Maya's Influence On America
Music has always been a part of us ever since the begging of time. It’s been with us threw the happy, great times and also for the not so happy bad times. We can express ourselves with music by telling a story with in the lyrics and even with the beat showing, telling how we are feeling. It can be a cheerful, carefree, joyful beat, to gloomy, mournful, blue beat, but not everyone has the same taste in music. Music it’s self is unbelievably stunning and so breathtaking.
Music has made an impact in different period in American History from Jim Crow era (even more before) to present day. For my essay, the artist that I have choosing is M.I.A. I picked her because she say’s it like it is, she well speak her mind out and she doesn’t care if other’s dislike it or disagree with her opinion. Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam also known as her stage name M.I.A she was born on July 18, 1975, she isn’t just a rapper/singer and songwriter, she is also a director, visual artist, record producer, photographer, fashion designer, model, and last but not least an activist. She is one busy woman, but what many people might not know is she is refugee to. Yes she is a refugee, she …show more content…
migrated from the Civil War that took place in Sri Lanka.
In an interview for “Pitchfork” she said she tried to leave at least 4 or 5 times on a bus, the bus would stop they would take only the men off the bus and that they never saw them ever again. Maya’s father even fought/involved in the Sri Lanka civil war. The civil was in Sri Lanka was about the Sri Lanka government and the Tigers of Tamil Elam aka the LTTE. The Tigers of Tamil wanted an independent state for the islands Tamil minority. The civil war in Sri Lanka lasted nearly three decades also the longest running civil war in Asia (www.cfr.org/terroist-organizations-and-networks/sri-lanka-conflict/p11407) .
M.I.A message is to give justice not just the Tamil people but to the rest of the refugees, she is like I said earlier to provide justice.
She has witnesses during and after the war, she can relate to the 9 million Syrian refuges. This is where the song I have picked comes in Borders – by M.I.A and how people look towards the American dream. M.IA said “If the West is so deliberate in promoting its brands and is using art and culture to inspire people's dreams, how can the West then turn people away?” (http://pitchfork.com/news/62559-mia-addresses-the-refugee-crisis-in-new-interview-how-can-the-west-turn-people-away/). The amount of people who try their best their hardest crossing borders putting their lives, themselves in danger for a better life for them their families from mothers to fathers and even
kids. In her song Borders in the music video you can see a large group of refugees clamming fences and crowded on tiny boats and also waded across the ocean sea. The saddest part is when just a young boy of 3 years old his brother and mother of the brothers drowned when there were just so close to their destination. M.I.A has been accused being a “terrorist” and an LTTE supporter by not just the Sri Lankan government but also by public figures such as Oprah Winfrey. M.I.A told Oprah in Rolling Stone Magazine article “She shut me down. She took that photo of me, but she was just like, ‘I can’t talk to you because you’re crazy and you’re a terrorist. And I’m like, ‘I’m not. I’m a Tamil and there are people dying in my country and you have to like look at it because you’re f***ing Oprah and every American told me you’re going to save the world. But not at all M.I.A is no terrorist, all she is doing is being a voice for people do have one. She is a hard working woman, a loving, caring mother and a very amazing artist that keeps it real and says it like it is.
M.I.A no matter what she is going to keep making her music, going to be continue fighting for reinforcing the need for international intervention to protect and provide justice, and just she never going to give that up. She is such an inspiration not just to me but too many others to. Music no matter well always be there, music is a part of all of us. To express our feelings, our attitude, to tell a story and to dance like no is watching or sing even though you don’t sing to good. Music is stunning, beautiful, jaw-dropping, and breathtaking.
Music has made an impact in different period in American History from Jim Crow era (even more before) to present day. For my essay, the artist that I have choosing is M.I.A. I picked her because she say’s it like it is, she well speak her mind out and she doesn’t care if other’s dislike it or disagree with her opinion. Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam also known as her stage name M.I.A she was born on July 18, 1975, she isn’t just a rapper/singer and songwriter, she is also a director, visual artist, record producer, photographer, fashion designer, model, and last but not least an activist. She is one busy woman, but what many people might not know is she is refugee to. Yes she is a refugee, she …show more content…
migrated from the Civil War that took place in Sri Lanka.
In an interview for “Pitchfork” she said she tried to leave at least 4 or 5 times on a bus, the bus would stop they would take only the men off the bus and that they never saw them ever again. Maya’s father even fought/involved in the Sri Lanka civil war. The civil was in Sri Lanka was about the Sri Lanka government and the Tigers of Tamil Elam aka the LTTE. The Tigers of Tamil wanted an independent state for the islands Tamil minority. The civil war in Sri Lanka lasted nearly three decades also the longest running civil war in Asia (www.cfr.org/terroist-organizations-and-networks/sri-lanka-conflict/p11407) .
M.I.A message is to give justice not just the Tamil people but to the rest of the refugees, she is like I said earlier to provide justice.
She has witnesses during and after the war, she can relate to the 9 million Syrian refuges. This is where the song I have picked comes in Borders – by M.I.A and how people look towards the American dream. M.IA said “If the West is so deliberate in promoting its brands and is using art and culture to inspire people's dreams, how can the West then turn people away?” (http://pitchfork.com/news/62559-mia-addresses-the-refugee-crisis-in-new-interview-how-can-the-west-turn-people-away/). The amount of people who try their best their hardest crossing borders putting their lives, themselves in danger for a better life for them their families from mothers to fathers and even
kids. In her song Borders in the music video you can see a large group of refugees clamming fences and crowded on tiny boats and also waded across the ocean sea. The saddest part is when just a young boy of 3 years old his brother and mother of the brothers drowned when there were just so close to their destination. M.I.A has been accused being a “terrorist” and an LTTE supporter by not just the Sri Lankan government but also by public figures such as Oprah Winfrey. M.I.A told Oprah in Rolling Stone Magazine article “She shut me down. She took that photo of me, but she was just like, ‘I can’t talk to you because you’re crazy and you’re a terrorist. And I’m like, ‘I’m not. I’m a Tamil and there are people dying in my country and you have to like look at it because you’re f***ing Oprah and every American told me you’re going to save the world. But not at all M.I.A is no terrorist, all she is doing is being a voice for people do have one. She is a hard working woman, a loving, caring mother and a very amazing artist that keeps it real and says it like it is.
M.I.A no matter what she is going to keep making her music, going to be continue fighting for reinforcing the need for international intervention to protect and provide justice, and just she never going to give that up. She is such an inspiration not just to me but too many others to. Music no matter well always be there, music is a part of all of us. To express our feelings, our attitude, to tell a story and to dance like no is watching or sing even though you don’t sing to good. Music is stunning, beautiful, jaw-dropping, and breathtaking.