No Snitching

Cam'ron told the world that he would not inform the police if he knew a serial killer was living in neighborhood, and mainstream America went crazy. How could someone not cooperate with law enforcement when they have valuable information to aid in a criminal investigation? This was the introduction to the "No Snitching" movement in America's hip hop culture.
Let's venture through the history of this country. The basis of hip hop is deeply rooted in the African American story, which began as we have learned with a massive importation, if you will, of African residents into the New World. Once here, these new "Americans" were allowed the opportunity to "work" the land. Be it severe or light, servitude was the plan of action for the non-citizens (another topic to be addressed later).
Somewhere along the line, it was deemed appropriate to allow the imported non-citizens to live free lives in a certain part of the country and remain in prized possessions in another. Naturally, those that were still in captivity would eventually crave this free status. Just as a calculator is valued by an accountant a crew of well developed and bred slaves was a great value to land owner producing any cash crop. Letting those possessions go would not be entertained by many.
Let's get to the issue at hand. Across the country enslaved men began to seek freedom by any mean available. Although uneducated, these workers planned escapes and revolts to claim what other freedmen had obtained just by being in the "right place at the right time." For their troubles, these enslaved individuals had to contend not only with the threat of punishment from failed attempts but the fact that their ranks may be infested with informants, traitors, SNITCHES. Eventually it became common practice to reward these informants with freedom (what a turn of events). And then there were two alternatives to becoming free, rebelling successfully or successfully destroying one. The powers-that-be have created the division.
Now, you can fast forward to the roaring 1900's. The Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution has "freed" the descendants of slaves, but these rights were not guaranteed through the craftsmanship of those manipulating the law in the interest of keeping the old traditions alive. Through the course of the 20th Century, certain African Americans felt the need to fight to be respected as citizens as those that had oppressed them. History reminds us that not ALL African Americans, Blacks, or Negros embraced this need as a matter of fact, a sector that felt change was not something that "we could" or should pursue. This sect began to associate themselves with civil rights organizations of the time for the soul purpose of gaining information to destroy them.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation was created and commonly practiced collusion; the use of informants and information tainting became common practice. What did these SNITCHES receive for their work? Ultimately, they received nothing due to the fact that the Movement did occur. At the time, they received monetary compensation to provide information to civil rights opposition. They also had the hope of retaining a system of oppression.
For African Americans, this practice of informing law enforcement, the enemy, or anyone that will listen became common practice within the community (yet another discussion). With each passing day, more and more people find themselves in the eye of informants. These people are not even giving valuable information that will prosecute a criminal but just sharing what they have witnessed just to talk so to speak. This culture has grown into pop culture and birthed a movement in retaliation.
It's not about the serial killer in Cam'ron's neighborhood. It's not about the fact that others in the community are in danger. The big issue at hand is that power structure has breeched the trust of certain people through shady practices. Is the reward for giving up the information worth it or is it for the purpose of destroying a movement?

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