Killing In The Name By Rage

Against The Machine

By. Omar Ward
Backstory
America has had a long history of racial
tensions and police brutality. In 1992, four
police officers were acquitted for their beating
of Rodney King. The public outcry that
followed the acquittal became known as the
LA riots. These riots occurred only six months
prior to the song’s release and served as the
main inspiration for the lyrics.Written
in response to the Rodney King beating, the
L.A. Uprising that followed, and the
eventual trial, “Killing in the Name” equates the
police force with Ku Klux Klan lynch mobs,
which have been known for cross burning
since the Klan’s second incarnation as
a means of intimidation. Hence the line “
Some of those that work forces Are the same t
hat burn crosses
”
Billboards
The band’s self-titled debut album
landed at No. 174 on this week’s
Billboard 200 on June 11, 2020 after
all of the mayhem that was going on in
America with police brutality
happening. it reached No. 8 on
iTunes’ Top Albums chart. Released in
November 1992, Rage Against the
Machine catapulted the band to
stardom. Though it only peaked at No.
45 on the Billboard 200, it topped the
Heatseekers chart and was ultimately
certified 3x platinum by the RIAA.
Lyrics
“Now you do what they told ya”

In the context of this song, these lines

refer to the resulting subservience of the
masses through fear of the violent
display by those in authority.

However, this song has outgrown its

context and can be applied to other
situations, namely:

Subservience, by distributors of
fear, to those in even greater
authority – the real promoters of
fear. Example: cultures that
promote atmospheres of fear.
Lyrics

“Those who died are justified

For wearing the badge, they're the chos
en whites You justify those that died
”
These lines reflect on the representational
violence introduced in the hook, specifically
police brutality.Speaking ironically from the
killers' perspectives, De La Rocha claims
murder is justified by wearing a police
badge, insinuating that police brutality is no
different from any other type of violence.
References

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2o9aoL0NWpw

https://genius.com/Rage-against-the-machine-killing-in-the-name-lyrics