Post
by Jester » Sun Jan 29, 2006 10:20 am
First, one point I would like to make is this. I don't rip on something just because I don't like it. I don't like Country music, or Elvis, Barry Manilow, The Carpenters, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, etc, etc. These artists, type of music aren't my taste, but I don't rip into these things. Why? Because even though I don't like these types of music, I recognize their talent, and don't really feel that they have had a negative impact on society at large.
Here is how I feel Rap has negatively effected things
1. Rap glorifies violence, and other criminal activities. It also glorifies the abuse of Women both physically and verbally. Regardless of your position on Iraq, or any war, we all universally condemn war as being a terrible thing because people get killed. I say then, lets be consistent. People get killed every day doing the things these people glorify.
2. It further perpetuates a negative stereotype of Black people. This isn't just my opinion. Charles Barkley and Bill Cosby are just a few prominent Blacks that have come out and said these types of things. Cosby said this, "In the negative portrayal of young African-Americans, the Ku-Klux-Klan couldn't do a better job (than Rap music) if they tried."
3. It feeds the culture of hopelessness among the poor. By glorifying a criminal lifestyle it fosters the idea that the only way you can achieve things in life is to steal, sell drugs, kill, and run prostitution. My boss is a Black man. He grew up in a "bad neighborhood". He didn't give in to these trappings. He believed in himself, worked hard, and held his morals. He didn't get where he is today by accident. I also consider him a friend, probably the only person I seek out in the office when I need advice in dealing with things in my own life, I value his opinion. He agrees with these points too by the way.
4. It has helped foster a negative culture in professional sports. You have to follow sports to really get this one but if you do you know what I'm talking about.
I'm not saying that everyone who listens to it sucks, and will amount to nothing in life. I'm not calling for censorship. Rap isn't the only ingredient here but it does play a role. I believe that it capitalizes and preys on the very people it claims "help" .
This is my opinion, take it or leave it. I'm not NARROWMINDED, but I am certainly not NAIVE either.
Jesse
"All people improve the gene pool, some by birth, some by their demise".