AFS 2010 Blog #4

Saundra Wells

AFS 2010

Blog #4

HIP HOP vs. AMERICA

 

After reading and listening to the various rap artist on the talk panel with scholars and media personnel. It is evident that the rap industry plays a large part in America’s youth lives.

In the “Hip Hop” world of music the idea of imaginations running wild is a definite awareness for the impressionable youth since the beginning. The Rap industry has held a mystique within their own since rap became as big as rhythm and blues, even as large as jazz among blacks in society today. Hip Hop started out as what seemed to be a retaliation against the rules of society or life, because of the willingness of the Hip Hop artists to go against the “norm” to express themselves through their music. The idea that classic music from artists in the past was used as background harmony for today’s hip hop artist to verbalize their distinctive opinion of today’s world seems a little strange.

The movies Boyz in the Hood and Jungle Fever, both movies produced by a black man to show one regular day in the lives of blacks. Boyz in the Hood provided a vivid portrayal of the gang life Los Angeles whereas a black family headed by a mother no father in the home was raising her two sons and one was an athlete that showed promised of being able to go to college and escape the street life. The other son was a product of the majority of his neighborhood, he was a gang member that was familiar with guns and violence and accepted it as a norm. The idea that a different life could exist outside of the neighborhood in which they were being raised in was not on the fore front of their thoughts each day they woke up. The movie Boyz in the Hood followed this typical east LA family through their normal day and the day contained the shooting of the promising athlete, and the retaliation of more shooting by his gang banger brother. The idea of revenge for the shooting of his brother was one that just seemed normal especially for the atmosphere they lived in. This is the format or explanation that several Hip Hop stars spoke of on the panel in the videos that I had the opportunity to see. Hip Hop vs criminology is what the rap stars were focusing on the idea that what they rap about in their songs is an everyday happening for some. The music behind the story is what makes it entertaining for some and others are shocked by the expression of violence and sexual innuendo’s made by the videos.

 Everyone in this life experiences many different lives, no two are alike. I mean if you look at Jungle fever and see that a “professional” black man who has a beautiful wife and child at home still made the decision to have an affair with a “white” woman. That affair was the start of many unpleasant situations that affects their loved ones as well as highlights the prejudice between whites and blacks. The movie really shows the typical cheating man with another woman who does not think of how his actions will affect his devoted wife or how it will affect his entire family. Again just as the rap artists expressed on the talk panel, rap is real life.

 The Black community accepted rap as a way of expressing the idea of real experiences in life. The way that the expression is portrayed may not be as favorable as some would have it to be, but it is what it is true experiences. The interpretation of each rap video or song is left up to be determined by those that choose to listen to the hip hop music. The rap videos appears to exploit the sexuality of black women, this is done with conflict because the lyrics although are degrading to some others find them a representation of real life. Because black women have experienced the harsh side of violence since slavery days. The chapter two words Black Community speaks of the spread of rap contributed to the promiscuous of sex and the chapter suggests that the spread of Aids and other sexually transmitted diseases came about because of the popularity of rap. I do not see it as such, promiscuity has been around a long time.

The idea of power is displayed in many rap songs, power demonstrated by the actors in the videos showing guns and money along with pretty women dressed in sexy outfits. The videos had and has a big influence on the thought process of young children, especially those who live in areas whereas they are exposed to violence on a daily basis, from street fights to drive by’s. Although children who live in the “suburban” areas and may be the product of a two parent family, are still influenced by the rap industry. Back in the day rock n roll too had underlying sexual tones. The “twist” caused dancers to gyrate their bodies and this was taken as sexual. Who would have thought that this would go any further.

 All of the negativeness that America experiences did not start with the evolution of rap it was always here and just viewed differently. In slavery days the rape of a black female was acceptable because this is what the entity that ruled (white males) had no problem with it. It was wrong but acceptable, now rap who does the same sexual suggestions but with music for entertaining is blasted and put down.  The effect of the portrayal on these few minute rap videos just displays the episodes that has happened to many in this world whether or not we want to admit it. In today’s society children are still influenced by trends, if it looks interesting then they will try it even if the parents do not approve. I am speaking of children of all colors. The rap music is a lot bigger now than the United States it is all over the world and children from all walks of life are trying to be like that star of the rap videos, because it looks interesting.

The Rap music some like and some do not is here to stay whether we want it to or not. The rap videos with all of the glitz and sexual content along with the profanity some have in it will only get worse depending on what sells.

     

AFS 2010 BLOG #3

Saundra Wells

Blog #3

AFS 2010

 

The chapter by Gina Dent on Black Pleasure Black Joy, presented many angles of pleasure one may get in this society and consider it to be a joy. The idea that one may find pleasure in the humiliation of another black person raises the question as blacks Why are so used to being degraded? Well when we were brought forcefully from Africa to be slaves in every sense of the word, we experienced the feeling of humiliation as disgraceful things were done to us. In this chapter Ms. Dent along with other authors on the subject of Black pleasure Black joy help to create some explanations as to blacks have accepted this plight and made it a normal way of life.

In this chapter Andre Lourde  author states “”as our deepest knowledge ,a power that , unlike others spheres of power, we all have access to, and that can lessen the threat of our individual difference.” Lourde was extending an explanation of the pleasure a woman may experience just being a woman and having the freedom to choose what she finds to be stimulating to her most inner being. Joy of course is more of a place we find ourselves when we want to feel elated in our being.

Just as in the video by Bell Hooks she commentates on the treatment of women and the feeling of joy within a black woman, it is not so much as a natural situation the black women are not given a fair chance within the media. The black woman is exploited and treated as if mistreatment is natural. The verbal and mental attacks are natural, because they are used to it. Even in the movies blacks are given parts that are considered to be how their “culture” is perceived. The idea that the sexual exploitations of blacks are okay because they bring in the money to the box offices, and make the producers lots of money. The role of blacks as dope sellers, car thieves and illiterate are okay because they (Blacks) can play these roles well because these are everyday happenings in their lives.

Another view of Black Popular Culture as noted in the chapter by Dent, “it has become increasingly clear that black criticism will have to begin to make use of the more sophisticated cultural analysis that depend on understanding the complexities of video imaging, the dynamics of representation, and reception theories.

In the video by Hooks, she has part that highlights the OJ Simpson trial. The excerpts from the trial actually shows the triumphant moment that Simpson was declared not guilty for killing his wife and another male friend. This tragedy was a terrible injustice to those family members who were forced to watch and relive the last minutes of their loved ones life. The whole trial per Hooks was “spectacle” it concentrated more on the person on trial (OJ) than on the victim (Nicole Simpson) of domestic violence. This clearly was exploited as a black thing and not as a perpetrator and victim. The whole trial was geared to place blacks against whites, all of the evidence that was presented was magnified as the police out to get another black person. When you think of the outcome of this trial you have no choice but to think of the lost concept of the trial, which was to prove that he was being set up by the police because he was black.

In the chapter on rap music the question of what should be done with rap music should it be “censored, studied, or struggle to change it?” This quote actually outlines the way that rap music affects the black community in one person’s opinion.

According to the opinion of Hooks, she states that rap music is “most obscene” and she considers it to be a “perfect paradigm of colonialism.” One that gives the young white consumers the opportunity to take out of rap what they want. The idea of the degradation of black females is big in rap music. It causes damage to “black life”, by elevating the terrible crimes of rape and sexual abuse of black females. The idolization of rap artists because of the money they make selling the lyrics that seem do nothing but cause demise of a female’s stance in the black culture. Although the white CEO’s are busy getting wealthy on the exploitation of the black culture. The idea that black rap artists have not redefined the mode in which they utilize these words to make money, because of the amounts of money they get for the abuse of words put to music.

We need cultural criticism today because of the ignorance that some people may have as to what damage their behavior causes to our culture. As stated previously the music industry is definitely one that has integrated depreciation to the black culture, and have been allowed to do so because of the money that has been offered to them. The need of cultural criticism gives a way for individuals to express their opinion on the actions of society. Critical thinking is an important life skill for people today to be able to express their opinions or thoughts on many situations that affect our society. To me cultural criticism is valuable because it can provide knowledge, understanding, and insight to those that want to be heard.

In society today we are in need of critical analysis on political matters that affect not just the black culture but other cultures also. The laws that are being upheld and set forth are making the society we live one that is questionable, for example the institution of marriage, the idea that the law cannot define whether or not a marriage is between a man and a woman or just between two people that find comfort within each other. The law is challenged and needs to define in order to create stability for the people of this society. Each culture is entitled to an opinion as to how the changes in law would affect them.

AFS 2010 BLOG #2

Saundra Wells

AFS 2010

Blog #2

 

African Elements in African American English/ Questions Africanisms in African American Names

 

Although Africans were forced to come to America to serve the inadequacy of the early settlers, the traditions instilled within them from their country was not erased from their minds or souls. They were not allowed to practice traditional rituals and or ceremonies that they were accustomed to, they still found ways to communicate and be in touch with their roots. In chapter 3 the author Asante critiques the earlier scholars like Melville Herskovits, Janheinz Jahn not because of the methods they utilized to explain about the African language bit for the interference caused by their methods. The opinion of author Asante was that the African language was misinterpreted because the knowledge of earlier scholars was thorough enough to conclude that the language that Africans spoke here in America was understood enough to the conclusion that they (Africans) were not speaking English.

The misunderstanding of the Gullah language by white American linguists was proved by the study of the language in comparison to their African origin. In chapter 3 Asante highlights the findings of American Linguist Ambrose Gonzales as misunderstanding the Gullah language in his citing that the words spoken by Africans were English words perhaps mispronounced or spelled wrong. These words indeed were of African origin, Gonzales was not familiar with the African language. These findings were pointed out by linguist Lorenzo Turner, who believed after extensive studies of the African language compared to the English language was similar due to Africans not forgetting their roots or cultural in which they were born in. The belief that “no displaced people have ever completely lost the firms of their previous culture”. The basics of speech from the African culture was intertwined with the new world and language they were forced to live in, and with that alterations were made in order to survive.

Although earlier writers preferred African verbal communication in African American language, the communication style is clearly up to the individual and thus verbal expressions may vary. The development of Ebonics was believed to be one’s stress of the past tense verbs. In the videos for instance code switching the verbalizations were noted to be switched as to how you speak with family at home and how your language is changed when you speak out in the public. The idea that the language is modified for many African Americans being what is described a cultural thing. The belief that in order to be taken seriously you would need to adapt to speak properly in a professional atmosphere as opposed to speaking “slang” with your friends, which sometimes is not acceptable in certain social situations. This was in coordination with the adjustment of the atmosphere in which you find yourself in. The slaves found themselves in a new world and changes forced upon them, for example their names were changed primarily because their names given to them in their culture could not be pronounced. The modification of one’s speaking has had history over many decades, the changing of the way a person communicates at one time was “Ebonics” in the 70’s, then “black English” then “African American vernacular English”. In the AA English the topic of Ebonics was one that was analyzed as to who actually taught blacks how to speak from the beginning, this was in conjunction with author Asante statement of how we as blacks modified language of our ancestors and present day blacks. The video Ink spot viewed that the speaking of proper English viewed an African American as speaking like you are white. The influence of Ebonics and or AAV English has had impact on the African American speaking patterns today, just as Asante reflected that the language we speak depends on the area in which we are in. We again tend to modify our language to adapt to the situations we find ourselves in.

In chapter 4 the naming practices of in the African culture was one that had meaning for example: the Africans who arrived in Colonial America especially in the deep South continued to give their children African names, giving the child a sense of their ancestry roots and maintaining their cultural integrity a well as a link to their African roots. The naming of African children was a traditional process, one that appeared to be a simple process, for example a child rather they are male or female was named after the day of the week they were born. The names that were given eventually was translated in to the English language. For example a female child born on a Friday was named “Phibba” which translated into English as Phoebe.

The process of giving a name to a child was of great importance because it was believed that the child’s personality was a result of the name that was given to them at birth. This itself takes a lot of thinking and analyzing of a person to choose the right name to identify how they turn out in life.

The terms on page 93-105 I found to be interesting because of the usage in our language today, for example the term bad-mouth is still used today especially among older adults meaning someone that is not speaking nicely. The term biddy is a word still used to day to describe a small child or very small adult for the most part it is used today as a description of a female. Again the word chick is still synonymous with today’s language, it used to describe a female when a person is speaking slang in today’s language. So the languages that was utilized in our ancestors  native land was thoroughly intertwined with the English language, and with that being said I believe that African Americans are superior as to the development of this country.

AFS 2010

BLOG #1

Saundra Wells

 

Melville Herskovits a Jewish sociologist whose studies of the African American culture initially believed in the idea that African Americans retained their instilled cultural practices. This idea differed from that of his colleague E. Franklin Frazier that African Americans had lost part if not all of their cultural practices during slavery, because of the oppressive experience during their time of captivity. This may have been a forethought because of the in human treatment of African Americans extended to them in slavery, including the practice of not letting the captured individuals practice any of their homeland rituals.

 The parallel of both Lorenzo Turner and Melville Herskovits lives was significant even from the beginning their educational goals as well as their interest in Africa starting in 1930 was substantial. Both adopted the African retention theory and held it as the center of their studies in the African American culture. Although both were scholars of the African American culture the only division was that Turner explored his theory as a linguist and Herskovits developed his views as an anthropologist. Both scholars was very much interested in African retentions in the new world.

Early theories on the African culture focused on many ways of grasping a set way of understanding how this diversified group functioned. The theories of African people and that of African American was connected through music, folklore, art, speech and religion.

The scholars discussed in the video as well as in the readings for this assignment was Lorenzo Turner whose theory was that of language. He was Linguist who studied data and many languages utilized by African Americans from different areas in Africa. Turner studied the language of the Gullah people of West Africa with the idea that his theory of language would be supported.

Herskovits an anthropologist, whose theory was that African Americans were indeed not influenced by their African Ancestors, but that African Americans utilized the culture of the Europeans who forcefully removed them from Africa.  Herskovits theory of “African Americanism” was not supported by the cultural patterns that paralleled Africa to blacks in Harlem an area in which he felt represented a cross section of the black life. His theory as it was set began to change after experiences during his travels which included Dominica, St. Kitts, St. Lucia and Barbados. During these travels he was able to view that something as a simple as a game or dance portrayed cultural roots to their African Ancestors in their original culture.

Sociologist Frazier’s theory was one that once Africans were brought to the United States-they dismissed all of their African cultural practices.

The article highlighted the participation of African Americans in the war. The migration from the “Garvey Movement” created false pride of Nationalism. Although during this time the interest of blacks on learning more about their heritage and history. The development of the NAACP had the attention of many authors of European descent implanting and interest in African American communities throughout the country. The presence of racial issues aided in the development of the African American culture. One primary influence was the “Harlem Renaissance”, which was discussed in the documentary as well as in the article. The Harlem Renaissance can be very well identified as a display of African Americans coming to their identities. African art, music and writings thrived in Harlem. Herskovits witnessed this development-he was at Columbia University at the time.

The educational achievement of both Turner and Herskovits inspires me. It is my goal to study “cultures” to help me satisfy my curiosity as to how they developed. My academic goals I have set for myself include obtaining a PhD in Sociology. I would also one day want to be able to be a teacher of the African American Culture.

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