Is Hip Hop Playing into Stereotypes that Hold Us Back?

Ann Arbor, Michigan - On a snowy night in Michigan, 30 black students gathered for a forum on Hip Hop. The forum entitled, "Hip Hop and You: The Images", was an in-depth look at Hip Hop and what stereo-types are being promoted to the black community and the world. It was a part of the push to get young people involved in Black History Month. It was held at the University of Michigan Computer Science and Engineering Building.

The night was sponsored by The M.U.S.E.S., a campus group with in the University of Michigan. The M.U.S.E.S., which stands for the "Movement of Underrepresented Sisters in Engineering and Sciences", has since 1999 provided support for women of color studying the sciences. A controversial film was shown, "Hip Hop: Beyond the Beats and Rhymes" by film-maker Byron Hurt. It was a documentary piece, which touches on the stereotypes of black men and women in America as provided by Hip Hop. This Sundance Festival favorite (It received a standing ovation) was an hour long and featured interviews from rapper Mos Def, rapper Busta Rhymes, Chuck D. from rap group Public Enemy, Univ. Prof. Michael Dyson of Georgetown University, and many others.

The film first touched on the hyper-masculinity portrayed within the Hip Hop culture. Guns and drugs weren't as prevalent in Hip Hop at the start as they are now. The Justice Department released a report in 2006 that in 2005, black people, though making up 13% of the U.S. at the time, were 49% of all homicide victims. It was also reported that 93% of the offenders of those killing were black as well. There is a sense that growing up in neighborhoods, where the second leading killer of black males 15-24 is homicide, you have to be tough and present an image of invincibility. Rappers are starting to promote an uncaring, unfeeling generation of ego driven thug soldiers. Since there is no fear or admission of being human, we have a Hip Hop society of young people who are trying to be something other than their selves. Author Kevin Powell mentions in the film, "We live in a society where manhood is all about conquering and violence.... And what we don't realize is that ultimately that kind of manhood ultimately kills you." Black men wear their masculinity like armor, shielding them from the toughness of this world.

The second issue brought up by the film was sexism in the media. Women are shown, in most videos, in bathing suits or revealing clothes. It is because of these stereotypes that young black males don't have the respect they should for women in general. Women are looked at as eye candy and sexual playthings. Men then affirm their hyper-masculinity as a player. It makes other men want to be like him. That is why the culture of Hip Hop is now just titillating videos with no real meaning. The M.U.S.E.S. President, Jamie Perryman, stated in a story, "I was in downtown Detroit and these young guys came up behind me and grabbed my behind. They then offered me money to do explicit things to them. They were so blunt and disrespectful. I just walked away but I saw them get in their car and play their rap music as they sped up the street." These images promote sexism and less respect for women.

The third and final topic was media literacy. The images we see everyday promote stereotypes and change the way we view people. There are thousands of stories about black men feeling upset because white women have clutched their purse when they have walked past. With these stereotypes becoming the way that one culture learns about another culture, music companies have decided to walk the line and adhere to a super thug image. Back in the "Golden Era of Hip Hop" (1980's and early 1990's), there was so much diversity. Today rappers have become a dime a dozen because they are giving in to stereotypes to sell records. With the music industry in a decline, they may have to find another way to keep a fan base.

After the movie, there was a discussion about possible solutions and comments about the controversial film. The main theme with each of the students was education. Film maker Byron Hurt went to college and bettered himself. In doing this, he opened up his mind to view everybody's perspective on respect. "Once you have been taught what is wrong and you can understand it, then you must be responsible for that knowledge", said Kris Wilson, a U of M student majoring in architecture. It is the responsibility of people who have obtained knowledge to give it to other people to make us a more responsible people. This year it seems that African American students at U of M are trying to make a change for the better.