Quote:
Originally posted by billege
"Niles Crane-ness"
You mean he was too "white" to listen too? He wasn't "black enough" because he spoke grammatically correct english, and had no posse? He slapped no hoes? What was it exactly?
Thanks for making my point.
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I see what you are objecting to, but I think that EleqTrizi'T is making a valid point - this man's manner destroyed his credibility in a way that prevented his message (regardless of its validity) from being received. This is one sign of the effect of "hip-hop culture" - that success by societal standards (read white society) is something to be distrusted - that somehow one has sold their own heritage out. But this goes both ways - no matter how astute they were, would you expect to see an ebonic speaking commentator on crossfire sitting next to Carville with his southern drawl? I wouldn't. Somehow that person's manner would prevent their message from being received.
Someone pointed out that white people account for 75% of hip-hop sales, so where is the destructive effect on white culture. Well, we aren't sold a version of white thug-life, so white children aren't presented with these negative role-models. However, the more we buy into the hip-hop presentation of black culture, the more we may have misconceptions about the real thing - so there is a destructive element nonetheless.
Many people have objected to condemning hip-hop culture as a whole because there are a few groups out there presenting a more constructive message. I agree that this speaks well for the hip-hop genre, but the fact that the nasty stuff consistently outsells is a condemnation of the culture - it is the destructive garbage that is valued.
Lastly (for now) people in this thread have said that you can't blame pop culture for everything and that we should examine real causes, such as poverty and violence. It may be true that these conditions have spawned the thug attitude, but this culture is only promoting a continuation of the cycle. Ultimately, pragmatism suggests that even if young adults of the thug culture don't want to be assimilated by mainstream culture they are being harmed by the hip-hop ideal.