You Can't Spell Baby Suggs without Kendrick Lamar's "i"

Toni Morrison's Beloved is a great novel that gives voice to the "other" in a binary in a post-slavery era. She speaks on the horrors of slavery and the challenge to overcome the past through many literary devices. Morrison's most effective tools is her characterization. One powerful character in Beloved is Baby Suggs, an important community figure that strives to alleviate and climb past the history of slavery that haunts the African American community. Baby Suggs does this through her preaching of self love, similar to present day rapper, Kendrick Lamar.

In today's day where racism has been institutionalized and a city can be compared to a war zone, we need figures like Baby Suggs. One of these figures is Kendrick Lamar. Baby Suggs' clearing has evolved past the isolated space in the forest to the worldwide web where communication is easier than ever. Artists are especially heard today. Kendrick Lamar's message is one of great importance. While the Compton native's most recent album To Pimp a Butterfly speaks on many important matters ranging from racial inequality to gang violence, his resounding message of self love is one of the most important in my opinion. Lamar's Grammy winning song "i" is completely about self love for spiritual healing. Self love remains a way for redemption and alleviate pain, suffering, and self doubt. "i" embodies Baby Suggs clearing preaching fully. Even similar religious themes are reflected throughout the song. It's a great song and one that I urge you to listen to, especially after reading Baby Suggs' message. This is the song that plays in my mind when I read Baby Suggs' clearing message.

Seriously listen to it. Buy it on iTunes or Google Play, if that'y your thing, to listen to the the timeless message of self love.