Hip Hop Live Blogging
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Reactions and comments from my sixth hour Honors American Literature class.
My favorite place in the world to be is underwater. My second favorite place is the front of a classroom.
59 Comments:
I agree with both statements because they present different ideas. I agree with Bill Cosby’s statement because I think that people today aren’t using correct grammar and it is bringing our country back to a time when people were hard to understand because of the way they spoke. I agree with the other side because I think these people do have a right to be the way they want to be and do what they want to do without being reprimanded. I think that this is regressive because our culture is disintegrating into this way of speech that we have worked so hard to overcome and move forward.
I disagree with Cory. I don't think that by not conforming they are. That doesn't make since to me.
I'm still unsure on whether hip hop and rap constitute a culture. There are many different forms of music, but they haven't all earned the right to be called a culture. Is it because the music is used as a form of escape for them and they throw themselves fully into it and are surrounded by it?
I agree with hannah, i see both sides. The grammer isnt as important to me, because we ourselves dont have perfect grammer. Also, i think that our society also has to get past the grammer issue because we shouldnt discriminate based on sterotypes.
Even though we use the word "like" a lot, we still use much better grammar than these other people.
The degredation of the language is fascinating yet devastating. Our language has gone from the beautiful sophistication to the broken english, if you could call it that, of the, as Dan said, "The Hood." They degrade themselves with their "Rebellion." We have to decide between Progressive and Regressive.
Gangsters are not the only ones who speak like crap.
I think that it should be considered a culture because it has become a way of life and people have thrown themselves into it heart and soul.
I partially agree with Hannah because people have a right to act the way they want. The culture is a way for the people to express their feelings.
If these kids grow up using this language and don't learn anything else, they will talk like this when they get older.
I agree with Sarah that youth will grow up and get away from our bad habits.
Hannah-I also agree with both statements. They may be speaking and acting this way to rebel against this society and it is smart to speak out against something that you disagree with but this just enforces the stereotype that has been put upon them. If we strive to ultimately blend all cultures, this will not help. If you act like you are dumb enough, even if you aren't, you will end up believing that you are dumb.
Do you think it is acceptable for people to speak "rap/hip hop language" at home if they are able to use correct language in the business world? Do you think that this language and the text messaging language are destined to meet the same fate?
I agree that we use broken english too. So why should we look down on them and, as Kakos said, stereotype them as stupid?
These kids are ruining their future because if they go into job interviews and talk the way they do, nobody is going to hire them.
Ali-I agree, it is their choice, but do they really want to be treated inferior to others when they really aren't?
I think that no one uses perfect english and yes we may say like way too many times but is there a line between not purposefully trying to talk bad and doing it on purpose
Why does the way you talk matter so much? Should it?
I don't think we have the right to judge other people's way of speaking when they are surrounded by it everyday. We have slang as well. It may not be as pronounced as other accents, but it spreads the same way. They live in a completely different environment and are brought up surrounded by a different way of speaking. It's no more their fault than it is ours where we live. Just because they are proud to speak this way doesn't mean it isn't also a habit and a product of a unique environment.
I think that it is hyprocritical to say that Hip hop culture isnt showing their education, because if you look around our school there are some people that are really smart but they dont show it because they dont want to be looked at different. NOT all people are like this in both cultures, but there are some overlaps.
I disagree with Hannah. I don't think they are ruining their future at all.
Lindsay-I think that yes, how you talk does matter because people are so quick to judge in this world whether it is by looks or how you talk so presenting yourself in a good way is a way to get ahead. I do however think that it matters too much
It matters because you can't get anywhere in life being stupid or having people think you are stupid.
Christine- Maybe they know that they will already be treated inferior to others so they decide to act the way they want to anyway. Because of American history, blacks and minorites are already being treated inferior without the hip-hop and rap.
I disagree with Hannah also because they most likely do not think that they are ruining their future
I agree with Kristin that you can only judge people by what they give you, and if all their giving you is this incorrect grammar, you aren't going to think very much of them.
Because you talk a certain way by no means mean your stupid. I disagree with Christine that you can't get anywhere. There are plenty of celebrities that are famous for their stupidity.
On the one hand, I understand why they want to "throw it back at us", and by not speaking correctly they think they are making a statement. And I believe that rap and hip hop should not be stereo-typed, because it is its own cultural thing. But singing is one thing, and then going out in everyday life, and talking that way, is something totally different. What they are trying to accomplish is NOT working! By talking that way, they are making people think less of them and think that they are not educated, not thinking that they are "making a statement". They need to learn how to talk correctly, and do it in public; then, maybe after some years, they can change back or whatever. But what they are doing is ineffective and unproductive. What I mean by unproductive, my dad went back to school to get his bachelors' degree, and it had all it's classes online, so he was working with people all over the country. More than once (not to should racist), he worked with people from the south, and when they did group writing projects, my dad had to go back and rewrite the whole thing because her grammar was SOOOO bad!!! So essentially he did the whole project himself. So they are getting themselves into the habit of talking this way, and then they can't get out of it, and it just makes more work for everyone else who can speak. The nation writes in one language, we speak in one language, so if they don't like it, they should get out. They need to learn OUR language, and USE IT, in order to be productive and move up in the world!
Yes it matters how you talk because it reflects the kind of person you are. It is also how people percieve/judge you. If people go around speaking "gangster" then they won't get the same respect as somebody else even if they are equal.
I believe our stereotypes are horrible but necessary. We cannot go around, at job interviews, saying, "Oh well, he can't speak English, but I bet hes just pretending." No, we can't do that. The way our world works is using all of our stereotypes like the way people talk.
The way you talk, like Tori said, does show a certain image to people, but I think that if you are smart you can get by. Jobs aren't all based on how you talk but more on what you know.
I am just putting this out here, but how many of us have actually experienced the Hip Hop culture? How many of us are basing our opinions off of what the media shows us?
Does MTV overexaggerate the stereotypical kinds of music we hear and show us a false reality of the culture really out there
I completely disagree with Kristin. They are trying to get others to make stereotypes and then completely shatter those stereotypes. Maybe we should try to listen to WHAT they are saying, rather than how they are saying it. If they're making brilliant points or have brilliant ideas then it should not be ignored just because they project it differently. That's ridiculous.
I think that this discussion is hard to have as we all sit here at our mostly white high school. Can any of us honestly say that we understand everything about the hip-hop culture?
And isn't each subculture guilty of faults? How can we judge any other culture when we ourselves are faulty?
People that live in white neighborhoods in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Ali-I see your point and some will always have problems with minorities, but we have seen great people come out from under and suceed. So do you think it is more important to express yourself the way you want to or to be accepted and get farther in life?
First impressions, which is what this discussion is mostly based on, are important but are not everything.
I agree with andie. Even though they don't speak proper english they are still getting their thoughts out and expressing them in a way that people will listen to.
I disagree with Lindsay. Like, no, it doesn't mean you're stupid, but like leclaire was saying and stuff, like people are going to stereo-type, whether you like it or not. So yea, there are CERTAIN celebraties, but think about how many celebs there are compared to the number of people in the world...not that many. If you walk into an interview talking like that, you're not going to get the job, so stop making a statement for real life...leave it in the music.
I completely agree with Andie's last comment.
I agree with Cory that people are pressured into talking and acting like the ones around them.
I agree that, yes, we really don't know about their culture, but if their culture is going to affect our futures and our generation, it really is our problem too.
We are so far removed from this way of life that I really don't feel we have the right to look down on it. If we lived in a different place then someone could be hired even though they speak differently. Just because we never see it in business doesn't mean it isn't there.
They are going to stereotype but isn't that the point? Don't people speak like that for a reason. To prove that they are just as smart but can talk however?
Chirstine - Pressure is really strong and yes people may feel forced to talk like others but aren't all new ideas starting by someone staying away from pressure...So pressure may force some people to unconform and search out new ideas
Relating to Hughes essay, are we the people who should be looked down upon because we may not be able to see our own faults?
We have no right to judge them or comment on the way they speak, like Andie said. What would they say about us?
Christine - Do we not see our own faults or are we just trying to better them and look past them to make ourselves better
Christine-yes. We believe that we are right and that everyone else is wrong. Thats not true.
Lindsay - I think that that in turn is stereotyping us because many people do not feel that way...So now we have come full circle
Lindsay, but how are we suppposed to know that they can talk if they never do it right? They make a statement, without the most important thing, SHOWING us that they are making a point. If they just speak like that and we don't know that they can speak correctly, then how are we supposed to know that they are making a statement, and not that they just weren't educated enough to know how to speak correctly? And even if we do know that they are making a statement, the employers don't care...they want someone who looks good for the company, so they are most likely going to choose someone who sounds like they are an intelligent and educated person, not a wild and rebellious individual.
Isn't America suppose to be a "melting pot" of culture? Why are we saying that other cultures are wrong or bad? Aren't they what make America unique?
But are we a melting pot if we never really blend together and accept each other?
Lindsay - I definitely agree. Shouldn't we be embracing all cultures not judging and forcing inferior cultures out...If we spent time judging, we can't find the great aspects of the other cultures
Katie- do all companies and businesses look for conformity or individuality?
Tori- my comment came out wrong. I don't believe that we are right. I think every culture has something to share and should be respected.
Lindsay - ok, I got it :) yes then, I agree
Christine- we have to accept each other, yes, but not become one. Every flavor should be tasted in the pot.
I like your metaphor
thanks! :)
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