How do we change the stereotyped perceptions?
“Can you feel the uncertainty in the air? How do you react when you are at a crossroads and there are no road signs? Do you ignore all possible consequences and randomly take the next step? Do you retreat back the way you came – only to repeat the missteps that will bring you back to the difficult choice?
Around the world, human beings have reached a crucial moment in our cultural history. The reactionary forces of tradition tremble in anticipation of a return to the times when women were women and the dark people knew their places.
Radical thinkers of every philosophy are paralyzed by the array of choices they observe and miss the opportunity to craft new policies, institutions, currencies, and ideas. We, the majority of human beings, remain. Hip hop – the only social force to create an equitable, participatory, democratic, and global system of politics and economics over the last three decades – will vanish into history under a fascist backlash, consume the soul of our generation with consumerism, or evolve to inspire greater intelligence, creativity, and faith among ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren. The crossroads we face is no less than the choice about the direction of our species and our planet. This essay hopes to open a conversation about the tools of culture hip hop may provide for our uplift and empowerment.
Tired of hearing the mainstream media whine about all the things wrong with hip-hop? Weary of misogynistic lyrics, the glamorization of street life, and half naked gyrating girls in each video?
Know hip-hop is much bigger than what is pushed out in videos and on radio stations. So how do we change the stereotyped perceptions? How do we make sure the younger generation has access to the wisdom and wealth of our culture?