Critique # 2: Hip Hop Reflects Black Dysfunctional Ghetto Culture

In chapter two of Hip-Hop Wars the major idea highlighted is, Hip-Hop is critiqued by racist ideas, just in a new light. On page 66 and 67 in Hip-Hop Wars this idea of Black music being seen as dangerous, especially to white culture, is explained. In today’s times Jazz and Blues music is not seen as threating, but when it first was introduced it was seen in a different light. This can again be seen in the way Hip-Hop is seen in our culture today. Many people in power, who are generally White, see Hip-Hop as having no value, and that it is not a valid art form. This view also comes from a historical time. During and after slavery, it was thought that the Black community had no cultural traits or values. Instead of having an identity, the Black community just copied the colonizing, Western power’s culture. And within this copying of White culture, the Black community just chose to have the “wrong” culture.
           This view is of course wrong. The Black community has a strong culture that grew from the experience of slavery and life within America. It is an experience that is usually ignored by Whites. So, when the Black community comes up with different music from the White music, it is usually shunned as nothing of value. This can be argued is happening again with Hip-Hop. The White community sees little value in Hip-Hop, or the complete opposite, they think it’s the only part of Black culture. Both these views of Hip-Hop are wrong. Hip-Hop is an important part of the Black community and culture as it tells a part of the Black experience in America. At the same time, Hip-Hop does not speak for all of the Black experience in America. Instead, it should be viewed like other music types. It is a voice, but it should not stand for a whole community.