The core problem for humans, according to Marxism, is economic inequality and oppression. It requires an “us against them” mentality that identifies one group as evil and in need of extermination. 2 Inherent in Marxist philosophy is violent conflict. In Marxist thought, there are the exploited and the exploiters, and it is the responsibility of the exploited to overthrow the exploiters at whatever cost.
Karl Marx, in The Communist Manifesto, explicitly identifies the solution to societal oppression and injustice as the working-class rising up in bloody revolution against the ruling-class. Marxism and communism can seem non-threatening and as if they have the good of all people in mind, but in actuality, “Marxism requires a radical remaking of society” 1. Despite having failed spectacularly in the twentieth century in places like Russia and China, Marxism is alive and well in universities and progressive political activism in the United States.
Cole’s critics are operating out of a neo-Marxist philosophy that assumes that the basic problem with society (and therefore the root cause of things like racism) is within the system itself, not within individuals. The Problem with Society According to Marxism We need salvation not just from a broken system, but from pride and sin-from our very selves. If we want to heal the wounds within society, we need to heal the individuals within society. In “Pride is the Devil” (stylized as “pride.is.the.devil”), Cole suggests that the problems in society are not just a result of corrupt systems they are also the result of corrupt people, what Christians would call “indwelling sin.” The implication of “pride.is.the.devil” is that if people are broken, we cannot fix society just by targeting the broken system.
Rather than embarking on a social justice crusade or calling for the overthrow of political powers (which is what a Marxist worldview says is the answer to societal ills), Cole cites personal vice as the root of society’s problems. While Cole still acknowledges that there are problems of racism and social injustice-and has assumedly been trying to “educate himself”-his critics will see the same problems they condemned in “Snow on Tha Bluff” in his recent album, The Off-Season.
It seems that the problem is that Cole just doesn’t “get it,” and is therefore not strongly against the social institutions that perpetuate injustice. Cole’s request for his critics to educate him has been called both misogynistic and racist. In “Snow on Tha Bluff” he reproaches his critics for their “holier than thou” attitude, but also asks them to educate him further on social issues, explaining that “These shackles be lockin’ the mental way more than the physical.” Cole agrees with his critics that racism is an issue, but he has not actively participated in the aggressive political and ideological advances of social activists because he does not see himself as a leader or as well-educated on the issues. Cole’s problem, according to his critics (primarily fellow rapper, Noname) and according to the lyrics of his “Snow on Tha Bluff,” is that he is “not woke.” As a black celebrity, Cole has not used his platform to decry racism and systemic injustice to the taste of progressive political activists.Ĭole’s stance on political issues and political activism is complex. Cole boasts a successful career spanning over a decade that has made him “ one of the most influential rappers of his generation.” In the summer of 2020, Cole received criticism for not responding publicly to the killing of George Floyd, then received further backlash when he released the single “Snow on Tha Bluff” in response to criticism of his public silence. 36-year-old rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer J.
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