Black Revolution

The struggle in Hebron is not all about the Israel/Palestine conflict; it's also a social struggle, a fight to break free from the chains of tradition. Hebron is probably the most conservative city in the West Bank where traditions are clearly present in everyday life. Men and foremost women are bound by a strict dress code and it's rare to see men and women together in public. The liberation of the woman is more distant here than in Ramallah for instance. The traditional rules of social interaction and behavior are put into practice by the dominant and rich patriarchal-families of the city that passes the traditions from one generation to next. I often hear indirect and direct critique against the situation, people feel trapped and stifled by the rules of society. Not obeying will of course not lead to any legal punishment but you may end up becoming an outcast. Alternative ways of living are hard to find, although they do exist.

Yesterday I saw the seed of an alternative Hebron. I and the other volunteers from Hebron saw the only hip hop band from Hebron, "Black Revolution", performing at a concert in Bethlehem (about 30 km north of Hebron). When Black revolution was created they called themselves "The Strangers" because they felt that nobody understood them and their music. Both their names say a lot and explain their position in society.

Recently they managed to convince the Hebron University to let them play at the examination party. However, in the last minute, the university canceled their show because they didn't think hip hop was appropriate for the occasion. But they keep on pursuing their dream of becoming Hebron’s first international famous hip hop band. They took a first step yesterday. With good beats and nice vocals they made an emotional impact on the audiance. I'm a fan. I hope they will keep on perfecting their art and bloom as a new and beautiful flower on the monotonous fields of Hebron. Thus enriching the flora and encouraging others to the same; pursuing their dreams, whatever they may be.

When (hopefully when) the Israeli occupation of Palestine is history, Hebron will not only be an economical centre of the West Bank but also a vibrant city where diversity bloom and alternative lifestyles are respected. And I can say that I was there at the beginning and saw one of the actors who made Hebron what it is, Black Revolution.