Like a king is a song written by Ben Harper an American singer and song writer released in 1994. The song is about Rodney King and his treatment by the L.A police department with the title of the song Like a King alluding to the treatment of Rodney King. In the song Harper starts the song off saying "Martin's dream has become Rodnney's worst nightmare", expressing Martin Luther Kings dream of equality and the equality Rodney King didn't receive. Harper also discusses how the officers involved in the assault of Rodney King were acquitted and their status as police officers calling the L.A. police department "a legal lynch mob". On going racism is also discussed int he song with Harper expressing the sentiment that racism was still prominent and persistent in the U.S. He expresses this with the line "So if you catch yourself thinking it has changed for the best you better second guess cause Martin's dream has become Rodney's worst nightmare."
Although the song was written in 1994 only two years after the L.A. riots many of the songs sentiments still hold true today 24 years later. Racism is still prominent in society today and Martin Luther Kings dreams of equality still haven't been fully realized. The abuse of power by police officers country wide and institutional racism has become an even more prominent topic now due to social media and how accessible media has become.
- KC Boonsong
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