How can black people be proud of themselves today? (seriously)?

Question

If you listen to black music today (Rap, R&B) its mostly derogatory. In Rap music (specifically) they degrade women, advocate violence, advocate murdering, are sexist, promote and glamourise gang member life, advocate, promote and glamourize the use of illegal drugs, ect..

Its not like this stuff is hidden from the public either, and it is dangerous for young people to listen to such music that glorifies such horrible things.

All the while it seems blacks quickly attach themselves to this kind of stereotype and culture and dress like a Hip Hop gang member as if its the only identity availble for blacks today

It seems black people are drawn to nothing but gang lifestyle

Ok so you people are saying that blacks listen to other kinds of music like Blues and Jazz. Then how come they dont play Blues and Jazz on BET or MTV? those two networks are nearly strickly hip-hop. By the way...if I was black I would feel very embaressed and ashamed if I was trying to lead a productive life. People turn on the T.V. and see nothing but black people saying mean things about women, promoting violence and drugs. Rap Music has done nothing but hurt the black race significantly, I think if you blacks care about your race you should try to fight the hip hop mania or at least the negative lyrics.

Answer 1

This is such a stupid question. How would you like it if a black person compared you to Boss Hog?

Do you even have the common sense to know what I mean by that?

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SpiritPrincess, you're getting me confused with the asker. I did NOT post this question.

Answer 2

How can black people be proud of ourselves today? mmm let me see, we are doctors, lawyer, business owners, we are educated, hard working. We are senators, teachers, nurses, motivational speakers. We own our own colleges, we now even own our own banks.

Black people do a lot to be proud of, if all you see is what rap artists do then you are really narrow minded and have no real knowledge of the black community. Not all black people listen to rap music and hip - hop and glorify gang behavior. You ask if we are into more than just hip-hop and rap music why isn't it played on BET & MTV simple, we don't own BET & MTV ; white people do. Both of those channels are owned by Viacom. BET used to be owned by black people and at that time it did play a lot of positive hip-hop music (KRS -ONE, Queen Latifah, Salt &Pepa just to name a few).

Considering all the good that black people do why is it that all you see is what's on MTV & BET. Maybe you should go out into the world a little more and spend a little less time on the computer.

Now to answer your question, how can I be proud of myself easy, I come from a family where everyone in the last four generations has at least a bachelors degree. We are psychologist, lawyers, doctors, business owners. We are God loving, honest, hard working, dignified people who are competent and in our abilities to shape not only our personal futures, but the futures of our children. That's how I can be proud.

Oh and seriously how can you ask that such a bigoted question when you have Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, & Britney Spears representing you. You also have bush, I mean my goodness if that doesn't make you want to crawl under a rock what will.

Answer 3

You're making WAAY too many blanket statements. You need to place the word "some" or speak to specific references you have seen. Just because its on TV doesnt mean its real. I am black, I hate rap, for the same reasons you listed. I think its disgusting and furthermore, I feel it misrepresents the race. I think that rap culture, allows ignorant people such as yourself, I am not trying to be rude you are ignorant to black culture, to group us all into this or that category. Not all blacks like rap. Not all blacks agree with ghetto/urban/rap culture. Some us were raised with morals and a great sense of self worth. I have a very strong moral background, I dont agree with those of my race who live the fast life or glorify rap and street culture... Nor do I take kindly to outsiders, or racists, who want to act as if this is something we ALL willingly partake of.

We do have a lot to be proud of, but as in any race, we have some who make us look bad. The problem is, largely due to racism, anything that a minority does wrong, is attributed to the race. When those white boys of columbine shot up the entire school, only THEY were at fault, or rather the public blamed Marilyn Manson. No one said ooh all white boys are nuts, dress in trench coats and shoot up schools. The day the V-Tech student shot up the school, asian men nationwide were arrested. An asian journalist, at the school at the time, was arrested for being an asian man and nothing more. Racism has allowed all this to happen... when 9/11 happened people EVERYWHERE started targeting Muslims... Sadly, though gladly in some ways, white people are not subjected to this fate. This is something reserved for the victims of white racism...

Point being, dont come off as such that you are a racist. You make it seem that you believe ALL blacks are this way, or that we dont have anything to be proud of. Each race has good and bad... the problem is that minorities, as I said before, fall under the microscope more often than whites do.

Answer 4

Your question is a typical racist question, let me guess are you a clone of "the master race" or whatever he called himself who was recently taken off. . . .anyway.

Your ignorance is laughable to think all blacks are defined by rap music. Rap is another form of teenage angst, not really adult listening but for those adults who suffer from prolonged adolescent behavior they may still enjoy it. Also, whites buy a lot of rap music and that's how it became mainstream. And like another poster mentioned a lot of rock music contained satanic messages.

Cultivated people, no matter what race, would not listen to rap. The same people who produce and promote rap would never listen to it but they are quick to put it on the market because they make money!!!!! Everything in this society is about money and what you gravitate to, people who are cultivated, with morals and scruples, and degreed are the minority in this society black, white, and everything in between. So I think this question goes beyond race.

And rap is not the ONLY identity available for blacks (since this is about music think jazz and blues-find something degrading in that music!), you should study critical thinking and maybe you wouldn't post such stupidity with no basis. As a matter fact, just go study something - anything besides KKK pamphlets.

Answer 5

First off I would like to say that Robert Shelton is a dumb MF>>> And anyone who would say that and then set everything they done to private get real you are a pussy!!! And cover your face because you think you are kkk. Come on now.

Anyway about the question not all rap is black. I love rap and hip hop and r&b I am white ,blonde, and I also love black men and women. So BET is black entertainment!!! It is not just RAP there is R&B. Oh yeah if only the blacks dress thuggish then why is when I walk down the street I see more whites dressing this way???

Answer 6

I absolutely agree. Very rarely is a hip hop song about anything positive now a days. The sad thing is that black rappers are making songs that encourage negativity in black neighborhoods just to sell their music to a 70% white cunsumer market. White people sit in the safety of their suburban homes and take an audio and/or visual jounery through a violent gang ridden neighboorhood full or promiscuous women and drug deallings. When they take off their head phones or turn off their radios and TV's they are still in their safe sorroundings. When black kids turn off the rap music and videos they find themselves in the very souroundings they just finishied watching and/or listening to. Though there are a few good rappers still trying to make encoraging music, many rappaers today are just a bunch of sell-outs taking part in the destruction of their own people for reocord sales.

But music isn’t all that African American people have to be proud of. There are plenty of successful African American CEO’s, entertainers and athletes doing quite well, representing the black community in a positive light and lending their time and money to help others. Like Oprah who built a leadership academy for girls in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Answer 7

You are so ignorant. Many ppl of many different races listen to hip hop and the messages are no different than rock and country. Carrie has a song about busting up her bf's car for cheating. What positive message is she sending out? You need to educate yourself and look beyond a color and stop making judgements before you really know. The reason the world has so many problems uniting is because of ppl like you and the ignorance they've been introduced to. Why hate? Why judge? Why do you not understand that each race has the same kinds of ppl?

Answer 8

David give me the definition of rap and then give me the definition of hip hop...otherwise stfu.
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White people make comments like this and they wonder why some black people want to segregate. The sad thing is a lot of you are adults.
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wtf...George Bush is a thug. I mean am I wrong? This white guy basically has little toy soldiers on his play map. Stupid MF. I guess Howard Stern, Courtney Love, Tommy Lee, are thugs too because they sure as hell do glorify drugs, sex, and degrade women. I guess it's in your nature. The playboy mansion...WHITE HOLLYWOOD!
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"Then how come they dont play Blues and Jazz on BET or MTV?" - I really don't want to tell you this but there is a BETJazz station. Now please mind your damn business.

"...those two networks are nearly strickly hip-hop." - Not...you really should get your facts straight before making an argument. You are trying to convince a group of people (who you know nothing about) with baseless facts.

"By the way...if I was black I would feel very embaressed and ashamed if I was trying to lead a productive life." - Your point? What? Are black people supposed to go in an uproar because a white little boy thinks we are so shameful. Who are you? A nobody...

"People turn on the T.V. and see nothing but black people saying mean things about women, promoting violence and drugs." - That's their loss and their stupidity for using the TV as their main source to get to know black people. A dumb statement from a dumb person. Figures!

"Rap Music has done nothing but hurt the black race significantly..." - What is rap David?

"I think if you blacks care about your race you should try to fight the hip hop mania or at least the negative lyrics." - You are way too late. Black people are way ahead of you. Again, mind your damn business.

Next time show some respect.
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Deuce!!

Answer 9

Oh good grief! Everywhere I turn there's a dumb white kid trying to act like the people on music videos. You don't think that there are white artists who degrade women/glamourise violence and drugs? Please. Grow up.

I have to admit, I don't listen to a lot of rap, but I do some. I can ignore the lyrics if I don't like them, I just like the beat. Why don't you ignore it? Don't watch MTV.

Answer 10

In my opinion, I don't think blacks are willing at this point to accept a racist white culture that historically exploited Africans as free labor. The civil rights era (60s-70s) is still very recent -- when segregation (white customers only) and lynchings were still legal and acceptable. I believe you need to examine your own culture because it seems that you think that your culture is something to be proud of and needs to be emulated.

The racist criminal justice is biased against whites, that is why blacks are more likely to be convicted than whites who commit the same crimes, according to studies. Even though there are significantly more white illict drug users than blacks, there are more blacks imprisoned for drug related crimes. More black motorists are stopped by police, even though whites have a much much higher rate of traffic violations. Therefore, the likelihood of arrest is greater for a black person. These types of institutional racism puts down and holds back the majority of blacks in america, and further promotes racism and negative stereotypes.

If you need the data let me know -- I'll dig them up.

Answer 11

Why even bother with this type of question when you obviously feel you know ALL black ppl. I'm black & I pretty much think I know more black ppl than you, & none of them are into rap music, nor do they live that lifestyle.

Do the majority of the white ppl on this board study BET to get more info on black ppl or something?

B/c there are more arguments against BET, rap music, the N word, and black ppl. Do you sit there and watch & then come to YA to report what you saw?

B/c I'm wondering how you know sooo much about rap music if you don't listen to it.

So either you sat & listened to a significant number of rap songs.....which would be strange if you find it offensive, or you're peeking at BET....which is also strange if you don't like it, or you don't know what you're talking about.