Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Black Fathers, Why "NOT" Be Accountable?
"The engaged black father is an elusive character in popular culture. The percentage of black children living in fatherless homes—roughly 50 percent—has perpetuated an orthodoxy that black men are irresponsible and indifferent to fatherhood. A 2007 study noted that a black father's ability to financially contribute is one of the biggest determinants of whether he stays in the home. Will (Black America) have to come to a consensus on what constitutes a good father?"Excerpts from Joshua Alston, O Father, Where Art Thou?
For every two irresponsible black "sperm givers", there is one responsible black father. Even though the absentee of the black father is an epidemic in the black community, it cast a negative shadow over the black fathers that are accountable, responsible, engaged, and as my Grandmomma would say "acting like a daddy." Also, it does not address the black fathers that would like to be in their child's life but the mother has impeded that process.
Personally, my Grandmother would always ask/tell my father, "why don't you spend time with the boy?" Her constant encouragement/firmness did not propel him to want to be in my life. So, being a responsible black father is an "individual choice" that the black man has to make.
Happy Father's Day to the "WOMEN" that have raised me--my Mother, Godmother, and Grandmother. And to the only father I have known, my Godfather, Andrew "Sonny" Owens. One love!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
The Wichita File: Minority Incorporation
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 2005-2007 American Community Survey, African-Americans in Wichita, Kansas make up 9% of the population (40,173). Despite the relative small percentage of African-Americans, many hold leadership positions in state, local, and community affairs. For example, Melody McCray-Miller (state legislator), Oletha Faust-Goudeau (state legislator), Gail Finney (state legislator), Carl Brewer (Mayor), LaVonta Williams (City Council), Norman Williams (Police Chief), Ron Blackwell (Fire Chief), Kevin Myles (NAACP), Chester Daniel (Urban League), Kevass Harding (School Board) and Betty Arnold (School Board).Given the presence of African-American leadership in Wichita, why is the black community (as a whole not individually) so stagnant? Have African-American leaders achieved a high level of minority incorporation that would allow them to influence economic, social, and political decisions to address the needs and concerns of the black community? Minority incorporation is the degree “to which a group has been able to achieve a position from which strong and sustained influence can be exercised” (Brown, Marshall, and Tabb 1984, 241). By definition, the above African-Americans in Wichita have achieved it. Yet, we have not seen if the obtainment of these positions has translated into black empowerment.
Have these African-American leaders exercised a level of black consciousness/solidarity? Have they encouraged the black community to act as a cohesive group and exercise collective action to better the community?
If the answer is “no” to the above questions, then these individuals only provide symbolic representation for the black community. So, why do we hold them in such high regard if their actions are not congruent with what is in the best interests of the black community? To bring truth to this analysis, some of the above leaders “do” represent the black community (and very well). However, the rest of them have fallen victim to the embedded conservative ideology that impedes black empowerment in the city. For many of them to gain these political/community offices they had to embrace conservative coalitions. In fact, some of these leaders that have achieved these positions have alienated themselves (intentionally and unintentionally) from the general masses of the black community and only maintained relationships with other “so-called” affluent blacks in Wichita (i.e., the forming of clicks).
What good is it to have the presence of African-Americans in leadership positions if it does not benefit the black community? It creates a false ideology of the advancement of blacks in the community and appeases the white dominant, conservative base that says “what else do you want?” Simple, Wichita needs African-Americans in these positions that align themselves with the plight of African-American progress and understands the historic struggles of the black race (those from Wichita know exactly what I mean).
William T. Hoston, Ph.D.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Who’s Responsible for the Lyrical Content in Rap Music? ---William T. Hoston
Rap artists repeatedly call women “Bitches and Hoes.” They make reference to being promiscuous with multiple women, glorify carrying guns, selling drugs, smoking weed, and stand by the motto “keeping it real.” But, is “keeping it real” being accountable for their lyrical content.
Opponents of rap music speculate that the lyrical content in some songs have gone too far? They argue that the content is too misogynistic, violent, rebels against American values, and more importantly, provides a generation of youth (of all races and colors) with negative reinforcements and stereotypes.
A double edge sword has continued to exist in that rap artists should be accountable for their lyrical content. However to censor these artists would compromise the validity of the art form. Since the inception of rap music it has been a medium for young African-Americans, born and raised in the inner-city to channel their life experiences and everyday struggles.
Whom (really) are the rap artists cleaning up their lyrics for?
The centerpiece of the debate is the rap consumer. A number of studies have identified White males (13-25) as the leading consumers of rap music. While White youth are typically framed as the victims of the influence of rap music, they account for more than 70 percent of sales according to the Recording Industry Association of America. Also, Whites are the owners of two major rap magazines, The Source and XXL. This raises the question: Have the institutions of white America taken a position on rap music to protect their own interest? Bill Yousman describes White youth identification with black popular culture as Blackophilia. In his research he argues that White youth have developed a fascination with not only rap music but the hip-hop culture.
In the late 1990s, Interscope Records that housed rap artists such as Dr. Dre, Snoop Doggy Dog, and Tupac Shakur came under heavy criticism regarding the lyrical content of their artists. Ted Field, chief financial investor, stated, “I wouldn’t allow my 3 and 10 year old daughters to listen to Snoop Doggy Dog.” In 1997, Forbes Magazine estimated Field’s net worth of Interscope Records at $500 million.
Rap music has evolved into a billion-dollar industry. The major record companies have not led a campaign to censor the lyrical content of these artists, in fact, many of them promote it further perpetuating the negative stereotypes that have branded young African-American males. The companies that distribute rap music (i.e., Interscope Records, Warner Elektra Atlantic (WEA), Polygram,MCA Music Entertainment, BMG Distribution, Atlantic Records, and Sony MusicEntertainment) are all owned by White males. Therefore, an internal question is raised: Why haven’t these music companies exercised some/more degree of control to censor the lyrical content of rap music? Simple, the degradation of the African-American male image is not as important to them as the financial benefit of profiting from it. I am not letting African-American males off the hook, but holding both parties (corporate and the individual) responsible since most of the blame disproportionately falls on the African-American male.
In the words of Tupac Shakur, “Now if I choose to ride/ thuggin’ till the day I die / They don't give a f*^k about us / While I'm kickin rhymes/ Getting to their children’s minds/ Now they give a f*^k about us.”
William T. Hoston is an Assistant Professor at Wichita State University in the Department of Political Science.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
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