Open Letter (To A Landlord)

Living Colour's 'Open Letter (To A Landlord)' is a powerful and emotional critique of gentrification and the displacement of communities. The song addresses the landlord directly, accusing them of valuing profit over people and erasing the history and memories embedded in the neighborhood. The lyrics emphasize that while buildings can be demolished, the memories and the intrinsic value of the community cannot be erased. This sentiment is poignantly captured in the lines, 'Now you can tear a building down / But you can't erase a memory.'

The song paints a vivid picture of the neighborhood's decline, exacerbated by the landlord's actions. The mention of a tragic fire that claimed the lives of seven children highlights the human cost of these decisions. The landlord's superficial gestures of sympathy, such as sending flowers, are called out as insincere, as the underlying motive is profit. The lyrics, 'Cause every building that you burn / Is more blood money that you earn,' underscore the exploitation and the pain inflicted on the community.

Living Colour also touches on the broader social issues affecting the neighborhood, such as the impact of drugs on the youth. The song laments the loss of a time when children could play safely, contrasting it with the present reality where 'our kids are living dead.' The call to action in the final lines, 'You've got to fight / You've got a right / To fight for your neighborhood,' serves as a rallying cry for the community to stand up against the forces of gentrification and reclaim their right to their homes and memories.