The public rapper
Once a week I take my ~2 year old daughter on the 50, to visit her grandparents for the day. This week we were sitting in the front seat playing counting games on our hands and watching the urban charm of University avenue roll by.
At Snelling Ave., after the crowd of commuters got on, up sauntered a familiar archetype: the public rapper. In a loud voice he was grunting away some little ditty along the lines of “shooting bitches†and “ f*cking with the sh*tâ€. As he struted the front of the bus he looked left and right at the other passengers, presumably to ensure that we understood how audacious he was. Yes, a fine representative of his culture upon which my daughter can start to build her future stereotypes.
I have had a special place in my heart for these minstrels ever since one got on the 16 at Vandalia a year or so ago. He was one in a pack of other toughs who regularly board in the afternoon when the High School for Recording Arts (a “second chance†charter school) lets out. His ‘rhyme’ consisted of looking at each person as he swaggered the aisle, hands flashing signs, chanting: “Gunna shoot you in the head with my gat, with my gat. Gunna shoot you in the head with my gat.â€
In that instance I called up and spoke with the principal and security director at the school the next day. The security staffer noted that there was nothing they could do about how their students act after hours and agreed “ya, you gotta do what you gotta do†when I suggested (I thought ironically) that if they could not control their kids, then perhaps a conceal-and-carry permit would be my best option.
This time however, with my daughter’s delicate ears at stake, I figured I had better confront the source. So, as he passed, I said: “Hey, watch the language pleaseâ€.
He stopped. In a loud and rather unfriendly manner he demanded of the bus, “Who said that?â€
Silence all around. Although all the passengers were boarded, the driver did not pull away from the curb. It may have been my imagination, but there seemed to be a general tension in the air. There was certainly tightness in my gut. I braced for a whack to the back of the head, made sure my daughter was sitting securely, turned so that I would see anything coming at me, looked him in the eye and replied, “I did.â€
Now, if this was 11:00 at night and I was on the 16 I might not have been so bold. But if you can’t stand up for decency during rush hour, on a limited stop line, when can you? Plus, I suspected that if it came to blows, some of my peeps would have my back. A St. Paul City Council member had gotten on a few stops prior and was sitting somewhere back there. Across from me was a neighbor who boards at my stop. There were a few folks with suits who might stand with righteousness if it came to helter-skelter: swinging their briefcases with office-ninja aplomb.
The troubadour got in my face, “You got a problem? I was rappin’â€.
“Yes, watch your language please, I have a kid hereâ€, I returned.
He looked my daughter and I over a few times. I tightened my grip on the shoulder strap of my bike bags ready to swing back if it came to blows (incidentally, in addition to my daughter I was traveling with a replacement wheel for my sailboat trailer strapped to the outside of my bicycle panniers, so a hit from it would land like a medieval flail). He looked around the bus gauging the situation.
The bus continued to sit at the stop.
“Well, I was rapping. Didn’t mean to be disrespectin your shortie. Just singing my songâ€, he scowled, looking mightily pissed off at being called to task.
“Ya, OK†was about the best I could muster as an acceptance for his forced apology.
He turned, walked to the back, and continued ranting along the lines of “telling me what to do. Grumble, grumble, grumble…â€.
The bus pulled out.
It took me a little while for the adrenaline to subside. My daughter was wide eyed. We went on to our next lesson.
Jun 13th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Nice going man. I’m glad you stood up for your daughter. I woulda had your back
Jun 15th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
People who use force and intimidation are usually referred to as terrorists. We are all so concerned about Al-Quaida. When are we going to admit that we have our own home-grown domestic terrorists – like this thug?
Jun 17th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Agreed. If people don’t stand up to “people” like this, they can and will walk all over you. It’s the bully principle: they’re all big and tough until actual trouble starts. When that happens, they aren’t as formidable. Either way, it would be good to have one hand on some sort of weapon in any such situation.
Jun 18th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Although I applaud this person for standing up to this punk you also should keep in mind that he could have had a gun or knife and killed you right then and there. In front of your kid. The smart move would have been to get off the bus and wait for the next one or say nothing. I wouldn’t want to do this and my cpmpetitive and fighting nature would want to confront the punk but you just never know these days.
Jun 18th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Isn’t the bigger question what can/should we do on the public transportation front in an attempt to restore common decency to this public service forum?
On the few buses we have where I live with cameras, riders report a higher level of civility than on many that do not have them, but this is a very costly proposition. I’ve heard about agencies that post communications (car cards, etc.) that encourage considerate behavior, but I have not seen any proof of success. We use undercover police and uniformed police presence to extent available, but this is also costly.
In all likelihood, there is no single major solution, but a combination of many things, including asking the school to help communicate expectations to students. In this case, I’m sure the school knows just how much of this problem it has in it’s on halls and fails to adequately combat it there, so they’re unwilling to assume any role in addressing it beyond their halls. But the schools that successfully control it on campus can probably have a meaningful influence. And wouldn’t posting car cards as reminders also serve to encourage riders to stand up for their rights to expect civil behavior on their public transportation?
And from where I live, I’m impressed with a city that has council members using public transportation. Elected officials too often seem to be our worst enemies in trying to provide public transportation to the best benefit of the city.
Jun 18th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
There is a saying that if you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything. I applaud you for standing up for your daughter. It really does not matter who our perceptions of an individual may be, but if we feel that our rights or our childrens rights are being are being compromised then we need to speak up. I am an adult and I will take my chances at addressing an issue with a youth or even a young adult. There are a lot of young people that need guidedance, and will listen to an adult if they are spoken to in a manner that is not threatened. In my experience, if you seem to exude fear towards young people, they sense it and will not respect you. But if you express a sense of concern and care about certain behaviors to these youth and not show fear, I found that you will get the response that you seeked. If we don’t step up, stop and confront the behavior it will continue to exist.
Jun 18th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Good job. I know the standard response is to ignore this action and get on the next bus, but if nobody stands up to this type of behavior it will continue to get worse. I’ve had 2 similar incidents in which I said something and it’s definitely a little scary, but many others which I ignored sad to say. It’s actually sad that nobody else on the bus said anything.
Jun 18th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
What role does the bus driver have in controlling the riders on the bus? In Seattle, a young couple was pulled off a bus via the rear doors and beaten. King county Metro argued in court that the bus driver has no responsbility for rider safety.
Jun 18th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
I was reading this blog until I came across what I was predicting would be a response like JK’s. Wow. We are so scared these days. Thank God for this guy standing up. We could use that excuse all our lives that someone could hurt us. We don’t even help our neighbors out anymore. We don’t stop to help people with flat tires or accidents because of what movies have planted in our heads; that they’re all psychos. I mean, what if Rosa Parks didn’t stand up for her rights? I’m not even black, but I respect that she did what was right and it sparked a movement. We all need to be more like this guy and help spark a movement to take our cities and communities back!! Thanks for standing up for us when we were too scared to do it!!
Jun 18th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
First off, I applaud you for asking a fellow patron to watch his language. However, I wonder just how much you have fallen into the stereotype pit. You refer to his “type” as “minstrel” which refers to a racist stereotype of black people, so I assume this kid was black. I find this highly offensive. If this was an Asian yelling obscenities, would you refer to him in a derogatory stereotype? And are all minorities supposed to be model minorities so people don’t have any bad stereotypes of them??? Any kid of any race can be an idiot and act like an idiot. What the heck does this have to do with race and stereotypes? It is you who form negative stereotypes of people and believe them. So what if rap has a lot of bad language, so do white shock dj shows but you don’t call white dj’s on forming bad stereotypes for their people. What about whites sailors and bikers who cuss all the time? Are they bad role models for their people??? Why is it the black youth have a special obligation to act proper and not make white people think poorly of them??? Why did you keep thinking he was going to attack you??? It sounds like you’re the racist who thinks all black youth who are into rapping are savage, violent criminals. Most people who listen to rap are WHITE! Most black youth who listen to rap are NOT criminals or gang members. There was a time a white woman would never step into an elevator with a black man. Now whites dare not tell a black kid to watch his language for fear of getting attacked??? Ridiculous! I find your attitudes and expectations more disturbing than any cuss word.
Jun 19th, 2008 at 6:07 am
The operator should have intervened on behalf of all of the passengers, Maybe the parent beat him or her to it.
The young man’s behavior was threatening, look back at the works he was spouting. Filth and violence.
This isn’t a black white situation and it is too bad the last person choose to ignore the real problem and turn it racial.
This is inappropriate public behavior and it is up to every citizen to take responsiblity to stand up to the violator and let them know it’s wrong. The longer we ignore it, the worse it gets.
Jun 19th, 2008 at 8:39 am
JK is off base. Ignoring a problem never makes it go away People must stand up for their rights to politeness and mutual respect be it on public transportation, the sidewalk, the mall or your own home.
The price to do this is apprehension, fear of the unknown, embarrassment and in extreme cases physical injury. The cost of not doing it is an ever-growing fear of what might happen, loss of freedom due to that fear and loss of your civil rights, self-esteem and respect.
More people have to stand up and say enough is enough. And when someone does, the rest of us have to stand with that person and say we agree and “got your back”.
Jun 19th, 2008 at 9:15 am
@ S T said
Nope, sorry. There have been thugs and criminals since the beginning of humanity. Confusing terrorism with common criminality is dangerous, and can only lead to a variety of civil rights abuses.
Jun 19th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Ed – When the author used minstrel, I took it to mean “a musician, singer, or poet.”
I agree with you, any one can act like an idiot, regardless of race/gender/etc. Rather than being concerned with this “gangsta” leaving a bad impression on his daugher, maybe he should work to make sure she doesn’t stereotype people at all.
Jun 19th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Ed, dont confuse racial stereotyping with good common sense judging of risk! Perhaps you were the one to imply a racial stereotype that all “gangsta” types are black…when in fact they come in all colors. The author of this story never brought up the race or color of the individual.
Racial stereo-typing is a bad thing as you are making assumptions about someone simply because of color or ethnicity. What this person did was have a good common sense awareness of who they were dealing with. The gangsta/rapper culture deliberately cultivates the threatening, intimidating appearance and attitude and have a theme of violence unpinning their music.
In confronting this individual their appearance/attitude would have everything to do with judging the risk involved. The same would be true if it were a “Biker” dressed in his leathers with chains dragging from thier belt, or the business suited guy carrying a briefcase. Who is more dangerous? No one really knows…but with the information available…who would you be more concerned with confronting?
Sitting on a bus, making an assessment of who is a risk or not….what else do you have to go on? Expecting someone to look deep into someones soul and determine their disposition toward peace or violence before making a judgment about them, regardless of their outward appearance is a wonderful sentiment, but a darned foolish one, especially when travelling on public transit in any major city.
Also, with respect to JBE’s comments about the Bus Driver’s responsibility. They are bus drivers, not police, not security guards. They have a responsibility to seek assistance from police – fire – or medical if needed, nothing more. Beyond that their responsibility is no different than everyone else on the bus should they choose to intervene and assist another person in distress.
Jun 20th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
BF, thanks for putting some common sencse back into the discussion after Ed wanted to take this issue in the wrong direction.
I train transit operators, in both local and national training sessions, in self defense and de-esclation when confrunting difficult and dangerous situations and BF is correct. Confronting anyone with our the proper training and authority can be very dangerous. The author talks about the pack of other toughs on the bus that if this situation would have esclated may have wanted to join in the violence.
I am a martial arts instructor and was a competive fighter for over a decade and if I can give just one bit of advice to anyone who wants to know what to do if they are in this situation: Read the book “The Gift of Fear”.
Jun 27th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Right On! The bus driver and the bus system has a responsibility as well. At that point, others should have stood with you and called police on their cellphones. The system should have a policy in place to ban that passenger and the system should have been aware of the situation. Begin by speaking with the driver and other passengers and then elevate it as you did–and you were prepared with a potential weapon as well. Liberals need to understand that there are bad people. The school’s response was BS. They should have dragged the student in and counseled him and let him know they were monitoring the situation. Tell us what has happened since. thanks
Jul 17th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Ed is a bit overly sensitive in detecting prejudice. Anyone who rides a bus knows perfectly well that there is a parade of types. Some crossover all racial types and some are fairly specific. That’s reality, not prejudice.
PMF, don’t you ever tire of playing the blame-the-liberals card. It is soooo tiresome and not a bit helpful.
I’ve had a few such chaps on my bus. They weren’t overtly threatening but they were sure we all wanted to hear and, presumably, admire their rhyming skill. When I notice them I get on the speaker and ask them to keep it to themselves. When they make the expected grumbling sounds about me not appreciating music I just say, ‘It would be different if you had talent, but you don’t.’ That seems to offend them enough to silence them.
Aug 30th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Being a bus driver for about 8 years now, I have been put in this situation countless times. Most recently, on the 6 route. 3 teens were talking loud and nasty in the back of the bus. I told them that that type of language was not allowed on the bus. They apologized. About four blocks later, it happened again. I pulled the bus over and got on the microphone and informed them that this was their stop. They tried the apology thing again. I told them they said they were sorry last time. Obviously, that wasn’t true. I told them this was not baseball and they did not get three strikes ( a line I use often) and they needed to get off the bus or the police would come and assist them in getting off the bus.
The whole bus was quiet. Not one passenger backed me up. Not that I expected it. That’s just the way it is. Besides, sometimes that does make things worse, sometimes it helps when they intervene. You just never know.
Anyway, the 3 losers all came to the front of the bus and begged to stay on the bus. They said their transfers were almost expired and they’d have to pay another fare. Boo Hoo. I almost felt bad….but not quite. I told them they should have thought about that when they got their one and only warning. Now it was too late and they’d have to deal with the consequences of their actions. They actually had the nerve to ask me for new transfers. Surprise, surprise. I said no. What message would THAT send…act an ass on the bus and get two and a half more hours of free rides??!!??
Lucky for me, they got off the bus with no physical confrontation. I have been pretty lucky that way. I did have about half a dozen passengers thank me as they each left at their stops. Some said more drivers should do that.
Most drivers are afraid of confrontation and rightfully so. There are hundreds of assaults on bus drivers here in the twin cities every year. Only the worst ones make the news. Personally, I’ve been spit on and egged but have been lucky enough not to have been punched or anything worse. I did pepper spray the guy that spit on me, but we aren’t security guards, police or super heros…we are bus drivers. We can call for help but are basically on our own as help is not usually around the corner.
I would love if more people would jump in and help when something is wrong…even if it is just a few words to let the offender know that the person they are confronting is not alone. Yet, I don’t want to see someone else get hurt or killed by trying to help. I guess you just have to go with your heart…and your head.
I have stories from my view as a bus driver. If interested, just click on my name above.
Jan 5th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Okay folks, ask your pals both black and white if they would like to go see a minstrel show on Saturday night and see how they react. Give me a big f in break. We all know what a minstrel show is, it’s an American show consisting of whites wearing black faces and making fun of blacks. You guys are too unbelievable. And when you put minstel together with rapper, yeah, a Swedish dude just popped into my head. A Swedish minstrel rapper huh. What are you guys smoking seriously. The blogger is a racist plain and simple, courageous for posting my remarks but racist none-the-less. One guy said he was a martial artist. Oh I’m so scared. You play around in the dojo and then get your behind kicked on the streets. How about plain and simple verbal communication. “Excuse me, can you watch your language?” Why get so scared saying that to anyone, white, black, rapper, biker, business suit guy, woman, child? You’re all cowards and chickens who would rather profile and live happily in your little media contrived delusionary cocoons. Uh-oh, an Italian in a jogging suit just got on the bus, better not mess with him, he’ll put you sick feet under, fuhgetaboutit! Uh-oh, a German in a military jacket just got on the bus, hope you’re not Jewish or Polish! Uh-oh, an Arab just got on the bus, better make sure he didn’t leave his backpack behind!
Jan 14th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Ed. Try wikipedia:
A minstrel was a medieval European bard who performed songs whose lyrics told stories about distant places or about real or imaginary historical events. Though minstrels created their own tales, often they would memorize and embellish the works of others. Frequently they were retained by royalty and high society. As the courts became more sophisticated, minstrels were eventually replaced at court by the troubadours, and many became wandering minstrels, performing in the streets and became well liked until the middle of the Renaissance, despite a decline beginning in the late 15th century. Minstrelsy fed into later traditions of traveling entertainers, which continued to be moderately strong into the early 20th century, and which has some continuity down to today’s buskers or street musicians.
Nothing racist about that term. It just means lyricist in public.
When someone gets on the bus and says repeatedly he’s going to shoot you in the head, that’s a problem. Can you understand that?
Jan 17th, 2009 at 12:58 am
I really don’t want to be racist by all means because I’m not, but on any given route (especially the light rail and 50 or 16) you have many folks (from my experience african-americans) “rappin” but at the same time its completely disrespectful if what they’re rhyming is bad (which is 95% of the time). I go to the Art Institute on South 9th Street and i work at the Apple Store at the MOA thus i take the light rail to work so any given day i get that stuff all the time. Occasionally (depending on how much possible back up i would have) i will come out and stand up for myself, the general public or for a child’s ears as you did. Quite honestly its sick and twisted that some folks have absolutely no care in the world about what is around them except for their life and their own words, no other people matter especially children.
Anywho, i tip my hat to you for that. It takes persons like you to show that in public there is a common decency that everyone should obey or think about before their mouths are wide the hell open.
Feb 17th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
First, S T., are you really equating this guy with terrorists? Al Qaida???
You’ve lost your mind….
This guy was just posturing; tryin to bolster his own dismal self esteem by exuding some control over others. Its jail cell nature.
There are two types of people rapping in public. One who aims to spread a message, get their music out, entertain folks.
The other is the guy you described. Noticeably louder, confrontational – lyrics that offend the general public – and they know this.
The only way this gives him satisfaction is if it visibly bothers cats. The best way to deal with this is not to confront him (this is attention that the youth crave but shouldnt get through negative means). The best way is to go on about your business with your daughter. Continue talking. Continue playing your games.
This is real life and trying to control your surroundings is only sheltering your daughter and sending an unrealistic message – which is probably more dangerous than exposing her.
Unless you want her to be the next person gripping the bicycle wheel…
Jan 20th, 2010 at 11:51 am
Howdy- this is a note from the original author. This is the first time I have come back to this posting to reread it (it was composed as an unedited stream of consciousness) and the discussion that ensued.
First, thanks for all the support. I am glad that others seem to think that I behaved properly.
Second, I will address the critical comments of Ed:
Ed, you need to read more widely and learn that the same word can have multiple meanings, often differentiated by context. RLK (Jan 14th, 2009) had it exactly right. My reference to minstrels was an allusion to European not reconstruction performers. If you were not so eager to paint me as a racist perhaps you would have noticed that this vignette was modeled after the white knight / black knight motif (joke intended). For goodness sake I used the phrase “Medieval flail”! How much more obvious do you need me to make it? If I had wanted to evoke the likes of Thomas Dilward I would have peppered (or should I say salted) my story with mentions of banjos and jubilees.