Why Do We Applaud Foolishness?
I’m far too young to be saying this but times have truly changed, and not for the better. When we think about the role models of yesteryear, your Muhammad Alis and Lena Hornes and you compare them with today’s big names, such as Soulja Boy and Kim Kardashian, our generation certainly seems to pale in comparison. Gone are the days when the people we promoted, especially in the urban community, were well-spoken, strong, and aware individuals who stood up for what they believed in. There’s no activism, no concern, and very little intelligence on display by some of today’s rising stars.
Case in point:
Yes, he really said geometry. That’s beside the point. We have an obligation to our communities and to ourselves to set better examples. True enough, it is possible humble beginnings may make a quality education and messages of the merit hard to come by, but that’s an even bigger reason to develop one’s mind.
For instance, Nas dropped out of school in the eighth grade. From his rhymes, however, you would probably guess he went to college. Nas also expresses the importance of education and, earlier this year, announced plans (whether or not he has followed up on them) to go back to school.
Although he did talk about voting and education in a somewhat positive light, there was very little that Waka Flocka Flame could do to get himself out of the obvious hole of ignorance he dug. The message was clear: He was preaching insincerely about something he does not practice. To make matters worse, he was met with applause. By no means would things have gotten better had he been booed, but the implications of a lack of knowledge are a little too serious to be wiped away by the applause prompts at the 106 & Park studios. In a nutshell, it’s unacceptable.
Why is this such a big deal? To put it simply, we become (to an extent) what we feed ourselves. So when we applaud ignorance, and sell ourselves anything less than what is noble, honorable, and productive, we do ourselves a disservice. We become more likely to adopt these types of ideas and we feed stereotypes that affect the way the rest of us are perceived.
Before Generation Y becomes Generation What The… (you get the picture) we may need to feed our personalities less of the above, and more of the following:
Just sayin’.
Hey CJ, I think you might have posted the wrong video in the second spot. Good post, otherwise! I’m looking forward to seeing the real second video.
You were right, of course. I appreciate it, too. You’re a lifesaver! Thanks.
I have to say this is a great post, i have been extremely disappointed with the current hip hop/rap scene and how it teaches nothing but ignorance and stupidity. I grew up in the early 90′s when the music actually stood for something and had a message. To me it seems like it has only become more popular to be stupid and to do stupid things then to actually think for yourself. Constant rapping about pushing keys, smoking weed, clubbing, and Gucci this LV that only causes kids to be stuck in a world of dreams. And when reality hits them dead in the face they become lost and make foolish decisions. I hope that one day artist will start making music with a message and BET/MTV will stop promoting stupidity with music from Soulja Boy and shows like the Jersey Shore, etc.
Great article, yet again. I still think it’s on the parents to explain to their kids etc. You have a great point though. People shouldn’t applaud or support foolishness.
What kills me is black people who aren’t foolish or shows with blacks being smart don’t get the same push. It’s not that the shows aren’t out there. It’s just folks are looking for an excuse to be stupid and get attention. People misconstrue foolishness as being real. Any type of display of education is looked as selling out, weak, being white etc.
I don’t know, I understand where you are coming from,but in some ways disagree BECAUSE the majority of MUSICAINS throughout black history have been undereducated period. The music business has never required any type of scholastic achievement, and its safe to say many successful artists gained stardom before they were even old enough to finish school. Rewind a decade to my highschool days, 112, Destiny’s Child, Bow Wow, Lil Wayne, all signed before they were 18. Rewind to when Gramma was in high school, Five Heartbeats, Temptations, Smokey Robinson all signed before they finished school.My point is even though some of these individuals are more intelligent than others, education is not a landmark of THAT industry. Carrying a tune or rapping over an enjoyable club beat, requires minimal education.
There were idiots in the music industry since the beggining of time, and there always will be. WHo you or anyone decides to consider a role model is on them. There are still many positive black role models in America, and guess what, you don’t have to look up to someone black or in the music industry. Lol. Enjoy the music. Don’t worship its artists.
Lastly, how many people in the music industry fall victim to drug addiction, are abusive, have sex with teenage girls, “have satanic symbolism” in their videos and we say “wow I can’t believe he/she did that” but stull listen to their music anyway? So why would their stupidity sway us? lol
@ Tasha:
You made some really good points there. My point is that while there are several artists and entertainers who do not finish school, especially those from yesteryear, they DID/DO actually stand for something. They realize the importance of the things that they did not have and many of them have also realized that not having an education makes it all the more important for them to try to influence as many as they can to pursue theirs dutifully. Plus, they can put good sentences together about why these things are important instead of sending mixed signals to youngsters about the importance of education by saying it’s important without really being able to articulate why. Kids are smarter than we think, and they knew that was bull. Period.
Secondly, people who are promoted and popularized via the channels most likely to have our attention (e.g. television, the internet) are role models because they have access to the masses. Their audience sees them and hears them in a way that they may not hear the other more positive voices. It’s not so much about considering them role models, it’s more about them having access to the impressionable minds of individuals.
For your final point, my stump speech for the near-year that I’ve been writing for DrJays has always been that the most dangerous aspect of the culture creation and mind control that can occur from the words and images in our “art” is the subtlety. We’re ruining ourselves little by little, by allowing these things to penetrate our consciousness without even realizing that it’s happening. We try to convince ourselves with phrases such as “I always saw it that way,” etc. but the truth is that many of our perceptions are dictated to us via mainstream media. It is that serious, and we don’t know it. Until we realize it, there will not be enough of a resistance to change it.
@ Rick: You’re exactly right.
@ Desp1: I agree.
To all: Thanks for your comments!
i dont like him but he have to do what he have to do to make his money butit still not right but that his life and we got to understand that it not us who doning this that him if u dont like your kids to wachit dont BET/MTV MAKE THER MONEY BY PUTTING IT ON THEIR WHAT DO U DO AT WORK WHAT ARE TELLING YOUR AT.PONT