Our Stereotype's

Whats up Hip Hop Republican blog readers here is whats on my mind!

Humans, or more specifically, Americans tend to stereotype. It's part of human nature. So, when people of the modern day era - 80's and forward started to see some of the black artists come out with their slang - they interpreted this to be the definition of being black.

I noticed something one day though. I watched a series of movies (all at different times) about blacks in this countries history. Most of the films were pre-80's and all of the black people on the film spoke the kings english. THey were also extremely intelligent. Artists like Gil Scott Herron, Jimi Hendrix and several political activists were all featured on the films. Random blacks of the times also appeared commenting on the protests, concerts or what have you and all sounded the same.

Then I noticed that on certain films prior to the 60's and 70's most blacks in entertainment all had southern accents, but most still spoke well.

It was only once rap started to come out and become more popular in the white world did the phrase "acting white" or "acting black" came out. It was highly popularized by the television show "The Fresh Prince" with the charactter Carlton and somewhat more mild with Steve Erkel on whatever show he was on.

After this, people associated the accents, slang and phonetic sounds with blacks and used it as a distinguishing factor between cultures. Unfortunately, this sparked the whole "know your roll" movement as I like to call it.

I believe the way blacks speak today comes from the old southern accents, the poverty and the molding or branding of an image that was to be sold by the predominately white controlled music business. They wanted to portray something taht was different. They wanted shock value. They wanted a new nigga. The neo-nigga. SO they pushed and in a way rewarded this model or stereo type which had all sorts of negative mannerisms associated with it. I remember when NWA first came out - it was like dayum! Every white person in my town (all white) was frickin shocked - it blew up! I don't know a white person today who doesn't have the old school NWA album. It was new. It was the new jazz, the new rock and roll... and whites were ready to exploit and market.

Listen to black artists in the 70's and early 80's - they don't sound like Luda and Kanye. They don't sound like Biggie and Puffy. Listen to the original "rappers delight" then "Too Shorts" work, then "Run DMC" and then "Dre, Snoop and NWA" - you can see, or hear rather, the evolution or revolution occur.

As a result of this new era and artform, younger blacks started to mold themselves to be or emulate these "roll models." Then a new counter culture was born. all the sudden, everybody was rappin. It was teh new thing in the black culture. Everybody was rhymin (except me, i suck lol) - you still see that today. Shit, I even used to drop freestyles with my boys (black of course). Now, it's a way of life. NWA came out almost over 20 years ago. That's long enough for a stereo type to be born.

All that was in the media were the tap dancers and artists. The colin powell's and condaleeza rices' and John Basquiat's weren't pushed as hard in the media. They didn't sell. Whites would see these types and perhaps thing - "Good for them" but then would shreek in utter horror when they saw teh evolution of rap and thuggish niggas. I forget who said it - but it was Americas worst nightmare. A black man.

Now unfortunately, whites and blacks make fun of blacks who speak the kings english. Honestly, I outgrew slang. I could switch back and forth. But, that doesn't get you hired as a CEO/CTO/CIO/CFO or any comany. And white's run the companies. I had to grow up. When i'm with teh boys, I drop slang all the time, but I can switch. Also, I didn't grow up in the 'hood' so I don't act a certain way.... well, cause, tha'ts not me. I would be fakin it. I'd be a buster. But the stigma was born. It lives on and will continute to live on. Until more and more educated blacks flourish in the media and in business and in communities where they are the minority. But until then - It's sad, but true.