Interesting essay from a Spelman professor
Past Imperfect: The Hoodrat Theory
By William Jelani Cobb
The flyers posted in Cosby Hall said it all: "We Care About Your Sister, But You Have To Care About Ours, Too." The slogan explained the position of the student-activists at Spelman College whose protests over Nelly's "Tip Drill" video led the artist to cancel his scheduled appearance for a bone marrow drive on the campus earlier this month. But in a real sense, their point went beyond any single rapper or any single video and went to the center of a longstanding conflict in the heart of the black community.
Full Disclosure: I am a history professor at Spelman College. I've also taught several of the students involved in the protests over the video. I don't pretend to be unbiased in my support for their actions. I openly supported the students who - and this is important - never uninvited Nelly or canceled the marrow drive. They did however request that he participate in a campus-wide forum on the problematic images and stated that if he did not, the marrow drive could continue, but his presence on campus would be protested. That Nelly's organization decided to cancel the drive rather than listen to the views of women who were literally being asked to give up bone and blood is tantamount to saying "shut up and give me your bone marrow."
This is the truth: hip hop has all but devolved into a brand neo-minstrelsy, advertising a one-dimensional rendering of black life. But stereotypes serve not only to justify individual prejudices, but also oppressive power relationships.
read the rest at
www.jelanicobb.com
ETA: This essay is not on his site, but since we cannot post entire articles I won't until I find it's source. It was emailed to me by a friend.
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