“Confronting the Devil: A Raw Look at Gender Violence and Moral Responsibility”
- Wali Hassan
- Jun 8, 2024
- 3 min read
Dance with the Devil” by Immortal Technique is a raw and unfiltered narrative that highlights the loss of moral direction and is a perfect example of “conscious rap”. The song is about Billy, a young man driven by his desire for power and respect to be accepted in the gang, leading to his participation in the brutal rape and murder of a woman, only to discover, that the victim is his own mother. This unholy depiction of violence can be used as a powerful medium to explore themes of women’s empowerment and gender roles, challenge the ashamed narrative and promote a shift in the morality of men.
Listening to this song, I couldn’t help but reflect on the disturbing tendency of some men to respect only their mothers or sisters while disrespecting and harming other women. This selective respect reveals a deep-seated hypocrisy where the value and dignity of women are not universally recognized. It underscores the fundamental truth that what is wrong for one’s own family is wrong for others as well. This principle of universal respect is essential in challenging and dismantling the toxic attitudes that lead to these kinds of gender-based violence. This reminds us of the consequences of immoral actions, emphasizing the importance of moral accountability and the need for men to take responsibility for their behavior.
Immortal Technique’s describes the message behind the song is as : “Your mother, your sister, your grandmother, the girl you came here with today, or the woman you’re gonna marry someday, she might have lost her virginity by being the victim of rape, or have been the victim of that sometime in her life, and she might never tell you, and you might never know, and it’s because women are prouder than men. When men were enslaved, it was the women that rose up and carried us and made us who we are. It is the women of our culture that create everything that we will be, the next generation of rappers, journalists, doctors, lawyers, artists, accountants. So, it’s time for us to take care of them, not because they can’t take care of themselves, but because we owe them the honor and respect. You make the changes you want to see in the rest of the world, in yourself first. You don’t want anybody to be touching your sister like that. So before you call yourself a man, before you call yourself a gangster, you make the changes you want to see in the rest of the world in yourself first. You confront that when you see it. You see somebody touching your kids in the neighborhood; you see somebody violate somebody, you put them in the dirt… otherwise, you ain’t no man, homie, otherwise, you ain’t no gangster.”
Women still experience several issues today, including systematic discrimination, domestic abuse, and sexual harassment. Even though the song’s story is grave, it refers to the broader context of gender-based violence and the attitudes in society that support it. For example, the #MeToo movement has brought attention to the frequency of sexual assault and harassment, indicating that these aren’t rare occurrences but an underlying social problem.
The song’s portrayal of the dehumanization of the female character, forces people to confront the harsh reality of gender-based violence, emphasizing the urgent need for cultural change and by highlighting the toxic masculinity that drives young men like Billy to commit unmoral acts. The cultural shift involves not just holding offenders accountable but also redefining what it means to be a man in a modern society. We must reevaluate rigid gender roles that prioritize aggression and dominance over love and respect.
While this may seem like a drastic approach, becoming the executioner, the sentiment still stands true. By understanding and using the narrative of “Dance with the Devil,” we can challenge harmful gender roles, and hopefully work towards a society where men are guided by principles of empathy and moral integrity.