Decoding White Supremacy Through Eminem’s ‘White America’

17 years later, Eminem’s 2002 single “White America” remains relevant as ever in deconstructing how America’s social fabric is stitched together by the ugly undercurrents of white supremacy

The Eminem Show: Eminem’s 4th studio album released on May 26th, 2002

I’ve set my playlists to shuffle (as any rationale human being would — what sociopaths out there are actually listening to songs in alphabetical order?!) and Eminem’s “White America” sporadically comes on. I realize I’ve been listening to this song on and off for the past 17 years, and while I was perhaps subconsciously “down” with its message as an 11-year-old, its only now, living as a POC adult in Trump’s America, that I’m better able to decode how important and relevant this song actually is.

I’m going to attempt to break down the key lyrics, and hopefully do justice to Eminem’s message with my interpretations:

The song starts off with this:

“America! (ha ha ha) We love you
How many people are proud to be citizens of this beautiful country of ours?
The stripes and the stars
For the rights that men have died for to protect?
The women and men who have broke their necks
For the freedom of speech the United States…