Critique #3: Hip Hop Hurts Black People

This chapter claims that there are many arguments made against hip hop, such as it fuels a self-destructive attitude amongst the youth, it promotes violence, and it degrades black women. But the strong argument that it hurts black people is claimed by other blacks. They also claim that hip hop as it was once known is dead. The promotion of drugs, gang activity, abuse, and homophobia is thrown onto the listeners and is not helping anybody. Three majors issues os hip hop listed in this chapter are "1) unfair generalization made through sweeping claims and over blaming; 2) the tone of disdain and disregard that is smuggled in under 'outrage' and gets misunderstood and tough love; and 3) what's left out...the absence of collective responsibility for what's happened to hip hop and the silence among many critics about structural racism and its heightened impact on the black poor." This chapter emphasizes the destruction of rap and hip hop music because it devalues education for the youth. Even the best learning environments will not do much for a young black child if he is listening to destructive music.