Summary Of The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Rebellion isn’t the result of teenagers’ angst and frustration with the faceless, but obviously capitalist “man.” Rebellion isn’t a senseless act of defiance exercised by people who are unhappy with trivial social institutions, like school dress code or simply because a popular music artist is preaching some subjectively interesting stuff. Rebellion is a purposeful act of social activism backed up by the intention of creating or destroying certain societal standards.
Gil Scott Heron’s racially-charged, poetry slam style music has been one of the many forms of media which protests the inequality and persecution experienced by those of the African American community in America. “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” targets the telecommunication medium as it relates to the civil rights movement. In the song, Heron repeats the titular lyrics as a reminder that the efforts of those participating in the revolution will not be misrepresented or censored; that their efforts
This song also calls out certain celebrities and TV networks which were/are associated with the social/political mainstream of America. Heron’s music style most closely resembles rap, as his words aren’t sung rather than said to a beat. His lyrics don’t leave room for interpretation because they’re straightforward and almost communicate with the listener, like a public service announcement. “Message to the Messengers” targets modern hip-hop artists and advises them to be knowledgeable about the political correctness of what they’re dishing out to their fans because these artists are the messengers, for their platform allows them to reach a broader demographic than that of the olden times; they have a vast amount of control. Personally, I agree with Heron because a lot of people are highly impressed by the music they