Music and racism

Factual Questions
1

I was reading this thread
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=43034

and I saw a link to the ADL directory of hate symbols. I started reading though it and came across 311 as a listed hate number.

http://www.adl.org/hate_symbols/numbers_311.html

Anyway, I was wondering if the band 311 is a white supremaces band, I didn’t think thier songs reflected it but I’m not a real big fan. Also are there any other “main stream” bands that actually suport hate?

2

I would say that a bunch of wannabe funky rappers would be the least likely group to be racist… I don’t know what inspired 311’s name, but I doubt very much it is this.

Yer pal,
Satan

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3

As much as I hate to actually defend a ‘band’ such as 311, I suggest you go to Snopes and do a database search on this one.

4

IIRC, the band got it’s name from the police code. 311=Indecent exposure, or something like that.

5

Here you go:

http://www.snopes.com/music/artists/311.htm

6

FWIW, I think the “311=racist symbol” cropped up because the letter ‘K’ is the eleventh letter of the alphabet, 311=KKK.

But I don’t think the band 311 is racist, just a Rage Against the Machine clone cleaned up for FM “Alternative” radio . . .