On January 22nd 2016, a follow-up to this song, called “White Privilege II”, was released on YouTube and SoundCloud. The track will be a part of This Unruly Mess I’ve Made – Macklemore. Anti-racist white organizer with the People's Institute for Survival and Beyond, Seattle European Dissent and the Black Prisoners Caucus. Meeting Ben and the Macklemore & Ryan Lewis team, discussing structural racism with them and hearing “White Privilege ll” reminded me of my own journey.
A follow up to the original “White Privilege” released back in 2005, this song analyzes a variety of racial issues from various perspectives, relying on specific references to the contemporary racial and political climate.
Macklemore discusses his experience marching in the Ferguson protests following the shooting of Mike Brown—he questions whether or not it was the right thing for him to do. He wonders if his music is appropriating Black culture, or if he is disrespecting the art of rap by making more “poppy,” radio-friendly hits.
The track features Jamila Woods, a poet and singer from Chicago, best known for her hook on “Sunday Candy” by Donnie Trumpet and The Social Experiment.
White Privilege Macklemore Meaning
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Macklemore talked about his internal struggle over whether or not to write this song,
It’s easier, as a white person, to be silent about racial injustice. It’s easier. On paper. But it’s not easier on the whole, because injustice affects all of us, whether we know it or not, whether we acknowledge it or not. At a certain point, this song might affect sales, this might affect touring, but it doesn’t matter if I’m not speaking up – if I’m not pushing myself to speak truth.'
Macklemore also discussed this internal struggle in 2012 on “A Wake,” in which he describes a dilemma following the shooting of Trayvon Martin.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis White Privilege Ii
XP, one of the song’s writers, told Genius that the song came from conversations had among Macklemore, Ryan Lewis, Jamila Woods, Nikkita Oliver, and Hollis Wong-Wear.