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Blogs Men/Women in Hip-Hop Black Men=Horny, Gangsta, Uneducated? by Jasmin Greene (revisited) | Black Men=Horny, Gangsta, Uneducated? by Jasmin Greene (revisited) |
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| Written by Jasmin | |
| Monday, 07 January 2008 | |
The black man in America is expected to be one of those characters. White society expects it, and we as a black community expect and perpetuate it. Our thoughts are, when a black man does not fit into one of those roles then we are all really surprised. “Oh wow. A doctor? Whaaaat. A college grad and business man?” It is a surprise. But it should not be. We need to set higher standards and expectations for our black men. It is like what I always heard about relationships…if you expect less, then less is what you are going to get. We need to stop accepting these roles as the norms. I expect my brother to be a successful man when he grows up. I expect my husband to have a college degree. And I expect my sons to be prominent and influential members of society. Fuck the athlete and the rapper ideology. If you tell me that, I am surprised. It is time to raise our standards.
Or how about newcomer, and dare I say, one hit wonder, Young Berg with his, “Sexy Lady” song. This whole song, and video, is about moving on from girl to girl. Being a “player”. The lyrics are pretty ridiculous and juvenile, I couldn’t really pull up a line except for, “wanna take her to the tel-e, bust a move on …see a nigga need more than one”. The point being, this video is just one of the many examples where black men are made up to be oversexed. I wonder why rappers play into this idea? Comments
(8)
Rap music and Hip Hop culture are (in my opinion) still only pieces of the greater american culture. And as such are subject to the stereotypes and practices of that culture. How black men are preceived now is arguably the same as they were 30 to 40 years ago. All of them being better entertainers than intellectuals. That does not mean that there aren't still representatives in the community that are contrary to the norm. Citing bell Hooks or any other contemporary aurthor on the socialization of black men is just recognizing what everyone already knows. The questions that must be asked are how are we as black americans going to change this systemic image, where do we begin this change, and what do we want the outcome to be?
The worst aspects of black men are pushed out to the front and continually dangled in our faces. 50 Cent and others are continually marketed as such because thats what makes money. An interesting conversation could explore men who buy albums and artwork with male rappers that have thier shirts off, muscles gleaming. There is something very homo erotic with black male rappers. But as above, the black community does need to decide what we are going to do about it and what we want the end result to be.
I agree wholehearted with this. When I first came to Hampton from my inner city existance, I thought that the Hampton man was weak. Men like that didn't exist in my neighborhood because we got rid of them through inimidation, hopelessness, and insecurity. Inages like fifty cent didn't create this man. He existed long before "in da club" was a hit. I saw this man in my neighbors and relatives. Black people are condtioned to be emotionless and to get over it. This is why as a whole, the community is in the state it is. This is why the stop snitching movement has florished. I think we need to stop blaming media images and deal with our own households. Start spending time with our sons and hugging them.
 written by TPickens , August 09, 2007
I agree that the image is false, but I don't want to change it. i think that if Black people are going to be recognized in this country as human, we need to have a human image. In other words, Whites have their "poor White trash" images and we have to have our dirty laundry aired as well.
The solution, as I see it, is to add to the images of Black men so that there is a spectral understanding of Black masculinity. After all, sex, violence and toughness are considered admirable traits in any man; the point not to erase this image completely but to be sure that it isn't the only one.
Although I hate to use it, looking at the history of blacks in America it is not hard to see why most black males portray themselves as fearless and full of anger. Having your wife rapped every night by a stranger, your children sold before your eyes, and you put to your physical limits to receive a meal barely fit for a human being will harbor anger in anyone. Those men that feared followed. Those men that were angry/frustrated led revolts or at least followed those that led. These men induced fear from the hearts of their oppressors for their survival. This survival mentality passed down from generation to generation continues today. At least that's half of my proposed reason why black men are portrayed as "Super men"
The other is that fact that MEN, regardless of any discriminatory lines, have always been presented as the primary providers and protectors. Why? Anatomically speaking, males are stronger than any other sex in this world. So it should not be a mystery as to why they were presented as providers and protectors. In the earliest times of the world, the only perceivable difference in weak and stronger, and subsequently death and life was muscles mass. The larger the muscles, the greater chance of survival. This philosophy of stronger is better is ingrained in our genetics. Its one of the first things we go to in times of crisis. In essence, it gives us comfort. Now I'm not saying that I'm an advocate of this commercialized masculinity splashed in my face every second, but I do understand where it comes from.
Is this a problem solely in the Black community, or is it a problem that is acknowledged by the Black community? What I mean is this: the macho, over sexed male is an image that exist in what is considered white music as well; namely country music. With songs that boast "I'll put a boot in tour ass" and "Save a horse, ride a cowboy" along with artist like Toby Keith- how can horny and gangsta be terms that are put just on Black men. (white people may just term it as sexy and tough, or patriotic these days) The view of men in Black America is directly impacted by the way men are viewed in America as a whole. The idea of masculinity in the white mind have been manifested in the forms of Archie Bunker, Jackie Gleson, and countless overtly sexual and drug abusing rock stars.
However, i am not defending nor justifying Curtis Jackson but Grand Master Flash even said "Don't push me cause I'm close to the edge" Maybe the edge for Black men was closer that once thought. Some pepole survive and thrive in adverse circumstances and some people adapt. DuBois stated there there is a "Talented Tenth" so why are people surprised that most of the music now days is garbage. But with Common's "Finding Forever" debuting at #1 and Andre Benjamin being one of the more marketable Black entertainers- shouldn't there be hope for the future instead of doubt concerning the past?
Amen Jazzy! I totally agree with your piece about rappers and what society has constructed the meaning of Black Manhood to be- i find it pathetic, but more so saddening. The toughest part for me is that I'm torn between embracing Black men to try to 'love the hurt away' and running away repulsed. By 'love the hurt away' I mean that mother's type of love that disapproves of the action, but still loves and accepts the person. Like Badu when she sang, "I betcha love can make it better." BUT, By 'running away repulsed' I mean throwing that 'fuck you' attitude right back- that attitude that makes me look at thier saggin jeans with contempt, the brightly colored clownsuits/hoodies with ridicule, and thier whole existence with annoyance. I find myself thinking, "Fuck the whole rap generation of n*ggaz (I use that word because thats what they call themselves). I got me a good Black man (educated, kind, not obsessed with lookin hard or being a player) so why cant these n*ggaz get their sh*t together...they're choosing to be ignorant. As a teacher of teenage Black males, though, I'm encouraged because I see glimpes of a longing for security, emotional openness, and education. They are straddling the fence between emulating what 50 cent says Black men are and who they truly are. When I catch any of my Black male students away from thier friends, that level of respectfulness and candid emotion that they hide around friends comes out. Especially after we watched X, some of my students were lookin at the TV screen like they were lookin at the father they never had. I wondered if they gaze at rappers in videos like that too. Probably so. Its sad that they're bombarded with self-destructive ideals of Black manhood all day and not positive ones. anyway, i've ranted long enough- keep up the good work Jazzy and Mu- i love it.
I think this topic was well presented; HOWEVER, I feel we must also remember that rap music and/or the very nature of these artists is to provide ENTERTAINMENT!!! It is a very sad thing that they come off in such a way, but many of them do not pursue that type of life behind the scenes. It is up to communities to let their people know that the art form itself is mostly FAKE, yes there will be some who have really lived such a life, but I feel it is the people who are intaking it wrongly! Execs back this art form only for $$, it is all about $$!! And because of that the music industry will not change their content, it will continue plain and simple! PEOPLE NEED TO EDUCATE PEOPLE, as to the inaccuracies of the lyrics within rap, so they can better their lives in and much more productive sense!
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