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Janelle Monáe – Locked Inside Lyrics 14 years ago
Itspaper, I would have to disagree with your interpretation of the lyrics.

The song is a matter of race. "The Man" she is referring to is not in the classical sense of the human male, but is a reference to Caucasians. With research, one will find that African history is enriched with emotions of love and appreciation. This is why Africans have yet to invade other territories - we are satisfied with what we have. Although the Blacks in this nation should not be referred to as Africans, we are direct decedents of the people of the Motherland. One will never be able to see the oppression of the Black race unless that person is a member of it.

In reference to:
"Her children cry
No food to eat and afraid as flies
The color black means its time to die
And nobody questions why
Cause they're too scared to stop them now"

A quick glance in the dictionary or thesaurus for the words "black" and "white" will reveal the meaning behind Monáe's words. Black has a strictly negative connotation as well as synonyms: plague, evil, death, treachery, sinful, and even inhuman. White, an opposition, has the meanings of purity, cleanliness, etc. These meanings are not clearly recognized by most as I just explained, but one should think: "What kind of things do I associate with blackness/darkness?"
Monáe continues on to say that we (Blacks) are too afraid to stop "The Man" (Whites).

Monáe's song implies that we, Blacks, are mislead, or "locked inside" by the propaganda in today's media - that we are Whites, who are practically the sole influences of today's media sorces . . .

I find my analysis to be dead-on and conclusive.

submissions
Janelle Monáe – Locked Inside Lyrics 14 years ago
Itspaper, I would have to disagree with your interpretation of the lyrics.

The song is a matter of race. "The Man" she is referring to is not in the classical sense of the human male, but is a reference to Caucasians. With research, one will find that African history is enriched with emotions of love and appreciation. This is why Africans have yet to invade other territories - we are satisfied with what we have. Although the Blacks in this nation should not be referred to as Africans, we are direct decedents of the people of the Motherland. One will never be able to see the oppression of the Black race unless that person is a member of it.

In reference to:
"Her children cry
No food to eat and afraid as flies
The color black means its time to die
And nobody questions why
Cause they're too scared to stop them now"

A quick glance in the dictionary or thesaurus for the words "black" and "white" will reveal the meaning behind Monáe's words. Black has a strictly negative connotation as well as synonyms: plague, evil, death, treachery, sinful, and even inhuman. White, an opposition, has the meanings of purity, cleanliness, etc. These meanings are not clearly recognized by most as I just explained, but one should think: "What kind of things do I associate with blackness/darkness?"
Monáe continues on to say that we (Blacks) are too afraid to stop "The Man" (Whites).

Monáe's song implies that we, Blacks, are mislead, or "locked inside" by the propaganda in today's media - that we are Whites, who are practically the sole influences of today's media sorces . . .

I find my analysis to be dead-on and conclusive.

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