to them? Most of the time, they got paid back for the shit they'd pulled earlier.

From songmeanings.net
Black banner you are pathetic. Please go kill youself now [/b]
Where is that original quote?

[Gunman]

Originally posted by Eoin [email protected] 28 2006, 08:08 AM
Or the very latino Tom Araya of 'Slayer' tolerating that nazi creep in the band.

Slayer aren´t Nazis. They may be appreciated by several Nazis for their song "Angel of Death" and others related to the Nazi Regime but they´ve stated hundreds of times that they aren´t Nazis or Racists for that matter.

[Abood]

To me it seems that the song is racist and saying that the whites are gonna be a minority 'cause of all the non-white people. But he also says that it's inevitable.

That's my 300th post!!! :lol: :D :P :) :D :lol:

[The Grey Blur]

Originally posted by Eoin [email protected] 28 2006, 08:08 AM
"Guilty of being White".
Brilliant song, totally un-racist - have you even heard it? :huh:

I'm sorry
For something I didn't do
Lynched somebody
But I don't know who
You blame me
For slavery
A hundred years before I was born

Guilty of being white

I'm sorry
For something I didn't do
Lynched somebody
But I don't know who
You blame me
For slavery
A hundred years before I was born

Guilty of being white

I'm a convict (GULTY!)
Of a racist crime (GUILTY!)
I've only served (GULTY!)
19 years of my time

I'm sorry
For something I didn't do
Lynched somebody
But I don't know who
You blame me
For slavery
A hundred years before I was born

Guilty of being white


Slayer aren´t Nazis. They may be appreciated by several Nazis for their song "Angel of Death" and others related to the Nazi Regime but they´ve stated hundreds of times that they aren´t Nazis or Racists for that matter.
They aren't Nazis, that's true and they make class thrash but I've always had my doubts, they seem to be on that sort of right-wing bandwagon of "we're threatened by blacks" - as evidenced by when they covered the above song they changed the final lyric to 'Guilty of being right'. As you'd expect Ian Mackaye was ready to beat the shit out of them :lol:

[Eoin Dubh]

Originally posted by Rage Against The Machine+Feb 28 2006, 03:25 PM--> (Rage Against The Machine @ Feb 28 2006, 03:25 PM)
Eoin [email protected] 28 2006, 08:08 AM
"Guilty of being White".
Brilliant song, totally un-racist - have you even heard it? :huh:



[/b]
Yes, rage, I actually first heard it 3 years before you were born.... :D :lol: ;)
My point is that , Ian is hypersensitive in a PC fashion, so I was rather taken aback at that song as it smacks of grumpy attitude. Thats how I interpreted it anyway.



Slayer aren´t Nazis. They may be appreciated by several Nazis for their song "Angel of Death" and others related to the Nazi Regime but they´ve stated hundreds of times that they aren´t Nazis or Racists for that matter.
Yeah Slayer can say all that, but I have an old metal Head magazine from 1988 and that Aryan jerk guitar player is posing in front of a Nazi battle flag, and he was wearing an Iron cross.
Maybe he just thought swastikas are cool. :rolleyes:

Hmm this shirt is rather suspect too, no?

http://blog.rabbitlab.com/images/7.jpg

[bcbm]

Originally posted by FULL METAL JACKET+Feb 28 2006, 12:13 AM--> (FULL METAL JACKET @ Feb 28 2006, 12:13 AM)
[email protected] 28 2006, 01:02 AM

I think it's more about how communities all over the US (i think this might even be specifically about LA) are no longer homogenously white, and that eventually, all the racism that the white majority has shown towards the minorities is gonna come back and haunt them when THEY'RE the minority. I don't think it's so much a "what if...." scenario as much as it is a prophetic warning about what's gonna happen because of racism. I mean, look at any country or community where one group initially mistreated other groups, but eventually lost their power. What happened to them? Most of the time, they got paid back for the shit they'd pulled earlier.

From songmeanings.net
Black banner you are pathetic. Please go kill youself now [/b]
What?

[symtoms_of_humanity]

I think the song is about being a minority among whites even if you are white, becuase the youth that were into the hardcore scene felt very alienated from the rest of thier peers, and I think thats what it is about.


As for Slayer being Nazi's no they aren't Nazi's them selves, nazis attend the shows, but its not like the band can bar them from entering. As for Ian kicking mckaye kicking their ass, I don't think that would ever ever happen, he would get a serious beatdown.

[Commie Rat]

Would still be funny to see.

[The Grey Blur]

Yes, rage, I actually first heard it 3 years before you were born.... :D :lol: ;)
Oops :lol:


As for Ian kicking mckaye kicking their ass, I don't think that would ever ever happen, he would get a serious beatdown
Ian used to sing from inside the pit, Slayer work from a stage = Ian McKaye beats the shit out of Slayer

[Ian]

Ian Mackaye is hard as nails, I mean back in the day Minor Threat shows were crazy. Slayer, like all metalheads, I suspect of being nerds hiding their nerd insecurities under a layer of machismo, metalheads aren't tough.

[More Fire for the People]

The song refers to whites who reject white nationalism and American hegemony. Thus, the members of Black Flag are a ‘white minority’ seeing as the disagree with the majority of whites in America.

[C_Rasmussen]

Originally posted by [email protected] 3 2006, 06:04 PM
Ian Mackaye is hard as nails, I mean back in the day Minor Threat shows were crazy. Slayer, like all metalheads, I suspect of being nerds hiding their nerd insecurities under a layer of machismo, metalheads aren't tough.
How do you figure? Is it just because some punk rocker worked from the pit unlike Slayer who worked from a stage? Keep in mind that Slayer has a big fucking fanbase as compared to some underground punk band.

[Black Dagger]

Thanks for all the response btw, i still don't like the lyrics though, they are much too vague, and thus open to manipulation by racists etc.


As for Slayer being Nazi's no they aren't Nazi's them selves, nazis attend the shows, but its not like the band can bar them from entering.

Yeah they can. Rammstein gets security to kick out the fascists who attend their gigs... particularly in the US.

[KC]

How do you figure? Is it just because some punk rocker worked from the pit unlike Slayer who worked from a stage? Keep in mind that Slayer has a big fucking fanbase as compared to some underground punk band.


What the fuck does this even mean? Slayer's better because they're more popular? Some argument. :rolleyes:

[C_Rasmussen]

Originally posted by [email protected] 5 2006, 01:32 AM


How do you figure? Is it just because some punk rocker worked from the pit unlike Slayer who worked from a stage? Keep in mind that Slayer has a big fucking fanbase as compared to some underground punk band.


What the fuck does this even mean? Slayer's better because they're more popular? Some argument. :rolleyes:
Think about this for a moment: Strength in numbers.

[celtopunk]

Originally posted by C_Rasmussen+Mar 4 2006, 12:51 AM--> (C_Rasmussen @ Mar 4 2006, 12:51 AM)
[email protected] 3 2006, 06:04 PM
Ian Mackaye is hard as nails, I mean back in the day Minor Threat shows were crazy. Slayer, like all metalheads, I suspect of being nerds hiding their nerd insecurities under a layer of machismo, metalheads aren't tough.
How do you figure? Is it just because some punk rocker worked from the pit unlike Slayer who worked from a stage? Keep in mind that Slayer has a big fucking fanbase as compared to some underground punk band. [/b]
Some underground punk band? Minor Threat and Fugazi actually have had quite a large following especially when you consider that they did it without the help of major label millions. And yes a band CAN prevent obvious nazis from attending their shows. I know the Dropkick Murphys had it in their contract rider that the venue not allow nazis into their shows and I know for a fact that some were bounced from a show that a friend of mine attended.

[The Grey Blur]

Okay this thread is brilliant now, instead of Nazis we're talking about who would win in a fight, Minor Threat or Slayer.

Anyway, there was obviously only one way to solve this debate...Google Fight!