As Australians, we would like to believe we live in a diverse and welcoming society. Our generally privileged and protected environment allows the vast majority to feel accepted and proudly call Australia their home. But we would also be ignorant if we believed that our culturally not so sensitive past of discrimination isn't hiding in the shadows. We live in a multicultural society and must show tolerance and acceptance towards everyone. Words traditionally created out of hate and disgust have become increasingly popular in the global music industry and provide too many opportunities for the wrong people to use the wrong words. This can be triggered by the type of music we listen to. Mainstream artists often include racial slurs in their lyrics which, although censored by commercial radio, are readily available for all to listen to through other sources such as Spotify or YouTube. It's time we Australians stand up to this language and allow our country to come together as one, regardless of our skin color and cultural heritage. Using a single hateful word can set a precedent for violence and hatred, which I'm sure we can agree no one would want. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay On October 23, 2017, Kendrick Lamar, an African-American rap artist, invited a Caucasian woman to sing a song heavily laced with racial slur references that were once commonly used to offend people of her ethnicity. It has become extremely unacceptable for this term to be used as an insult, given its connection to slavery and the oppression of black people. In modern times, within the black community, its meaning has shifted from being a derogatory term towards people of color to simply meaning friend both in the rap industry and beyond. The n-word has become appropriated as a measure of status, forgetting the cultural context at its roots. Lamar was performing in Alabama, a Southern state known for its long history of slavery, but a white woman didn't see the meaning behind the word and simply thought people were booing her because she wasn't "pretty enough." A simple solution would be to ask rappers and people in the public eye to stop using racially offensive words since, unfortunately, ignorant people use such words to justify their blatant racism. The power and strength given to artists who create music, offers guidance to their listeners and, depending on your choice of language, can help bring peace or deepen the divide. Music is meant to be a platform where people can express their opinions and talk about a situation. a story with words, not a place where people have to skip every second word because the lyrics aren't suitable for all races. Statistics show that over 50% of hip hop and rap listeners are Caucasian, despite their target audience being African American. But it's not at all about prioritizing white comfort over the empowerment of artists' race and culture, but about mutual respect. In Australia, it is illegal to publicly behave or speak to others in a racist manner, so why is it okay to sing words we are taught not to say? The law specifically exempts music, but more will listen to Kendrick Lamar's words than anyone else's public outburst. Indigenous-Australian rap artist, Adam Briggs, aims to harness the power of words to..