Eminem's REVIVAL album has been receiving much praise, due to the socially charged stances that the rapper makes on some of its featured tracks like "Untouchable," especially in regards to police brutality when it comes to the black community.
"We done seen 'em beat Rodney King unconscious, and got off/ So we don't need all you crooked police officers' peace offerings," Em raps on the song. In these lines, the artist mentions the infamous Rodney King beating in 1991. Rodney was a taxi driver when the LAPD pulled him over after a high-speed chase and severely beat him, as he laid in the street.
After hearing these lyrics on "Untouchable," Rodney's middle daughter, Lora Dene King, penned a letter to Eminem, which was published on Billboard. She wanted to thank him for speaking about this injustice that occurred to her dad many years ago. “I decided to write this letter to Eminem because it takes heart to speak about this subject that so many people overlook," King told the publication.
"I wrote it because his song gives people like myself hope. It’s not just this song that inspires me [but] his music period! He speaks for the hurt that people sometimes suppress in order to deal with society. The details in this song let me know just how much he cares. I wanted him to know that I appreciate him writing it."
Read Lora Dene King's letter to Eminem below.
Dear Eminem,
I am the middle daughter of the late great Rodney Glen King. I am also the founder of the Rodney King Foundation for Social Justice and Human Rights. I first would like to thank you for always speaking on subjects that are not so attractive to America but need to be heard. Thank you for always speaking for the unheard, with the position and the race you possess. Please keep going against the grain to wake people up and hopefully spark a change.
Thank you for speaking about the elephant in the room: “injustice in America," from a white man's perceptive with a human heart!! Thank you for speaking the truth about America not liking the site of a black boy. Period. No matter the time!! It's always the wrong time and then time is up!!! So glad you mentioned [how] the bad cops always mess it up for the good cops. There are too many good cops that get overshadowed by the dark cloud of bad ones. Thank you for speaking on segregation.
Years ago, blacks were only allowed to live in the project units and never allowed to relocate. You got some hellllva lines in the song !! Thank you for speaking on sec 8. That always comes to mind and also for speaking on the true reason it was created: to break up black family's because the male… wasn't allowed to live in the home. If they found out, the women was kicked out. What a catch 22! This whole entire song gives me chills, so deep in my soul. Life for blacks does feel like a razor wire fence.
I can personally say I have had really bad anxiety since the age of 7, from the time my father was beaten. Whenever police are around me,
I have to keep calm. I hate that feeling. It feels as if my chest is caving in. THANK YOU for speaking on my father. You touched on them beating my father till he was unconscious. That's sick every time I think of it. He could have died if it wasn't for his size. Thank you for speaking up for all the people with a voice that get put on mute, from speaking for change. Keep inspiring E and again thank you.
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