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Very interesting question Steeltrap!!!
I do have a problem with organizations that have sworn to uplift the race promoting such negative stereotypes of us. In the college atmosphere, I have witnessed several incidences of organizations hosting a seminar or panel discussion on the enlightenment or upliftment of the race while throwing a party that same night where only music promoting negative stereotypes is played. It comes across, to me, as speaking out of both sides of your mouth.
The solution to this problem is not going to come easily, for several reasons. For one, the negative stereotypes of our people are being promoted and sold to our people. Often in discussions of this topic, the biggest concern voiced is that White people will see these images and assume that all African Americans behave and speak in the same manner. What is more important to me is that these images are being sold to young African Americans living comfortably. Many of our young people begin to think that the only way to be truly black is to have to struggle to survive, sell drugs, work as a stripper, or something else that they heard on the radio or saw in a video.
Next, we have to deal with the problems of censorship. Many people, including members of the organizations in question, are going to have problem with a national mandate or some other directive indicating what artists are acceptable and those that are not. Personally, I feel that Lil Jon and the Ying Yang twins promote negative stereotypes. There are plenty of people who vehemently object to banning this kind of music at a party or social gathering.
Until, we can lift the consciousness of our people as a whole, I think we will encounter more problems than solutions.
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