Protests in the USA: Eminem already said it twenty years ago

In an America shaken by protests against aggressive immigration policies and the rise of movements that fairly reject symbols of absolute authority such as the motto “No Kings,” we can’t help but notice how certain messages were already shouted, microphone in hand, by Eminem over twenty years ago.

“White America” (2002): the denunciation of hypocrisy

In White America, Eminem becomes the spokesperson for a powerful and controversial critique of American society and politics. The song denounces how his figure (a white rapper) became the target of attempted censorship and political attacks. The rapper talks about government control and attempts to limit his cultural influence, emphasizing how his music is seen as a threat not so much for what he says but for the power to inspire young people and challenge the status quo.

I must've struck a chord with somebody up in the office' cause Congress keeps telling me I ain't causing nothing but problems and now they're saying I'm in trouble with the governmentI'm loving it

It’s not hard to see the connection between this song and the social tension today spilling onto streets full of citizens fighting against a system that seems to value only politicians and uphold discrimination.

“Mosh” (2004): The Call to Protest

If there is a song that seems written for today’s protests, it is Mosh. Released on the eve of the 2004 elections, it is a direct attack on the leadership of the time (George W. Bush), but its verses feel prophetic in today’s context:

No more blood for oil, we got our own battles to fight on our own soil

The battle being fought today is for freedom and respect for those who have now found their place in the United States.

“Untouchable” and “The Storm”: Racism and Power

In 2017, with Untouchable and especially The Storm (the anti-Trump freestyle at the BET Awards), Eminem resumed his political edge with force:

Racism’s the only thing he’s fantastic for

Today, as Americans protest in the streets against authoritarianism, arbitrary deportations, and all forms of systemic injustice, the voice of someone who had already shouted these things resonates. Eminem has been, especially from the early 2000s through the mid-2010s, a voice of rupture and resistance against authoritarianism, hypocrisy, and discrimination.

Perhaps he had already said it all. The question is: was he really listened to?

Despite the difficulties, hope remains alive that the United States can overcome these tensions by working toward a more fair and inclusive society capable of listening to all voices, even the most "uncomfortable" ones, to build a better future.

All you can see is a sea of people, some white and some black, don't matter what color, all that matters we're gathered together (Mosh, Eminem, 2004)