Democrat and Chronicle editorial response Part 2 - 9.24.2007.4

Continued from Democrat and Chronicle editorial response Part 1...

Another part of the dropout rate could be seen in the inability of many rappers to speak English, some making up words and virtually a whole language rather than learning how to use their native language. The lack of educated gangsta rappers (who are seen as role models by some) also adds to the motivation of dropping out. Add to that the implication of violent crimes being more ‘manly’, lucrative, and preferable to honest work and you have another factor.

I would note that the prison population has increased, and the proportion of younger African Americans in jails, since 1992. Equally of note is the number of drug related crimes that they are in jail for.

In America, famous individuals are role models for those that wish to follow someone. Regardless of the denial by celebrities and entertainers, they are role models. Given that, we have seen a move from figures like Michael Jordan to 50 cent since 1992. Where Mr. Jordan represents a successful businessman, with a college degree, no criminal record, and worldwide fame, we see 50 cent as a convicted drug dealer that used violence as part of his daily actions, and was a victim of that same violence. 50 cent has made use of his violent past to glorify and promote his lifestyle. Which is a better image?

Language is the verbalization of thought. The ability to communicate those internal thoughts is reflected by that verbalization. As abovementioned gangsta rap ignores actual language on a regular basis, and uses the most simplistic grammatical format even when inappropriate. This is a limitation of communication, which affects verbalization and thus the mind.

The acceptance of gangsta rap, since 1992, and its strong connection to illegal drug use implies a public acceptance of drugs. Much as the use of alcohol and cigarettes was found to be a massive influence on the public, and thus not allowed on television or in magazines for decades, the same correlation can be found in gangsta rap music.

Because of the language used in rap music, people internationally are lead to the belief that such terminology applied to African Americans is common and acceptable, as they have no context or comparative information to counter that belief. As I have often heard, ‘Why is that a bad word? They say it in the videos all the time. Isn’t it right?’

Perhaps these reasons and others are too subjective for JWilliams and others. Perhaps there is no smoking gun, and they cannot connect the actions in one place and the results in the other. But I believe there are. More importantly I believe that even if there is a potential for these items to be related, it has too much of a potential harm.

Much as there has not been definitive connections of lung cancer to smoking (there is not) or heart attacks to fast food, a reasonable person can fill in the gap. To think this is merely a politically correct issue is to accept that children taking drugs, having multiple children to multiple fathers out of wedlock, violence in various forms, and lack of education as rhetorical issues. I for one cannot.

Some might say the acceptance of rap is no different than the acceptance of smoking, or calling African Americans the N-word, or lynching for looking at the wrong person. Each was considered acceptable at one point in this nation’s history. Thankfully they are not today, though I do not agree with such an extreme view of gangsta rap. To minimize the importance and impact of this genre of music is to ignore the impact it has.

I submit this as the last piece of proof. If gansta rap was of little importance, with no impact on America or the Black community, why do so many companies spend millions to promote it and reap billions from it? That’s not politically correct, that’s economics. And if economics prove anything, it’s that someone is paying a lot of attention.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Democrat and Chronicle editorial response - 9.24.2007.3

Wow. I’ve heard various reasons why some defend gansta rap, but never one quite like this.

At issue is the editorial by Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. In this they comment on the public pressure that has been placed on this genre of rap music, and commercial organizations (such as Black Entertainment Television) that profit off the promotion of this genre.

“While speaking with one's wallet is a powerful tool, it doesn't mean society should abdicate its responsibility to hold rappers and music executives responsible for much of the junk that passes for hip-hop music these days.

The fact that Black Entertainment Television, one of the major enablers of violent and misogynistic music, has decided to put together a three-part series, Hip-Hop vs. America, is another telling sign of what public pressure can do.”

The response by JWilliams at 5:04am is what struck me. Somehow JWilliams felt that this is a non-issue. Specifically

“…what consequences there are of gangster rap's prevalence, you certainly cannot quantify them; you in essence have no idea about how bad or good gangster rap is, only your pre-conceived dubious notions…”

I wish to provide some of those quantified consequences. Some of my reasons are based in the facts that have been widely reported, others just my personal observations. I’m sure most will be qualified as ‘dubious notions’.

The emergence of gangsta rap began in 1992 with N.W.A. This form of rap promoted the use of drugs and the violence found in that lifestyle. That is not to say that police violence and injustice in the legal system was not also addressed, but the preference was to these issues.

It can be noted that the growth of gangs, such as the Bloods and Crips went lock and step with the growth of this music format. It is accepted that the primary income from these gangs is drugs and violent crimes.

It has been stated for over a decade that gangsta rap denigrates women. It promotes the image that women are a commodity, without souls or a purpose greater than the sexual gratification of a man. View any current rap video and you can see that. This constant barrage of worthlessness creates an environment where women can have a lowered sense of self-esteem. That can result in a multitude of issues, from eating disorders, to lack of education and beyond.

One aspect of the lowered self-esteem is the perception that education is not a positive in a woman. This goes hand in hand with the thoughts that a man is above a woman, and that a woman should not be more educated than a man. That is one factor in the current 50% or greater dropout rate today, I believe.

Continued in Part 2...

Further thoughts on the Black Entertainment Television PSA Part 2 - 8.13.2007.3

Continued from Further thoughts on the Black Entertainment Television PSA Part 1...

I’m surprised it’s a PSA; it looked like a viral video people look up on the internet when they are bored. I’m not surprised it’s on BET, but it wouldn’t get on regular television. No network would clear it.

41 year old White male-

I’m outraged. It’s an insult to the Black culture. At first it starts and looks like it’s for kids and then BOOM! Holy cow.

You know if I said that… someone would shoot me.

They are taking the wrong direction. Saying all that vulgarity for kids is setting a bad example. This should be protested and BET should be banned.

It looks like it’s targeted to 11-14 year old mentality, but I’d never let my kids see it. There needs to be a broader reach, a wider span. I mean it can be done with more class.

I think those responses say a lot about this PSA that BET has place on its cable network channel. Many see no upside. No one I know thinks there is a positive to this. But there are those that do think this is great.

CDBaby states –

An instant crunk classic available exclusively on itunes. You’ve seen the video, make sure you request it on the radio. Taking southern hip-hop places you never thought it would go.

A commenter states –
Reviewer: Eugene Williams, Jr.

Mr. Armah has cleverly given black American youth the positive message they need without sounding corny or preachy. He is telling our young people what they need to hear. Quiet as it’s kept, Mr. Armah is simply telling us to do all the things that Bill Cosby is trying to tell us to do, only in a different more "hood-palatable" format. If our church and community leaders can get past the explicit language and take time to listen to the timely and ironically positive message, this song will do for the black community what rap was originally intended to do!!!!

I’m just too old to know, or want to know, what exactly ‘crunk’ is. I get the general impression though. So CDBaby seems to feel BET has made a classic. Yes that’s great, 50 years from now people will remember the day when the illiterate, dirty, alcoholic Black masses where shown the light to a better life when Viacom stepped in and helped them out of their miserable lives.

If you are wondering, that was exactly what was said by European explorers, and slavers, that went to Africa some 400 years ago. I’m so happy we have moved so far forward that some can quote those words today ands would like to have them said in the future.

As for Mr. Williams, I must presume that speaking to the youth of this nation – directly at only the African American youth – without using expletives is being “corny or preachy”. How time has changed, because I remember back when speaking to a person was about giving respect to get it. Maybe that is why there has been so much angst about the words of Dr. Bill Cosby, he just needs to curse out the youth and they will all get it.

Continued in Part 3...

Fighting against gansta rap - 6.23.2007.3

Here is something that I noticed at African American Opinion.

As long-time readers of this blog know, I have no love of gansta rap. I enjoy rap music, mostly from before 1992, and most R&B but not the insistence that this genre has on drugs, committing crimes, violence and degrading of women. This opinion is shared by many, for more than a decade, and now a campaign has started to combat this in a visible and direct manner.

The campaign will put up billboards in cities throughout the nation that advertise against gansta rap. I support this movement and will provide a link for their fundraising efforts.

You can contact the African American Opinion publisher via email at: AAPublisher@gmail.com for more information, mention that you heard about it here.

Dark brown means... Part 2 - 4.19.2007.3

Continued from Dark Brown means... Part 1

I would bet that the controversy over Mr. Imus makes no sense in most countries, if the story was covered at all. In countries where commercials that contain Black Americans (or just Blacks) are called the N-word, I would guess the controversy never was covered. And don’t delude yourself to think that I’m speaking of 3rd world nations. In my opinion overseas, Germans, Italians, Belgians, Arabs, and so on all hold similarly negative views. In each case, in my experience, they all point to music videos as well as news footage to confirm their reasoning.

So I’m not surprised that a Chinese translation (given that it was old, but still used) would define dark brown as it did. I’m not surprised that foreigners fear and shun Black Americans on sight. I’m not surprised that the words N-word, felon, criminal, drug addict, and Black American can be often used interchangeably. We use it in this manner in music videos and conversation, why shouldn’t they.

Words are power. The meaning and the understood meaning affect action intimately. They affect potential business transactions, reinforce cultural beliefs, and personal attitudes. If you think that how the world views African Americans isn’t important then you don’t understand how the world works. What may be a misguided greeting to you is a reason for a CEO not to build a store or factory in Detroit or in D.C. or other parts of the country, thus preventing jobs or giving opportunities to improve the lives of some people. Bling may be an impressive word to you, but to an overseas corporation it’s a reason to sell sub-prime loans in an area, or to market over-priced clothing, or sub-standard goods. Presumed ignorant, drug-addled, poor with one of the strongest currencies in the world are always a good target for profit without consideration of morality. I mean why should a corporation care if it is gouging prices or selling inferior goods to people who refer to their mothers and children with terms worse than used to describe a dog?

And that’s how a couch gets labeled the N-word in Canada. By the way, when was the last time you checked the label on anything that has a dark brown or black color in your home or possession? If you just wondered about checking them, maybe the disparaging words, like N-word, don’t mean what you think or want them to.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Remakes, I told you so - 1.20.2007.2

Well don’t say I didn’t warn you. Reviews are out for the re-made movie, The Hitcher. Without any shock I see that it is almost universally panned. I knew it when I first mentioned from the promo shots what I thought of the movie. The villain is far less intimidating than Mr. Rutger Hauer’s Ryder. The protagonist is now the woman (of course) and even less believable that Mr. C. Thomas Howell’s unlucky lead. Gore has replaced actual plot or interesting action. Like most of the re-makes in recent time this only serves to motivate a trip to Blockbuster for the best version.

Of course there are even new lows in the world of re-makes. It seems that the various advertising companies have lost any hope of new ideas, or at least the one that made this decision. I’m speaking of the new Orville Redinbocker Popcorn commercials. For those that don’t know, there was a real man by this name. He did own the company, and the picture on packages is his. He did many commercials for his company in the 80’s, until he died.

But dead is only a temporary setback for ad creators without vision and on a deadline. There are now commercials that have brought back a computer enhanced version of Mr. Redinbocker. That’s just sad. It says something about the company and the ad guys, and in my opinion that’s not a good thing. One thing for sure, I won’t buy their product. If they can’t respect the dead, nor their own company’s founder I have doubts on what they think of the living. Using a corpse to hock their goods is just low class, and the bottom of the barrel in my opinion. Maybe you disagree, or didn’t know. My bet is that they are counting on the fact that the youth of today have no idea that the man existed. I hope Wendy’s doesn’t follow on this poor taste bandwagon.

In more hopeful thoughts the movie Smokin Aces seems good. While it is a January film (usually not a good sign) and it does have 2 hip-hop entertainers [Ms. Alicia Keys and Common] in it (incredibly bad sign) I hope it will be good. Mr. Jeremy Piven is quite an actor, as is Mr. Ryan Reynolds, Mr. Ray Liotta, and Mr. Andy Garcia. It looks to be stylish, with some type of plot and really good music and effects. Either way I will check it out. I might get surprised and the hip-hop wanna-be actors may be good, or at least have incredibly small roles if they aren’t. Anyone want to take odds on their performances?

This is what I think, what do you think?

NBA code

I am amazed at times by the silly and often tunneled-visioned responses that come out of the publics mouths. To hear that some people would ever claim that a dress code is an infringement of personal expression is ludicrous. To further state that it is racist is beyond words.

The fact that we are speaking about a small group of multi-millionares is not as relavant as the fact that we are speaking about a business. The NBA, like the NFL or NHL ect., are all businesses and that is the bottom line. Like any other business there are expectations of its employees, to be polite and presentable when dealing with the public. When was the last time you went into a major business establishment and found a punk rock-attired employee (outside of companies where such attire is part of the daily operation and image)? How many Goths are in full regailia as they serve you dinner in a resturant or selling you a new car?

In addition to that is the fact that, as Sarah Fredericks [as an example but not to single her out] states in her comment to the Albany times Union "Being a player in the NBA is a relaxed profession, not your typical 9-to-5 office job." This is something I do agree with, but she goes on to say "The NBA is sending a message to young fans, all right: Unless you adhere to the certain mold created and maintained by the dominant group, there is little chance you will prevail."

While the NBA is not a 9-5 office job, it is a job. And it is a job that directly interacts with the public on a global scale. Is it a smart descision for the owners and advertisers to alienate any portion of that worldwide market? And why would any owners of any business want to have an association (inferred or otherwise) with anything that promotes drugs, irresponsibility, violence, crime and derrogation of women (which the majority of hip-hop songs currently do) as an example.

As for the second statement, is it so horrible to expect the youth of today to dress in a classier style than 3XXX size garments and overabundant amounts of jewlery? Is it somehow mindless to wear and look good in suits (designer hand made in the case of these multi-millionares). Is Puffy any less of a creative figure due to the suits and ofits he wears (most being decidedly non-hiphop)? What about a statement made by Michael Jordan which I will paraphrase as I recall it, that as an international figure that recieves media attention worldwide he feels it is his responsibility to always be seen in public looking as good as possible, since he cannot say what impression will be made on the youth that happen to see him outside of his work, but that he want it to be a positive one.

I won't go into the thought that seems to be expressed often that the black/minority youth of today should be encouraged to seek out a life in sports at the exclusion of learning and the pursuit of knowledge. But to state that a dress code to maintain a unified and coherent business image during their extremely short work season that is positive, is restrictive to this group of multi-millionares is just laffable.

But what do you think?