Look at me! I’m a petite, white, middle-aged professional. So what’s a woman like me to do in Omaha, Nebraska on a Thursday evening?

How about break social norms and sit in the Marcus Theater and see “Straight Outta Compton”-the R rated biography film about life in southern Los Angeles County in the 80’s and 90’s, as portrayed through gangster rap group N.W.A.  As usual, I did no research on the movie before taking a seat. Of course, I’ve heard the media hype about the film and the threat of riots at theaters that thankfully never happened. But I knew nothing about the film’s content.

We sat down, looked around and didn’t see anyone matching our profile. It’s not well-known that Ken and I follow hip hop artists and enjoy rap music. In fact, with blinds closed, almost nightly we get our exercise by busting moves in our kitchen to every style of music. A few years back we owned a DJ service in the Deep South where it was necessary to know, appreciate and play everything from Tupac to Biggie Smalls to shag music, entertaining party-goers of all types. So while we might look like misfits, our comfort level and historical knowledge of N.W.A. is right on target.

Even after 2.5 hours I didn’t want “Straight Outta Compton” to end. I craved up-to-the-minute updates on the main characters. I left revved up; my heart literally beating faster. I get how young black men can get jacked up by the lyrics and rhythms of the music, especially in large group settings. The language in the film is crude and vulgar as are the interactions with groupies after concerts, leaving no doubt in my mind that what I was seeing actually happened and most likely in a more exaggerated form than what was allowed to be shown on film. The police interactions were horrific and the behavior of the N.W.A members surely wouldn’t make their mother’s proud. Yet, despite all of the turmoil and individual challenges, many of the N.W.A. members are by today’s standards quite successful. Ice Cube is a well-known musician, actor and film and record producer while Dr. Dre is a record producer, rapper and entrepreneur who recently sold Beats Electronics to Apple Inc.

All can learn something from “Straight Outta Compton” regardless of your profile or musical interests. It might make you uncomfortable. Go anyway. It is my experience that the more uncomfortable I am with the content of a movie, the stronger the message is. I squirmed. I was appalled. I grooved. I left charged up. I gained insight into the plight of young black men in major urban areas and I encourage you to go see what you learn from the film.

EXPRESS YOURSELF!

Copyright August 2015 Linda Leier Thomason