Letter to the President

I'm glad I saw this movie. Although I have disliked rap, I have always wondered about the rappers themselves--what kind of people are they? Whenever I see their pictures, they always have menacing looks on their faces, and they give off the impression of foul-mouthed spoiled brats trying to intimidate people while showing off their bling.

Well, in this movie they reveal themselves to extremely creative, literate, and thoughtful people who are trying to get something positive done.

The one word that kept on coming up was "community." That's where the music began, and that's why it keeps on going. It's where the rappers came from, it's where their heart still is at, and it's why they are trying to change things.

Many black communities are in dire need of change. Ever wonder why the people there steal and do drugs? Poor people need to eat and they need to be human. If they don't have food, they're going to have to steal. If they don't feel human in their everyday lives, they're going to turn to drugs to escape. These are very simple equations that the rappers are trying to tell other folks about.

All people should see this movie, and it goes without saying that that includes our elected officials most of all.

Interesting and compelling, Letter to the President is less about hip-hop, and more about black struggles after the civil rights movement. Letter to the President examines political and social issues that were discussed through hip-hop. You don't have to listen to hip-hop, or even be interested in it to view this film, although your attitudes may change after seeing it. And not just about music. The movie examines how Reagan's economic plan effected black communites, the crack epidemic, drug policies, the prison system, and more. The movie also features interesting interviews with noted hip hop artists such as KRS One as well as historians. Well worth seeing.