Our YouTube Channel

Just a heads up to those reading this blog: there is a companion site on YouTube. While Ms. D has been slow to post items - which is really uncharacteristic - everything should be posted by next week. The footage took a while to edit. But you should stop by and post a comment, and if the mood strikes, send me stuff to add. You can find the channel at Voiceofanugeneration.

The way teenagers are affected my music

Personally I think that the stereotype is right, and that hip-hop artist has a huge influence in our society today. Hip hop artist for the most part send out negative messages to their fans. Hip-hop has a huge impact on our youth today. We wonder why are kids have gone crazy, it has a lot to do with the lyrics in the music. All rappers talk about are drugs, pimping or abusing women and violence. Basically what I’m saying is that some type of music has an affect on are teens. It effect them by not finishing high school and it’s most of are African American men or boys because they want to be rappers and sell drugs to get out of the hood or to support their family.
Most kids do things they hear in music or see on TV, because to them rappers are like role models. Role models, lyrics, videos, and the lifestyle of music, sports, and movie stars can implement that drugs are cool. Hip-hop artist make us kids think that selling drugs is the way to get out of the hole that their family is in, just to get their family out the hood, and to get the fast money. Kids who are not financially stable tend to sell drugs to survive. But some rappers say that dope is the only way to eat but it’s not all you have to do is go to school get an education and you can be anything in life you want. This leads into women and how male use sexual aggression toward use female.
Some rap music influences teenagers in a sexual aggression against women. Use as female’s can’t get mad when the male call us B****s or H**s because we react to the dances that come out for example, pop lock and drop it, shake that booty, and rock your hips. We can’t get mad because we are practically responsible for there actions toward us females.
Music has a lot of violence in it, and it has mad the death rate in teens get higher this past year. Violence in music for example, “Gutter, gutter mother****** AY this that Get your knife time to gut a mother******” when kids hear this they think its okay because we look up to the hip-hop artist. I say it does have something to do with the parents also because they need to control what their kids listen to. There should be an appropriate time or place for this type of music.
Tome, I think that hip-hop artist need to wake up and realize that young kids are listening to their music and it has an affect on them. They need to rap about more positive music they should rap about how we need to be in school and not on the corner selling drugs. If rappers stop rapping about negative music and stop portraying women, and tell us what right instead of wrong I think the society will get better. If there was more positive music more African American men and boys will graduate high school and the death rate of teens will decrease.

" What Goes On Behind Closed Bars"

People believe that inmates get too much privilege. They receive 3 meals a day, cable, resources, and free time. But do they know what really goes on in there? Do they know how much inmates rather be dead than in prison? Take women for an example. Women are expected to be spoiled but in reality they’re victimized on a daily basis. Women suffer tremendously behind those walls of steel. Today, I would like to feed your mind with a bit of knowledge about the abuse, mistreatment and degrading that goes on in prisons as well as the lack of resources that are provided. So I wonder if you'll still have a closed mind about inmates, particularly women, behind bars after you read this article " What Goes On Behind Closed Bar."

It's all a part of standard procedure they say, but is it standard procedure to grope their body parts, whisper vulgar language and make us feel less than feces that run through the sewers. There are so many women being killed or suffering severely for not following such procedures--so called procedures-- that involve inmates getting on their knees or spreading their legs for open passage (spread'em). Day to day is the same thing; the same people who swear to protect you are the ones who you need protection from. What are you to do when you're put in such a predicament? The few inmates that grow the courage to report these allegations only suffer more because few guards are disciplined and others who are sent to trail do not receive heavy reprimanding, they just get transferred. The worst part is if the inmate does get transferred, she's only put in a more compromising situation because she has been previously written up. Therefore, family privileges are restricted as a means to silence the women, or way to extend the inmates sentence in retaliation.

Many imprisoned women are targeted more than men. They are cited for pettier things such as, violating written or posted rules –something they are less likely to enforce for men. Many women facilities are also ignored when it comes to severe matters. These facilities do not receive educational/vocational programs, job training, few visitors, work release, and many more. Also the medical neglect in women prison is inhumane as well. The inmate must wear shackles during labor, they do not receive their proper medication and if they suffered from substance abuse, they do not receive proper treatment.

I read an article called, “Women in Prison: A Fact Sheet”, there were several plaintiffs that testified that women prisoners in the District of Columbia are constantly subjected to degrading, sexualized language. One incident that went trial was about an inmate “Jane Doe,” who testified that when she informed an officer that she was going to take a shower, he responded, “Well, you go ahead and do that, and I’ll be in there to stick my rod up in you.” The sad thing about this situation was that there were other officials present who simply ignored the harassment.

These are just a few examples of the mistreatment that goes on in these facilities. So I hope that I provided you with enough information to open your eyes. For what the media portrays is not all ways true. To find more accurate information check out this website where you can actually converse with the inmates. http://www.womendoingtime.com/women.asp

Racism

Racism was something I cope with in high school but made it difficult. The racism in the media is corrupting the young mind and changing how blacks are viewed. Hear is my idea of how to fix and the problem within racism.

Racism came across me when I was in high school. The teacher didn't care about my education and not taking out anytime to work with me or show how to improve my grade. The idea of not caring came to my mind just giving up but then she would be in control of my fate. I just had to understand that she was just a teacher and I a student.

The media has corrupted the mind of the young black youth making us wanted to be gangsters or killers etc. and what! to only end up on the street. The black people are the many ones corrupted. I think that white people know that and allow rappers to still sing or rap and its like are we about change or not. The main reason why so many black people have this thought about making money and trying to live that good life knowing that there life isn’t right. But without the murders of people everyday there would be no judges, lawyers and policeman, there would be no black athletes, actors, or the many other things that you need us for. The media corrupts us by saying we can be like all the other black athletes or rap artist but its not as easy as they say it is some of them getting their on a blessing. The racism in the media is destroying community and I feel that some white give off this vibe that makes it hard for me to me. When I know I have been polite and superb but look at my skin and not by my character or actions.

The next question probably is how do we act on it we fix the media stop lying to people and tell the truth about how they came to be a rapper or athlete in the world that why when a black person goes to a school he is all alone why because were so caught in the media that we don't see what is really needed t be a successful rapper or black athlete in the world today. To many people don't tell you that if you get injured you might needed a back up plan and I am not telling you if we come straight forward they won't be surprised but a least they will know. That why I like hearing how some of the NBA players tell their story of how they overcame their ordeal and were blessed with a talent telling us that it is not easy and that education is important.

The main thing about racism is that it a choose either your going to hate me for my skin or the aspects of my character. But I would rather be about my traits then my skin, because then it doesn't feel like your just making a stereotype that seen he's a black kid he is easily influence or in a gang so hey! Judge me by my character not by my skin for you may like what is deep within.

The Media: Is it the correct way to interact with the people?

The media plays a great role in our country’s survival; it is also our greatest down fall. Miscommunication is generally the source of many altercations small and/or large. Through the media higher parties have the advantage of screening what they want the public to see. This is called the gatekeepers theory which was created in 1947 by social psychologist Kurt Lewin. This is defined as the process through which ideas and information are filtered for publication. The theory represents the idea that the media sets the agenda for what is expressed to the public such as what issues are discussed and how these issues are discussed. This becomes difficult because now mass media has a negative effect on the public because of it misrepresentation of information.

The agenda-setting theory for Mass Media has been discussed for many years. The Agenda-setting theory is the theory that the mass-news media has a large influence on audiences by their choice of what stories to consider newsworthy and how much prominence and space to give them. Arguing the topic of whether we are being conditioned through the media in order to remain oblivious and taciturn to the matters of concern within the U.S. This then becomes a concern of public welfare, if something were to happen, such as nine-eleven, would the public be properly prepared? Are we being represented and protected to the fullest or are we being undermined by our own country? What should be presented to through media? Agenda-setting theory was introduced in 1972 by Maxwell McCombs and Donald Shaw in their ground breaking study of the role of the media in 1968 presidential campaign in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The theory explains the correlation between the rate at which media cover a story and the extent that people think that this story is important. This correlation has repeatedly been shown to occur.

The United States has a long history of a free press that facilitates public participation. This right was fought for during the revolution because of the prosecutions that were being held against journalist who spoke the truth about the current events and their views on the matter. So laws were passed and free press was included in the constitution of the United States of America, and so positive energy of freedom began to emerge and information transpired from upcoming media sources. However in present day information is not spreading as truthfully or correctly as the media should be used.

Matter such as presidential elections are extremely important as part of our nation’s ability to vote. However when these candidates are being exploited through the media, you are limited to the amount of information you have about this “possible future president”. Such things cannot be withheld because the right to vote is putting our Nation’s future in our hands and without proper preparation and considerations, as to who will hold the U.S. within the highest regards, there is no way we would could continue on the path of remaining a great and proud country. Politics are our nation. Politics represent the freedom and rights that are reserved to the citizens of this nation. But with the ongoing amount of liabilities and faults in regards to the news coverage without castigation, you come to wonder, who is misinforming us, the media, our politicians, or our Nation? These exploitations are on a very slippery slope, if tipped it could bring down our whole society.

The media is creating ongoing chains of cause and effect, changing the lives of others so that it fits their view. Playing and toying with information, until only fragments of stories are presented, leaving the people at a serious impasse. The social stability of the U.S. is extremely fragile between the war in Iraq and the declining social standings with other countries. Us citizen need a president that can lead them out of these problems. However without proper information how can we choose the correct candidate? Drawling out of a hat is not the answer, we need information and comparisons, and we need to be prepared. The media is not allowing this by slicing down our informational resources.

-Venessa Maldonado

.Video Vixens Untold

Video Vixens! The number one topic on everyday TV, from MTV, BET, E! and more. A video vixen has so many misconceptions. This paper will illustrate the way women are represented in hip hop videos. I say its wrong, misleading, and sets a bad example. It creates stereotypes, degrades women, and young girls might be negatively influenced.

Video vixens have a lot of stereotypes. A lot of people don’t know that there’s a difference between a “video model” and a “video groupie”. The definition of a video model is someone who actually has to go through an interview and an applying process to receive the job to participate in the video, instead of selling their body to be involved. A video groupie is someone who hears about the video and comes to the set. They will often do anything to get on the video, such as sell their bodies. They are often only paid fifty dollars a day. Many people stereotype video girls who degrade themselves because they get them confused with video groupies who sell their bodies and have all type of oral sex on the scene of the video. For example, a girl named Karrine Steffans started off as a stripper, and became a famous ‘video groupie”. She was nicknamed “super head” because of the way she portrayed herself as a young girl. Karrine was forced to give oral sex with her ex-husband Kool G for over two hours. People often judge and think all women who are in a rap videos are doing things like selling their body, that’s not the case. There are plenty of gorgeous women who go to work every day. They apply for different videos and show up at the scene looking fabulous. They can make up to fifteen hundred thousand dollars a day. All in all, don’t judge a book by its cover.

To lower the character or quality of black women seems to be acceptable and common in the entertainment industry of America. It seems like degrading women is the key to success when actually education is the key. So many rappers degraded women, Run DMC to Tupac to Biggie Smalls to Snoop Dogg to Nelly to Lil Wayne and more. It’s like they love to call women sluts, smuts, hoes, whores, b****, and so many other words. What do they think? There was an interview titled hip-hop verses America and it was basically about Snoop Dogg the rapper from the west coast of the US telling his way of thinking about women. He says if women portray themselves as those type women then there going to get treated that way. He said it’s not that rappers don’t have respect, but it’s that women don’t have respect for them selves. I actually agree on the point he’s making. If you don’t have self respect than who's going to have self respect for you? Nobody is going to take you seriously especially a man. Clearly, degrading women is something I want to change in the entertainment industry.

Videos are a way of advertising things, entertaining people, and especially entertaining the younger crowd from ages ten to twenty and sometimes older. There are younger girls who watch these types of videos and say to themselves “wow someday I want to be like those girls”, not knowing the difference between a model and a groupie. What teenage girl doesn’t want to ride in fancy cars and wear all the latest clothes, and get dressed up in the big flashing lights? Its entertainment! So as a solution us as in people have to stop degrading are women, showing uncut videos, and balancing out the two. For instance, put positive things in the video to as well. If theres always something negative in the videos and nothing positive what are they going to follow, who are they going to follow? Because I know you entertainers don’t want your daughters or siblings following the footsteps of women known as smuts and whores. However, if rap artist keep degrading women, their album wouldn’t sell and they wouldn’t make any money. If degradation of women did not sell and make people money, I guarantee you they would stop doing it and do whatever would make them money. Rappers need to stop making those degrading videos, but us as in consumers have the power to not support them. So we have to make a change. MAKE A CHANGE!

Positive Music or Negative Music? Let Your Money be the Vote

Not all music is negative. Some music is inspirational. Many artists like Talib Kweli, Common, and Kanye West all have very inspirational music. These are artist who write about change. As much as we talk about how we want positive music we really don’t. Why is 50 cent making more money and selling more albums than Common? Why is Soulja Boy selling more albums than Kanye West? I think that America should not only say that they want positive hip hop artists but support the positive artists when they enter the profession. How can we truly want to change the music we listen to if we patronize in artists who profit from negative music?

Negative music is music that has a message that is appalling, an appalling message that you would not want you or your child to hear. Artists like 50 Cent, Soulja Boy, and Lil Wayne are the number one manufactures of this ignorant form of art. It is estimated that rapper Lil Wayne is worth between 55 – 75 million dollars, in 2005 rapper/entrepreneur 50 Cent was worth 60 million dollars, and rapper Soulja Boy is ranked number 29 on the top 50 albums of 2008 so far with a enormous 409,735. Again these are the artists that epitomize negative music. Positive music is music that makes you want to better yourself and gives you that since of confidence that you are somebody. Artist like Talib Kweli, Common, and Kanye West are the ones that produce positive music. Kanye West was placed number 40 on the top 50 albums of 2008 so far with only 301,632 the same one that Soulja Boy placed number 29 on. Common's first album sold only 123,000 copies far less than Soulja Boy’s first album.

Artist like Talib Kweli, Common, and Kanye West make positive inspirational music. Their music always has a message behind it. These men are not just rap artist they are more like social activist. Their message is deeper than usual. They are more conscious and tend to make music that make people want to change- Music for Social Change. Two out of the three artists listed above have some of the lowest selling albums in the Hip Hop industry. What does that say about the world? If the corporate world doesn’t sponsor them we the listeners should serve as Philanthropist and give them the financial support that they need because ultimately negative music is affecting us as a whole. The corporate world signs artists according to what the consumers want to hear. They sign the people that are going to bring them the most money. Of course they get the assumption that we like negative music because we patronize it. If we start to patronize in the music we want instead of settling for what is offered we will be in the right path toward change.

Change is a transformation that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another. That means with change come transformation. So if we can change the music we listen to we will transform into the people we want to be. Positive music can illustrate positive people and that’s a change we all want to see. The way we spend our money illustrates our value for goods. So if we spend our money to support negative music does that say that we value those artists? Yes. We need to show artists that we want change. We can do this by not buying the negative music. Let your money be your vote in excluding negative music from America.

~Khary Carrington