The Audacity Of Hip-Hop

Let's face it: America is in decline, mostly because people look to celebrities for sage advice on how to live their lives and how to vote. Most of these celebrities barely finished high school, have little or no critical thinking skills, and have little to do with real, everyday life. Yet, they feel that they're somehow qualified to give analyses of political matters, foreign policy, and economic policy.

"Let's face it there are many white Americans of this generation and past generations whose only true interactions with black Americans is through a television screen and 9 times out of 10 the images that are shown are negative." Really? Where do you live that you don't have an opportunity to have multi-cultural interactions?? Sounds like you really need to get out of the house and away from the television with a statement like that. Also did you really just say the image of the black man will go from a "rap" artist...really?? That is an ignorant statement and you should really get off the farm and hanging out with different people than your daddy/uncle and your sister/cousin. It is pretty obvious that you don't have a clue of the real world.

"Let's face it there are many white Americans of this generation and past generations whose only true interactions with black Americans is through a television screen and 9 times out of 10 the images that are shown are negative. "

Where the heck do you live that you have no multi-cultural intereaction? And did you really say that image of a black man will go from "rap" artist....really? That was an ignorant comment. I really think you need to leave the farm and get outside and interact with people other than your sister/cousin and daddy/uncle.

Let's face it there are many white Americans of this generation and past generations whose only true interactions with black Americans is through a television screen and 9 times out of 10 the images that are shown are negative. Barack Obama and his family have the potential to change that image if he is elected president. On Jan 20, 2009 he could potentially show every young black American boy that is born into this country...you can make it to the top. The image of the black man will go from a "rap" artist to "an ivy league educated president." I think many male rap artists know that this change is worth more than any amount of money the music industry can toss their way and maybe they will start to change the content of the lyrics.

"Far from being politically alienated and bling-obsessed, the rap generation may be just months away from occupying the White House."

How is this statement racist towards African Americans?

I guess if you believe that ONLY African Americans can/do like Hip-Hop that might be true... But the Hip-Hop/Rap culture is not limited to ONLY African Americans... I'm a white female that thoroughly enjoys Hip-Hop/Rap.... Should I be offended too?

Aside from that misunderstanding... What's sooo wrong with a president being 'with the times' and sharing the same intersts as the the younger newly voting generation? I think it's awesome that there may potentially be president that may be able to relate to people in there early 20's and up through their 30's. They are the future, what is done today will most effect them and their children tomorrow, so why not put someone in the White House that will look out for their best interest and the best interest of the countries future???

comment: "Far from being politically alienated and bling-obsessed, the rap generation may be just months away from occupying the White House.", is very racist and offensive to African Americans.That is a shame that you would say something like that,it was very ignorant of you to say that.

comment:"Far from being politically alienated and bling-obsessed, the rap generation may be just months away from occupying the White House." is a very racist and offensive because I am an African American and it is a shame that you would say something,that was very ignorant of you to say that.

"The Audacity Of Hip-Hop"
Far from being politically alienated and bling-obsessed, the rap generation may be just months away from occupying the White House
ITS OBVIOUS WHO NEWSWEEK HAS CHOSEN AS THERE CANDIDATE. MORE LIKE THE AUDACITY OF NEWSWEEK. IM SURE IF THE MUSIC CHOICE WAS JOHNNY CASH INSTEAD OF JAYZ THIS ARTICLE WOULDNT BE HERE.

All the stereotypes and hate in these comments really show the sad shape this country is in. Do we really expect more of politicians when the majority of the population can't even seem to have a civilzed discussion?

Your premise is questionable. Obama likes Jay-Z. So what? I saw Terms of Endearment and liked it. That doesn't mean I believe in past lives, as does Shirley MacLaine. Why not talk about the principles Obama publicly identifies himself with, instead of drawing speculative parallels?

Obama is not hip-hop. He simply is concilliatory to the Hip-Hop self-identified generation because he needs their support. In no way is he a member and this article is faulty.

Also trying to connote that the so-called artists of the Hip-Hop Generation are impacting outcomes significant in this race, that is faulty too. Most young Blacks and Hispanics of this demographic are not registered voters or civically charged. They don't know policy. All that is really happening is a desperation for relevancy. Those artists were left out and not needed in the ways the Kerry and Gore campaigns utilized them. These so-called artists put themselves out there to speak for Obama --- Obama did not ask them to speak for him.

I'm not even an Obama supporter (and definitely not of McCain) but I know how this went down. Clearly when looking at the policy engagement and interests of Barack, it has nothing to do with the culture of hip-hop. It does not translate in a friendly sustaining way. Obama is more about the transformation of Hip-Hop, if he could nad had the time and interest, which would make most of these same people trying to connect to him for their own selfish need for continued relevancy realize that their times' up.

None of the references in this article are truly political and they can't articulate the policy framework of Obama. Obama knows it. So many know it. They just can't tell those that want to help them that they are obsolete. They rather accept the help because in all actuality, Obama would rather be a positive influence in some way to get them to innovate and challenge themselves to grow. But clearly, the hip-hop generation boasting Obama is trying their hardest to claim him so that when and if he wins, he will not negate them for which they innately know he will.

I am Black and I know how we try to claim people that want nothing to do with us in the relationships we want to have with them. I think Obama could be engaged in Hip-Hop as a demographic if it was not so static and regressive. Just because they are self-proclaimed in supporting him, it does not mean they are where he is and his policy advisement team is.

Besides the racists comments here, I have to agree unfortunately with what some of the racists here are saying. They make some valid points against the framework of this article. This article is embarrassing to read coming from a PH.D. Candidate. It's very elementary and banal. Stop trying to marry the myth that Obama is Hip-Hop and that the so-called generation are artists and are politically erudite. It's a lie.