Looks like the publishers are using the same art director
There’s a big push from mainstream media to highlight the fact that Hip-Hop music and rap videos are for the most part mysoginistic. Whoop dee fucking doo. For those of us that use our brains to think we understand that AMERICAN culture is mostly mysoginistic, and patriarchal, and homophobic. Blaming rap music as the source for these attitudes is totally disingenuous, but that doesn’t mean that rap music et al doesn’t play it’s own lane as a spoke in the wheel of supremacy.
When FOXY BROWN was arrested this weekend I took a minute to look at the popular Hip-Hop landscape to see what women exist within it as characters and the most prominent character that came to my mind was REMY MA. Do you realize that almost all the women that have come to rap music over the last ten years are essentially all the same person in two dimensions? The fact that background dancers in music videos are a more valuable commodity than female rappers is further proof that the lady emcee is dead. What career path do I have for a young lady with rhyme skills? There’s not even enough room to break into the celebrity filled line up of HU$TLE SIMMONS ‘Def Poetry Jam’.
I place a lot of the responsibility of teaching the youth on women and that has to stop since we are under attack as a community from multiple angles. When I say community I refer to all the people that want to live and raise their families free from the hyper-sexualization, hyper-consumerism, hyper-violence that the mainstream media machines perpetuate. The MSM does it from reality shows, to newspapers, to music CD’s. Even toy companies are conscripted to manufacture dildos for children. So how do we regular folks put a chink in the MSM’s armor? I’m planning a media blackout week for myself beginning after shabbas this weekend. No television, no radio, and even more importantly, no internets. It will be time for me to get back into reading books again.
Speaking of books… I told you about this joint last week for Valentine’s Day and the more I read inside of it the more I am in love with the poetry and the composition of the book. SUPA SISTA did her thing with this project and I beg y’all to give her a look. You won’t be disappointed. Also, she is raising a daughter and son in OUR community. That shit is hard work.
‘Passion, Pride and Politickin‘
Combat Jack loves the babies.
My husband and I often say that God has entrusted us with the toughest task you can ever have…..raising two black sons in America.
Even if you don’t have children, you all know a child that could use a mentor. A cousin, a nephew or niece, a friend’s child….everyone knows a child that is giving their parent’s a hard time.
It’s not enough to say…That kid is acting up. As a people, we owe it to OUR children to step in and try to save them. The knowledge that we have collectively (as is evidenced in everyone’s writing and stories) is a great gift to pass on to someone coming up, headed down the same road.
Think about it. I know we all have some wisdom that a young person could use right now.
Good post DP.
It’s all about engaging the youth. At my job kids float in and out, recently my ace and I did a men’s group and stepped to them with the prospect of coming together for a business venture…all of them are down for it. Problem is I gotta keep it low cause my “job” won’t be for what we’re talking about. If I just shut it down I’d lose all those cats and nothing the minds “above” me can come up with would win them back. Real talk is we can talk about all the positivity we want, but if we don’t address getting these cats fed and making it so they can keep eating…they’ll go another way.
^ Real talk
”No Internets’.
I bet Dallas won’t last the weekend. I give him till Saturday before he cracks.
lol hes a gonner
Good post Dallas…
Mainstream media is definitely out of control with the programs and music aired on a 24 hour basis. Without the appropriate guidance, it seems pretty hard for the kids to escape.
The crap music, the videos, and television swallows them whole. We are definitely in need of a change for our youth’s sake.
What gets me about folks in the entertainment industry is that some have a lot of power to move folks. Why not use your fame and visibility for something other than talking about the same old lame, ignorant ish (liqour, jewelry, T&A, the usual)? Also, how many more sexy R&B singers and self made rap hoochies does the entertainment world need?
I agree Candice. We have to do what we can to help. I’m not a mother yet, but my hubby and I are working on my nephew who’s 16 (trying to get him focused) ….he’s been a BUSY kid…..it’s very hard.
Where will black America be in 10 years? We’ve been on a steady decline as a community? We’ll hopefully in the next 5 years my ass will be done with college, I’ll have a good job, a nice crib in the burbs, and a fine ass wifey by my side. Then I can forget about all these problems affecting the community.
lol, na, but things are messed up though. But seriously how can you go against the media machine that has brainwashed so many people.
If I could suggest any book, it would be “Haunted” by Chuck Palahniuk.