Sister Souljah Gives Voice to Black Anger

“We are at war,” New York rapper Sister Souljah said harshly during an interview on the eve of the release Tuesday of her debut album on Epic Records. “I am a soldier in this war.”

Other female rappers, notably MC Lyte and Queen Latifah, have addressed issues of black pride and unity, but in a positive, harmonious manner. So it will be a shock for many rap fans to hear the strident, militant views of Sister Souljah (pronounced soul-juh).

An uncompromising black nationalist who sometimes even makes Ice Cube seem soft (he makes a guest appearance on the album, incidentally), she said that she is talking about a black-white race war in America.

“Despite what we’ve been lulled into believing, it is a race war--don’t kid yourself,” continued Sister Souljah, who has been described as a raptivist--a rapper and activist.

During the interview this week in a West Hollywood hotel room, the pudgy, baby-faced Sister Souljah--who’s twentysomething--didn’t kid about much of anything. An articulate and impassioned speaker, she’s like a young Malcolm X, thoroughly committed to getting her message of black unity across to her people.

“That’s the most important thing in my life . That’s what I’m here for--what I live for,” she insisted.

She effectively conveys her message on the album, “360 Degrees of Power,” a stark, disturbing primer on black power. She uses crude street language and scathing humor to convey her controversial ideas--such as the argument that God is black and that white feminist leaders are devious lesbians whose goals include separating black men and women.

But it’s the anti-white part of her message that’s bound to get the most attention. “360 Degrees of Power” seems certain to be attacked as hate-mongering and racist--if it sells enough to attract attention at all.

Sister Souljah--who was in Los Angeles to participate in a panel discussion sponsored by UCLA’s African Student Union at 2 p.m. today at the university’s Sunset Canyon Recreation Center--maintains that she couldn’t care less about criticism of her message. She is just hoping that it sells a lot because that will mean someone is listening.

“Call it prejudice, I don’t care,” Sister Souljah said of her attack on whites. “When I see whites, I see people who for generations were oppressing my people. Knowing their history, how can I feel favorable toward any whites?”

Given all the marketing ploys in the music business, many observers may wonder whether the views expressed in the album are merely designed to draw attention to herself--a marketing strategy.

But Sister Souljah--a term that she says means soldier or fighter--has a long history of activism in the New York area. Born Lisa Williamson, she was raised by her divorced mother in New York and New Jersey on welfare, living in public housing. “I’ve been a dedicated activist as far back as I can remember,” she offered.

Her mother, she said, stressed the value of education, prompting her to attend Rutgers University, where she is within a few units of obtaining a degree. Despite the demands of her rap career, she’s still active on the college lecture circuit and in community organizing.

In recent years, she has coordinated youth conferences, founded two youth organizations and promoted a series of hip-hop concerts at New York’s Apollo Theatre to finance a summer camp for homeless kids.

She got started in rap a couple of years ago when she met some of the members of Public Enemy and actually joined the group briefly before starting a solo career.

“I don’t care about the money,” Sister Souljah concluded. “I don’t care about fame, or reaching the pop mainstream or getting on this radio station or that radio station. I’m not looking to be a star. I’m getting a message across. . . . If it (doesn’t work out in rap), I’ll try something else.”