The Underdog by the Coup

       Boots Riley is voicing out the concerns of everyday people living in today’s society. The underdog refers to the people who struggle throughout their lives to earn a decent living, to put bread on their table, to keep a home, to stay with family, to take care of kids, elderly, to keep life going. Everyday people are fighting for their life in this chaotic world, hoping for a small chance in a better life than what they live in now.

      “Saying pray for a change from the Lord above you. They’d tear this motherfucker up if they really loved you”. Many people look up to the Lord, and pray for a change to happen in their life, for a miracle. People pray everyday for a better life or seek the answers as to why they ended up in this type of life, in the life they’re stuck in. “They” is referring to those above, in heaven, that being God, the Lord, he who has the answers to prayers. If all prayers were answered the world would have been lead differently, possibly better but not every person's prayer can be answered.

       One of the lines in his poem that struck me the most was, “Lights turned off and it’s the third month, the rent is late. Thoughts of being homeless, crying till you hyperventilate. Despair permeates the air then sets in your ear…” Many people struggle to live by, to pay the bills on time, to save money, living paycheck to paycheck. I can relate because, I have been there and done that and still to this day. Helping my family to pay bills, living expenses, saving money to buy only groceries, limit the usage of utilities and to do whatever it takes to keep a roof under our heads. Just as Boots Riley said “I got love for the underdog”, I strongly agree and feel the same as well.

       Another line that struck me was “’Crosstown, the situation is identical. Somebody’s getting strangled by the system and it’s tentacles”. Nobody is alone in this messed up world. Almost every person shares a similar lifestyle or at least, an understanding of the life struggles they go through daily. The government holds the power and people live under their rule, listen to what the authorities tell us. The tentacles refer to the government and they can easily manipulate the world. Many people believe that there is no one else in this world going through the same struggles. In reality, there are millions of people going through the many hardships in this world. Although, they may not be the same story, the same life, the struggles are similar.

What was significant to me was the chorus that Boots Riley says throughout his poem. “This is for my folkers who got bills overdue, this is for my folkers, um check, one, two, this is for my folkers who never lived like a hog, me and you, toe to toe, I got love for the underdog”. That specific line is like a reminder, Riley keeps reminding his audience that he feels for them, he understands, he knows the pain, the struggles. “Me and you, toe to toe” people like you and me, people who are similar to one another yet we turn a blind eye to our selfish struggles in life. We don't take note that there are so many people around the world who may live a similar lives or have a life that is ten times worse than ours.

I feel touched with this poem, because it gives the sense of reality, the concerns of everyday people, the poor, the middle class, those who can’t voice their problems to the world. Everyday life problems. This poem reassures the readers that they’re not alone in this godforsaken world.