BREAKING RACE BARRIER IN THE ROCK & METAL GENRES

[Cristos Templars]

I come to you all to talk about an problematic issue that has existed for a very long time; almost to the creation of heavy metal. I would like to discuss to you all about the racial barrier in both the Rock and Heavy Metal genre. I am a big metal fan and have always bee since I was little. But it was tough for me to listen to metal and express my true beliefs and interests without being judged and laughed at by my family, friends, and others because they believed that I was trying to be white which is absolutely not true. Not everything has to deal with race. If it's okay for a white guy to listen to rap and become a rapper then what is wrong with a black headbanging to Killing In The Name Of by Rage Against The Machine. I just want to know this because I've been to many concerts where some people called me the 'N' word or any other racial slur while I was having a good time, headbanging to some Slipknot, Hatebreed, Bullet For My Valentine, Trivium, or Slayer.

In 1977 in Cleveland, Ohio, the first all African-American heavy metal band named Black Death formed and they are one the most badass bands I've ever listened to. Trust me. Go, look these guys up. And there are a lot black people in bands now such as, Howard from KSE (IM GONNA MISS YOU, BUD. YOU KICK SO MUCH ASS!), Alexis Brown from Straight Line Stitch, Adam Warren from Oceano, and Lajon Witherspoon from Sevendust. I just want to know this. My main mission is to get to the bottom of this because I want to end the racial barrier within my favorite musical genre. So, please. Do not be afraid to express your true opinions. Thank you and I hope that we can get over this in the near future

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIZUvlq-1ic

VERY IMPORTANT ARTICLE: http://www.metal-rules.com/hell/hell_July2001.htm

[Cristos Templars]

REALLY? So, no one has an opinion about this? I would love to hear it.

[Starkiller101]

Heavy metal is aweome!

[Soviet Post Punk]

http://www.terrorizer.com/2013/03/19/wh ... avy-metal/

This looked relevant to what you were discussing.

I've never had any racist experiences at a metal concert, though I am white so I wouldn't expect to have any. All the ones I have been to however haven't had many ethnic minorities present that I remember, though my country's fairly homogenous.

[New Naephak]

I wasn't aware that there were racist problems with the Rock/Metal genres.

[Azrael]

I wasn't aware that there were racist problems with the Rock/Metal genres.

More likely amongst fans at concerts. Beyond that, it's not a noticeable problem. Colloquially people stereotype on what certain people in their minds listen to, but that isn't immediately harmful or worrying.

Also, there is no "race barrier" in rock and metal, not even culturally. I really don't like the title here; it's too misleading.

[North Wiedna]

"Blacks" tend not to listen to metal because their cultural music is hip hop and culture is learned.

[Junkyland]

Also, there is no "race barrier" in rock and metal, not even culturally. I really don't like the title here; it's too misleading.

I agree, I've never noticed a racial barrier within these music genres to much of an extent. Though I don't really have many metal friends, I always thought that both genres, especially rock, had a fair amount of non-whites both listening and playing in bands. Howver, after listening to my brother's music, I think punk might have even more of what you would call a "racial barrier."

[Azrael]

Also, there is no "race barrier" in rock and metal, not even culturally. I really don't like the title here; it's too misleading.

I agree, I've never noticed a racial barrier within these music genres to much of an extent. Though I don't really have many metal friends, I always thought that both genres, especially rock, had a fair amount of non-whites both listening and playing in bands. Howver, after listening to my brother's music, I think punk might have even more of what you would call a "racial barrier."

Punk has many ideologies, many of which are sympathetic to minority groups and promotion of equality and freedom (anarcho-punk and riot grrrl, for example); however, there are others that are not (like neo-nazi punk).

The punk scene overall does not a have any sort of race barrier (it was predominately a white subculture, but it wasn't really exclusive to whites, and bands like Los Crudos helped pave the way for it to be more integrated), it's just some of the subsects within in that do, similar to how there isn't one in metal overall but there are in scenes like NSBM.

[Cetacea]

Also, there is no "race barrier" in rock and metal, not even culturally. I really don't like the title here; it's too misleading.

I agree, I've never noticed a racial barrier within these music genres to much of an extent. Though I don't really have many metal friends, I always thought that both genres, especially rock, had a fair amount of non-whites both listening and playing in bands. Howver, after listening to my brother's music, I think punk might have even more of what you would call a "racial barrier."

I have. During my university days (a while ago now) I remember going to a few folk rock gatherings and meeting predominantly white students who consistently assumed that I listened to rap. I did listen to Public Enemy and at the time was mainly listening to New Wave (Elvis Costello fan) but my tastes are very eclectic running from Motown (Smokey Robinson fan) to Ska to synthpop to reggae to glam metal to zydeco to funk.

I think things have improved but their is still a degree of racism in assumptions about what music one ought to like because them happen to be from 'ethnicity X'

[Junkyland]

The punk scene overall does not a have any sort of race barrier (it was predominately a white subculture, but it wasn't really exclusive to whites, and bands like Los Crudos helped pave the way for it to be more integrated), it's just some of the subsects within in that do, similar to how there isn't one in metal overall but there are in scenes like NSBM.

That's exactly what I'm talking about, actually. I said that punk as a genre would be likely to suffer from this more so than metal. I never said it had any type of extreme be any means.

EDIT: That's off topic, though. I apologize.

[Yankee Empire]

I wasn't aware that there were racist problems with the Rock/Metal genres.

More likely amongst fans at concerts. Beyond that, it's not a noticeable problem. Colloquially people stereotype on what certain people in their minds listen to, but that isn't immediately harmful or worrying.

Also, there is no "race barrier" in rock and metal, not even culturally. I really don't like the title here; it's too misleading.

Also why is a metal head getting riled because some punk called him nigger?

Just beat the guys head open then!

[New haven america]

I wasn't aware that there were racist problems with the Rock/Metal genres.

I wasn't either.

[Azrael]

The punk scene overall does not a have any sort of race barrier (it was predominately a white subculture, but it wasn't really exclusive to whites, and bands like Los Crudos helped pave the way for it to be more integrated), it's just some of the subsects within in that do, similar to how there isn't one in metal overall but there are in scenes like NSBM.

That's exactly what I'm talking about, actually. I said that punk as a genre would be likely to suffer from this more so than metal. I never said it had any type of extreme be any means.

EDIT: That's off topic, though. I apologize.

That's actually kinda what I thought you were saying, and that was my response. And isn't that much off topic, either.

[Greater Okinawa Republic]

I agree, I've never noticed a racial barrier within these music genres to much of an extent. Though I don't really have many metal friends, I always thought that both genres, especially rock, had a fair amount of non-whites both listening and playing in bands. Howver, after listening to my brother's music, I think punk might have even more of what you would call a "racial barrier."

Punk has many ideologies, many of which are sympathetic to minority groups and promotion of equality and freedom (anarcho-punk and riot grrrl, for example); however, there are others that are not (like neo-nazi punk).

The punk scene overall does not a have any sort of race barrier (it was predominately a white subculture, but it wasn't really exclusive to whites, and bands like Los Crudos helped pave the way for it to be more integrated), it's just some of the subsects within in that do, similar to how there isn't one in metal overall but there are in scenes like NSBM.

Bad Brains were a black punk band too, weren't they?

[Azrael]

Bad Brains were a black punk band too, weren't they?

Yes; forgot about them

[North Wiedna]

Bad Brains were a black punk band too, weren't they?

Yes; forgot about them :blush:

They're only like THE MOST IMPORTANT god

[Azrael]

Yes; forgot about them

They're only like THE MOST IMPORTANT god

I don't listen to much older punk sorry (((

[Cetacea]

They're only like THE MOST IMPORTANT god

I don't listen to much older punk sorry (((

lmao

[Soviet Post Punk]

Also why is a metal head getting riled because some punk called him nigger?

Just beat the guys head open then!

look

not everyone has stupid opinions like you

so just try and accommodate people okay?

and don't telegram me saying "hurrr why should i"

[Azrael]

I don't listen to much older punk sorry (((

lmao

Wow man just leave me alone

Rude

[Greater Okinawa Republic]

lmao

Wow man just leave me alone

Rude

It's fine. You may just like different kinds of music. They just wanted you to recognize that influential band in the black punk spectrum.

[Yankee Empire]

Also why is a metal head getting riled because some punk called him nigger?

Just beat the guys head open then!

look

not everyone has stupid opinions like you

so just try and accommodate people okay?

and don't telegram me saying "hurrr why should i"

What?
What the fuck are you even talking about?

[Nazi Flower Power]

REALLY? So, no one has an opinion about this? I would love to hear it.

I'm sorry people were racist to you when you when you just wanted to indulge your love of metal. People should be able to listen to whatever music they enjoy without being put down.

I think it's good for people to embrace their individuality and not feel like they have to fit themselves into some stereotyped mold.

[Trotskylvania]

I find it absolutely scandalous that there is a thread about racial minorities in metal, and no mention of Living Colour yet.