Jackson Free Press

The current image of rap music and rap music videos is cause for concern among Black youth, according to the Black Youth Project, a survey spearheaded under the direction of Dr. Cathy Cohen of the University of Chicago.

The survey involved 1590 Black, White and Hispanic young people ages 15-25 from around the country.

Survey findings released yesterday (Feb. 1) reveal that 72 percent of Black youth agree rap videos contain too many sexual references.

The majority of participants agreed that rap music videos portray Black women and Black men in bad and offensive ways.

Sixty-six percent of Black women are more likely than White women (55%) and Hispanic women (53%) to agree that they are portrayed in a demeaning light in rap videos.

Although 57 percent of Black men feel that rap videos portray Black women in bad and offensive ways, 44 percent of them disagree that the videos portray Black men in bad and offensive ways.

The results of the survey provide solid evidence concerning the impact of rap on young people, according to Dr. Cathy Cohen, one of the organizers of the survey.

"This study shows us that young people are actually discerning viewers who have thoughtful insights about cultural representation," she explained. "Instead of condemning young Black people for watching rap videos, we might encourage music and television companies to provide a broader range of images for young Black people, who say that what they're seeing now is overly sexual and demeans women. This audience deserves to be paid attention to as consumers."

The survey also offered a peak into listening habits, as 58 percent of Black youth said they listen to rap music every day, compared to 45 percent of Hispanic youth and 23 percent of White youth.

The study also found that three percent of Black youth admit to never listening to rap music.

The feelings towards the excess of rap's sexual side was manifested in a desire for other sides of the genre to be expressed, as 41 percent of Black youth stated that rap videos should be more political.

In addition to cultural views, the survey polled youth on sex, sex education, gender roles, government and politics and discrimination.

Previous Comments

ID

110264

Comment

Interesting article and it presents some interesting numbers. Kids arent as lost as some folks think they are. Some of the numbers surprised me.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-02-02T17:08:42-06:00

ID

110265

Comment

Indeed that Rap music has messed up the minds of many black youths. I reluctantly told 5 of my nephews that I'm having a Super Bowl party for them Sunday. Now I'm afraid to do it for worry that they will pull out 40 Ounces, blunts, and start talking about their hoes and baitches. I'm considering calling off the party. What do y'all think?

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-02-02T17:14:50-06:00

ID

110266

Comment

And I should add that Mrs. Carter and I ain't 'bout to go for none of this sh1t.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-02-02T17:20:34-06:00

ID

110267

Comment

That was ALMOST funny Ray..but methinks you have nothing to worry about. Judging from an article I read yesterday you'd have to be more worried about some white frat boys doing that at one of their parties(does somebody have that link?)

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-02-02T17:21:09-06:00

ID

110268

Comment

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070131/ap_on_re_us/racist_party

Author

jd

Date

2007-02-02T17:25:45-06:00

ID

110269

Comment

Yeah, I read about at least 3 incidencts where white fraternities did this. Go to the Smoking Gun site and you'll find it. Also, be sure to pull for our frat brother Tony Dungy to win the Super Bowl. In case you didn't know Art Shell is our frat brother too. But he got fired.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-02-02T17:26:35-06:00

ID

110270

Comment

I would Ray..but my disdain for Peyton Manning dosnt allow it. sorry. But yes, I wouldnt abandon our kids yet. They have somewhat of a grasp on this "rap" issue. A lot better than society gives them credit for. Those white frats are another story. dont even think they mean to be offensive..they're just (like some black and white) imitating what they see.

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-02-02T17:29:59-06:00

ID

110271

Comment

I'm going to have them over anyway. If they don't act right this time it'll will be the last time for a while. I understand about the Mannings. I'm not crazy about them either. I just want Dungy to break the barrier first and be rewarded for so much hard work. I wonder if the white frats could do this without intending disrespect and hatred. In my view it shows the same kind of antipathy and disdain that their fathers showed for civil rights, justice and progress. It's plain mockery of progress and freedom. I would love to hear some white frat boys opinion concerning this. And I would love to know that no disrespect or hatred of black people was intended. I could actually live with this w/o any complaints if convinced this was intended only to emulate rap or rappers. If this is the case why did they paint their faces and do other altering thing. After all, there white rappers not painting their faces are pretending to be black.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-02-02T17:47:35-06:00

ID

110272

Comment

Ray I agree on the blackface part. and in one instance some ladies padded their jeans to give the "big butt" illusion. You're exactly right. but in some cases these were gangsta "themed" parties where I think they were trying to live out some rapper fantasies without having to actually LIVE them..if ya get my drift

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-02-02T17:58:10-06:00

ID

110273

Comment

This poll confirms my hopes and my personal experiences. And if I'm reading the data right, it's the white kids who are less likely to find this imagery offensive--which is exactly the dynamic bell hooks described (Kaze, I have a hunch you would actually agree 100% with what hooks is saying here): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xtoanes_L_g Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2007-02-03T06:06:28-06:00

ID

110274

Comment

so why the disdain for Peyton? I've yet to see him laugh his ass off when playing crappy or getting his azz kicked like Brooks is fond of doing.

Author

Kingfish

Date

2007-02-03T09:27:26-06:00

ID

110275

Comment

I'd probably take Brooks behind the Super Dome and shoot him to keep from taking him over Peyton. Peyton is my favorite of the Mannings. King, some people believe they're over-rated and chokers when it counts the most.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-02-03T12:59:14-06:00

ID

110276

Comment

not to get too off this topic because I think some discussion is warranted but 'fish..Peyton is SEVERLY overrated. The Manning family is severly overrated. Eli had proven to be nothing special and Peyton has been a media darling for doing things Steve McNair and Brett Favre have been doing for years. Drew Brees is better. and Archie...mediocre career. mediocre quarterback that gets praise for being average. But not to get too off topic LOL

Author

Kamikaze

Date

2007-02-03T13:01:10-06:00

ID

110277

Comment

Thanks Tom for the link. Kaze, truer words haven't been spoken. Bell Hooks is not only a foremost social and cultural critic, she has to be a genius. This is the only way I can explain her astuteness, acumen and precision in analyzing social and cultural situations. She could really teach the rap community something. But I bet like Snoop, many rappers "don't love those hoes." I don't blame rappers for choosing to attack Oprah instead of Gloria Watkins. Rappers haven't seen any intellect intil they're encountered Ms. Hooks. I'd spend money to see a face off with 2 bits (50 Cents) and bell hooks (as she likes to spell her name). Tom is there a book where she says the same things. Give me the title so I can purchase it. I'm reading her book about ending racism right now since I have finished the Audacity of Hope.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-02-03T13:20:15-06:00

ID

110278

Comment

Kaz, you're wrong about Archie (in my opinion). Archie was a great quaterback. He was always running for his life on a bad team. He is lucky he can still walk given the weak lines he played behind. I think you're right about Peyton being overhyped. Was McNair EVER in a commercial? Ray, I love your sense of humor! Are you representing the guy in Koziusko (esko, i dunno...) accused of murdering the coach or is it another attorney with the same name? Seems like a tough gig. I like Dungy, but I rebel against the Manning hype and in deference to my nine years lived in Chi: Go BEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Author

FreeClif

Date

2007-02-03T15:05:37-06:00

ID

110279

Comment

...I forgot my comment on the original theme... The media and the corporations who market rap music do not get enough credit for being a big part of the problem. Gangstas and booties is the way they choose to market. Is there as much money to be made from the positive aspects of hip hop culture --- the protest of the conditions facing the underclass and the appeal across ethnic groups? Positive songs get no spins on the radio compared to negative stuff. Turn off the radio!!!

Author

FreeClif

Date

2007-02-03T15:11:00-06:00

ID

110280

Comment

very interesting to read about this study...Infinite told me she thought the that media misrepresented rap artists & the messages...makes sense that companies might sanction more gangsta lyrics and less political themes as too destructive or scary But an artist and listener also must decide not to play this game

Author

Izzy

Date

2007-02-03T16:21:56-06:00

ID

110281

Comment

You know, I've listened to a little of Infinite's stuff and absolutely love it. It's great to have such a strong female hip-hop artist in Jackson--there have been times when I was involved in booking feminist events and so wanted to look into that, and now I know of somebody I can ask! Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2007-02-03T17:04:54-06:00

ID

110282

Comment

BTW to Ray - So agreed on bell hooks. I've just discovered her myself, and wish I had 10 years ago! The book I believe you're thinking of is Black Looks (1992), which deals with the white commodification issue across multiple media; there's also an essay in Outlaw Culture (1994) where she looks specifically at hip-hop as an example of this phenomenon, and the situation has changed so little in 13 years (IMHO) that it's still current. Cheers, TH

Author

Tom Head

Date

2007-02-03T17:11:23-06:00

ID

110283

Comment

I'm a big fan of ms. hooks myself. Discovered her years ago, but read a lot more in grad school more recently (including a piece about jerk, sexist grad-school professors. Anyone remember where that is!?!). Highly recommended, regardless of your race, or gender.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-02-03T19:49:59-06:00

ID

110284

Comment

(including a piece about jerk, sexist grad-school professors. Anyone remember where that is!?!). --oooh, no, but I'd love to see that one. I've enjoyed her work as well.

Author

Izzy

Date

2007-02-03T22:00:42-06:00

ID

110285

Comment

Donna, was this from Bell Hooks' Teaching Community: A Pedagogy of Hope (Routledge, 2003)? I have great respect for Bell Hooks. Anne

Author

anne mayeaux

Date

2007-02-04T21:30:50-06:00

ID

110286

Comment

Maybe. That sounds like something I'd read. But I thought it was before that. Yes, mega-respect. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-02-05T01:58:41-06:00

ID

110287

Comment

Oh, and she's funny, too. Years back, I covered a women's panel in NYC with her, Naomi Wolf and, uh...the very funny director who was married to Bob Woodward who cheated on her while she was pregnant and she paid him back with a movie about it ... Nora Ephron! Sorry, took me a sec. Anyway, it was downright hilarious. What funny women. And the keynote that day was Anita Hill, introduced by Gloria Steinem. I hadn't thought of that day in years. What a day filled with amazing women.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2007-02-05T02:02:02-06:00

ID

110288

Comment

Anonymity is the preferred way for me, Whit; but I know the lawyer real well. That Bell Hooks is something to behold. No wonder other well known intellectuals marvel at her clarity. And to boot, she's not practicing her craft from any Ivy League School that claims credit for it. What an inspiration for those of us that went elsewhere.

Author

Ray Carter

Date

2007-02-05T09:59:26-06:00

ID

110289

Comment

"including a piece about jerk, sexist grad-school professors. Anyone remember where that is!?" hmmm i should read that... i had a few professors like that in grad school, myself. as for this survey, it's a little surprising but i'm glad to see that the majority of people want to see more than just "gangstas and booties" in rap music. i think that's why i prefer "old school" to newer stuff... although there was gangsta and booty references in that stuff, it wasn't ALL they rapped about. some songs were just plain fun and good for dancin'. :)

Author

andi

Date

2007-02-05T14:14:24-06:00