Have rap videos lowered the expectations others have of Black People?

Question

By that I mean, that many don't get a real good image of what we are like as people, versus what is portrayed by the media. Opinions?

Answer 1

Not to me - I have equally low expectations for all people - this way I am not disappointed and occasionally pleasantly surprised. What I do believe in is encouraging and pushing people to grow and make the most of themselves - all people are capable of so much and so few of us realize even a small fraction of our abilities - the waste is heartbreaking and I want to fight it tooth and nail.

However, let's get back to your question which makes several incorrect assumptions. My reasoning as follows:

1. Many rap videos are entertaining, funny, intelligent and/or moving, as are many rap songs. The works of two of my favorites, Blackstar and Common Sense, leap to mind. I judge certain of Talib Kweli's lyrics to be some of the greatest poetry ever written. I consider only a subset of rap objectionable, i.e. a lot of the "gangsta rap" - but I find a lot of pop music objectionable also, although maybe for different reasons.

2. Music videos for just about every music genre have promoted sex, crime, drugs and violence - the presentation may vary from rap to pop, but the cheap goods being sold are the same.

3. Although most rappers are black, many are not. For example, Eniem, Nerdcore, Classified, Vanilla Ice, Unknown Prophets.

4. 70% or more of rap is purchased by white people. I consider that a vote of confidence from the majority for rap and for those who perform it, black, white, yellow or whatever.

5. Are all white people judged by the videos and behavior of white pop stars (like Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan)? Why then would any even semi-intelligent person judge all black people by the videos and behavior of black rap stars? It doesn't make any sense. Also, how can people in glass houses throw stones? Bush, Clinton and Paris Hilton (hey, that rhymes!) are all white - talk about lowered expectations! This line of reasoning can go on and on - and gets you nowhere.

6. One person's trash is another person's treasure. Some people love rap videos (including me!). This is the U.S. A. where freedom rings. I may not like all music videos and be disgusted by some of the more violent and criminal ones - but I support the performers right to make them. I just vote with my wallet. If people didn't buy the criminal and violent stuff, it wouldn't exist. To be honest, that's the part I find disturbing (and note again, 70% or more of all rap, which includes gangsta and hard core rap, is purchased by white people, mostly white suburban kids - one could argue, what does that say about white people?).

7. People are people, no matter what race, nationality, sex or religion. The only thing that matters to me is if a person is a decent human being. Unfortunately, many people (regardless of race, religion, sex, nationality, etc.) are not decent human beings - which is why I prefer cats. And trees. And other animals and plants.

P.S. - My criteria for a decent human being is someone who is courteous, kind, polite, tolerant, reasonably honest (no stealing, no big lies), a good samaritan, a "green" (there is only one earth, we all live here - if we muck it up we are all equally dead), someone who treats others as they would like to be treated, someone who does their best not to hurt others in order to get ahead or for revenge or for other evil purposes, someone who does their best to help others and to stand up for the helpless, for freedom, goodness and decency for all. I don't expect a decent person to succeed in all of this all the time - I don't - I hope for all of us to truly try and to mostly succeed.

Answer 2

There's no right answer to your question due to the fact that we all hold judgments, experiences, and bias towards other people that are different (and even similar) to us. By this I don't mean that all of these judgments, experiences, and bias are held with negative connotation, but merely a way we process are environment...Our thought process naturally categorizes things.

With this said, I personally categorize some rap videos as an embellishment of material goods or objects (as in women's body parts). With a positive spin, I could also say that some rap videos simply portray the American Dream of obtaining anything and everything your heart desires.

In terms of media and image; media only gives us a small look at a population, and more specifically entertainers themselves. Unfortunately, media seems to have a strong grasp on our perceptions of what reality is. I won't say that the media outlet of music videos dictates our beliefs of a certain population, but I will say that I think it definitely has the potential to reinforce stigmas or stereotypes that people may have from their own limited, or perhaps even well-accumulated experiences.

I think we should remember that just because someone is from a certain population doesn't mean they all act, feel, or express themselves in the same way. There's a lot of room for obtaining an individual's beliefs and course of actions within a society...Especially in a society like America, which is highly individualistic.

Expectations and media are nothing more than social constructions that help us reinforce and reflect the society we live in. Whether positive or negative, it'll change over time due to the education of ourselves and the acceptance of other's differences. To say that rap videos lowers the expectations others have of Black people would be a rather ignorant and convenient agreement.

But again, this is just one opinion. I'm sure there's an infinite amount of responses that all hold their own validity.

Answer 3

People should not be labeled or grouped simply because of a skin characteristic.But the environment and the atmosphere that surrounds a person as they are growing in their formative years certainly does influence their thinking and their lifestyle. I know very little about Rap music but from what I know it trys to get peoples attention by shocking them with all kinds of rash statements and it seems that nothing is out of bounds. Women should be honored not degraded. The people that serve and protect this country, (police,firemen,military,etc) should be respected not hated and cursed at. The elderly should be looked after instead of institutionalized. Yes rap music is designed to degrade and shock and no I do not care for it.

I know,I know: most people think I am Old fashioned.
Well I am!

I lived through the Hippy generation when good honorable men went away to serve their country in Veitnam and they came home and were spit on and no I did not like that either!

Answer 4

Personally I don't believe so, because rap videos are simply a form of entertainment and do not represent the black culture as a whole. One cannot base their judgment of a people based on the media images portrayed, because whether it be in music videos or in the news.. there is always only one side portrayed.

Answer 5

You know my gut reaction was to say yes, but i had to think this one over....it's just a case of kids being kids and exercising the REBELLION gene I think, that's all a part of growing into a producing human being (hopefully) .Kids are kids, be they black ,white, yellow or green. In my day it was the "Flower Power and Peace thing" . Most of us turned out OK, I was right in the middle of all that mess and I am a Priest today. Let the kids have fun as long as it's not hurting anybody, being stupid is part of being young...(No offence to you youngsters, i was too)
And besides from the kind of money some of these rappers are knocking down.....HMMMMM, I may become the Rappin' Reverend , the Arch Bishop would love that one I'm sure!

Answer 6

Well in my personal view of Black rappers or rappers in general, I always tend to think they are kind of gangsters or street mobs. The film 8 mile for Eminem, also portrayed most of the rappers as rascals or those wandering on the street without education. Even most rap music videos also portray rappers as gangsters.

Answer 7

Not if they are smart enough to know it's supposed to be entertaining. I think that goes for all artists, not just rappers. A music video is like a movie for a music artisit. It's their opportunity to act out a role, and it's probably way different from what they are like in real lfe.

For example: Beyonce creates a whole other persona "Sasha" for her stage performances. Otherwise she said she couldn't do or say the things she does on stage.

Answer 8

I don't think so - it hasn't for me. There are some white'rappers' too.
Did rock and roll lower the expectations people had of white teenagers?
Did disco?
Etc.
Most music is performed, and enjoyed by certain segments of society.
Nowadays people share the songs and dances a bit more -
probably good overall.

Answer 9

I guess I just don't get it. In my opinion we are all ONE people. I expect the same of a black as I do a white and while rap music, in my opinion, has had an overall negative effect upon our society it hardly surpasses the colossal failure of Woodstock to our collective culture.

Answer 10

Well, do rock videos lower opinions of white people?

I don't think so. Most people are smart enough to recognize the difference between entertainment and regular life.