'The World Is A Ghetto'

The band, War, conceived albums that correctly mirrored the times and pop culture of their era, particularly the 1970s. 

Not being born until 1980, I can only judge this time period based on the pop culture of the time. Although writers had been chronicling the plight of the poor (and that of the African American) for decades, it wasn’t until the 1970s that music, TV and film followed – all a decade after the Civil Rights movement, Great Society legislation and the ebb of the folkie/hippie protest movement. 

There seemed to be a settling here, and I’m talking out of my butt here. Things were “better” because the Vietnam War would start to wind down, legislation for rights fought for in the 1960s were taking root. On paper, things were “getting better.” 

However, it also appears that this time period is when the poor started associating themselves – with an overwhelming amount of pride – with their neighborhoods, or ghettos. It’s seen first hand during the busing riots in Boston. Granted, it had a lot to do about race. It also had a lot to do with how we identify ourselves with where we live, the people that live around us and how poor (or rich) we are. 

I find it interesting that a lot of sitcoms from this era (and even the 1980s) would show the front of the house during the opening credits. Many show a car ride’s view of the surrounding area. This is notable in All in the Family. Overhead view of the Good Times neighborhood is prevalent. 

The World is a Ghetto is a dark soundtrack to these streets and alleys. There isn’t the canned laughter of sitcoms. There aren’t the heroes of the films. It’s a group of guys telling an honest story of people that are stuck with almost no hope. 

War actually started in Los Angeles, unique for being multi-cultural in the line-up. They first backed up Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Deacon Jones. Then they were discovered by former Animal Eric Burdon, who recorded two albums and toured with War. He left the band mid-tour in Europe and a year later they released their own record. A year after that, they gave us The World is a Ghetto.