The Hip-Hop Generation Chunk #3

The Hip-Hop Generation Chunk #3 is about confronting the crise of African American culture and the problems that are facing the "hip-hop generationers" in America. Bakari Kitwana discusses about the aspect of social responsibility, politics, and cultural significance and how hip-hop has affected it lyrically and socially. This is during a time where "hip-hop generationers" are being held socially accountable for their actions, are seen as important figures in society, and seen as role models for the youth. He makes references to criticism of hi-hop lyrics by prominent black leaders, especially C. Delores Tucker, and the divide between "hip-hop generationers" and their civil rights generation parents. The audience can be both generationers and can be a way for understanding between both. The purpose of this chunk was to discuss the impact hip-hop has had in the 90's and 00's and the how hip-hop music has affected the political climate of that time.

Clarification: What started to happen to hip-hop music in the 90's?
Application: Do you know of any "hip-hop generationers" that have made a political impact?

The Hip-Hop Generation Chunk #2

The Hip-Hop Generation Chunk #2 is about a race war, love between black men and women, and hood movies. Bakar Kitwana discusses the problems that African Americans have with the justice system and how they are dealt a bad hand. For example, "Blacks make up only 13 percent of monthly illegal drug users, whereas whites constitute 74 percent of monthly illegal drug users...the Justice Department found that the number of Blacks incarcerated for drug offenses increased 707 percent during the decade between 1985 and 1995 (compared to a 306 percent increase for whites)." The defamation of women is addressed in chapter 4, he discusses the gender divide between black men and black women and the rise of sexual abuse. He uses the sexual abuse cases of Tupac Shakur and Mike Tyson. Finally he addresses "coming-of the-age" or "hood movies" such as Boyz N the Hood, Menace II Society, and New Jack City. These films are the first of ots kind that shows what it is like to be a young black man in the inner city and the problems with crime and poverty that we face. This is during a time in which a young generation of African Americans are being caught up in the War on Drugs, increasing arrest rates and police brutality, deteriorating relationships between women, and the expression of the "hip-hop generationers" on film. This is meant for young African Americans and Latinos that are apart of the Hip-Hop Generation or the generation after that. This is written to express the problems that people of this generation faces. As a "hip-hop generationer" Bakari Kitwana gives a good insight into the issues we face.

Clarification: What was the main subject of this chunk?
Application: What else is a problem that young black men face?

Envy of the World

Envy of the World by Ellis Cose is a story about the Black man's journey in America and his experiences. He discusses problems that the African American men experience such as identity issues of. Academic issues and their supposed inability to succeed in school and go to college. He discusses how Black mean have a hard time staying out of prison and have the highest numbers per capita in prison. Finally he discusses the problems the Black man has in relationships and fatherhood and his inability to be good at. In the final chapter he gives solutions to the problems of Black men and how they can improve how people see them. He uses anecdotes, statistics, and personal experience to strengthen his arguments.

Clarification: What are some of the problems Black men face?
Application: Do you know Black men that have thses flaws and if so how can they improve them?

Hip-Hop Generation Chunk #1

Hip-Hop Generation by Bakari Kitwana is the story of a new generation, in fact the first generation since the end of the civil rights movement. Chunk 1 discusses its emergence and its rise and its difference from the previous generations. "Both rappers, like their peers who saw hope and promise in their short lives, were hip-hop genrationers--those African Americans born between 1965 and 1984 who came of age in the eighties and ninties and who share a specific set of values and attitudes(4)." People born in this period of time have a different outlook on the world than their elders. He discusses how "hip-hop generationers" experience hardships such as poverty, crime, racial animosity, negative stereotypes, few job opportunities, and corruption. He discusses how young African Americans are given less of a chance to succeed in a society that does not care for them. For example, "The hip-hop generation, those Blacks born between 1965 and 1984, entered the job force during the 1980s and 1990s, a period marked by falling wages, worsening conditions for unskilled workers, and growing disparities in income and wealth between America's minority rich and majority poor (27)." This is an example of one of the many problems that "hip-hop generationers" experience.

Clarification: What makes the "hip-hop generationers" different from the previous generations?
Application: Have you ever experienced or known anyone who has experience the problems that the "hip-hop generationers" experience?

Obama Visits Mexico, Where the News Isn't All That Bad

"Obama Visits Mexico, Where the News Isn't All That Bad" by Michael Elliot is about the visit President Obama will make to Mexico for the annual Summit of the Americas to address the issues that are affecting the continents. There they will discuss the problems Mexico faces with drugs and its struggling economy. However they will also discuss the positive things that have happened in Mexico, "If Obama is wise, he will reflect not on Mexico's challenges, real as they are, but on what extraordinary strides the nation has made in the last quarter of a century." This is to show that positive things are happening in Mexico and not just negative things such as the violence related to the drug war.

Clarification: Why is President Obama visiting Mexico?
Application: What have you heard about Mexico?

"Gay Families to Attend WH Easter Event"

"Gay Families to Attend WH Easter Event" by Gillian Gaynair states how gay and lesbian families are being invited to do the easter egg hunt at the White House. "The White House is allocating tickets for the upcoming Easter Egg Roll to gay and lesbian parents as part of the Obama administration's outreach to diverse communities.", this is apart of his movement for change in America. In past years they were rejected and people feared they would use it to express their ideology.

Clarification: Why were LGBT people left out before?
Application: WHat is your opinion of LGBT people and their lifestyle?

"U.S. to Attend Group Nuclear Talks with Iran"

"U.S. to Attend Group Nuclear Talks with Iran" by Matthew Lee is about the policy shift that the Obama Administration is making in the situation with Iran's nuclear program. In the past the U.S. refused to negotiate with Iran and compromise, which put us on a track to war. "the Bush administration had pursued a policy of isolating Iran and not attending the group's meetings with Iranian officials.", the Obama Administration is stopping that practice and making diplomatic strides to improve relations.

Clarification: What is the U.S. attending?
Application: How do you feel about this change in policy?