Hip Hop Revolution, Essay Example

Jeffrey Ogbar, author of Hip Hop Revolution: The Culture of Politics and Rap, made two key points that opens the door for a lot of discussion. First he argues that it is important for us to understand how negative images of African Americans in the United States have permeated the psyche and perception of the general public due to media manipulation. Then he states,“Hip-hop’s earliest development was shaped by the thrust of the Black Power moment. In this era, African Americans initiated a vast corpus of cultural production that rejected minstrel-like figures.” (Ogbar)Personally, there is some arguments to that statement. Media manipulation and race identity can be dictated by stereotypical presentations, however if the majority of society disproved these exaggerated perceptions, they would not continue to be associate with that race.

When racial issues arise, it is never an easy topic to discuss. There has to be a reason for it, so this is where the blame game begins. It’s because of this or that, and finding the reason leads to a lot of assumptions and finger pointing. To-date, there is no scientific discovery that shows exactly where stereotypes stem from, but they are very alive and kicking. Therefore the history and cause of stereotypes are just like stereotypes, based on personal opinions. Ogbar believes that media manipulation is the reason that African Americans have a negative perception from the general public. This could be a contributing factor for individuals who have no alternate interactions or exposure with African Americans, but for the majority I do not believe this is the situation. Media does have a lot of influence, but how they spin it could only get them so far.

Work, school, college, and social functions are typically made up of all different types of cultures. In today’s society you can’t live without having some type of exposure to people who are different than you. There are so many compositions of people it is hard to group them into a specific category. But that does not stop the stereotypes. “All that is necessary to destroy a person’s character publicly is to take that person and overtly or covertly associate them to something the masses will reject. Never mind if it is true or not, simply to question it or make the association is sufficient.” (Dr. Sam) This is not blaming the media or hip hop music, it is blaming what is unknown or unpopular. Guilty by association. If there is news of young black boys robbing people on the streets, all young black boys will be associated to this actions regardless of their true intentions.

Ogbar explains how rappers strive for authenticity by “keepin’ it real”. Realness dictating how they rap, walk, talk, and make their music. Perhaps the argument that Ogbar makes that the artists set the stage for poor societal views on African Americans as a whole is exaggerated. Their work, music, personal presentation is their own choice, the followers are the ones who are setting the terms for their own cultures. Individuality does not set a negative connotation for a population either. “Keepin it real” is respectable, and it needs to be done by more individuals. Following the hip hop artists is not a bad factor either. Talk how they talk, dress how they dress, but acting out lyrics that are clearly for entertainment purposes, sets the stereotype for that individual.

Artist can choose to rap about killing, drugs, or other actions and call it art. That is their prerogative. However putting that art into action changes the terms. “Many writers and thinkers see a kind of informed political engagement, even a revolutionary potential, in rap and hip-hop. They couldn’t be more wrong. By reinforcing the stereotypes that long hindered blacks, and by teaching young blacks that a thuggish adversarial stance is the properly “authentic” response to a presumptively racist society, rap retards black success” (McWhorter) Mc Whorter is inferring that hip hop is holding society back instead of encouraging its progression. It’s not about progression, it still stems down to a personal decision. Each person makes ups a portion of the entire society. If society wants to be seen as “being-down” that is how they will portray themselves. If a society wants to take themselves out of that stereotype, they will.

By no means is it ok to assume that stereotypes in their entirety hold validity. Stereotypes by definition is an assumption that has been accepted as factual regarding an person, culture, or way of life.It’s a thought, an idea, an assumption, never is it defined as factual. So how the African American community is being seen is based on a thought an idea, but the stereotype has stemmed from something. If the stereotype is not factual, time will change this perception based on the majority not the minority.

Music has a vast amount of genres that appeal to all different listeners. Salsa isn’t just for Latinos, country music isn’t just for cowboys, and Hip Hop is not just for African Americans. According to Elkouby, music is not the problem. “The challenges facing Black America are much bigger than Hip Hop. But for what it’s worth, when untainted by outside influences and corporate vultures, Hip Hop in its purest form is about empowerment, unity, culture, creativity and hope.” (Elkouby) It is an art that is presented to its listeners dictating whatever the artist is trying to get across. Black America is bigger than hip hop, and the stereotypes, positive and negative must stem from somewhere else.

Positive or negative, media portrays individuals in a way that will sell. Its overall goal is not necessarily the truth, but the almighty dollar. This can take a toll on many individuals based on how they are being presented when in a negative way. But consider this, if an individual is stereotyped, and they are anything but how they are presumed to be, in a way they change that stereotype. For example, if a blonde is in a college lecture and answers all the professors’ questions in a scholarly manner, everyone in that class knows that the stereotype of blondes being slower than others is not true. Disproving stereotypes at some point has to have a lasting effect.

Media manipulation and race identity can be dictated by stereotypical presentations, however if the majority of society disproved these exaggerated perceptions, they would not continue to be associate with that race. Jeffrey Ogbar had some very real arguments in what has played a role in the negative associations that coincide with the African American community. There has to be some validity to his arguments and there is an understandable concern regarding the community. However, I would have to argue against his findings because there was not enough factual information to support it. Ogbar’s concern on stereotypes is very valid, however I do not believe that he has pointed the finger at the right culprits. Stereotypes are very real, but they are stereotypes for a reason, and they change as they are disproved.

Works Cited:

Dr. Sam. Media Manipulation of the Masses:How the Media Psychologically Manipulates. Feb 2012. Web.

Elkouby, Sebastien. Is Hip Hop Destroying Black America? 8 Oct 2013. Web.

McWhorter, John H. How Hip-Hop Holds Blacks Back. City Journal, 2003. Web.

Ogbar, Jeffrey. Hip-Hop Revolution: The Culture and Politics of Rap. Print.