The Hip Hop Generation Chunk #3

Chunk #3 "The Hip Hop Generation", by Bakari Kitwana describes the aspects of social responsibility, politics, and cultural significance on how the hip-hop generation is being affected socially, physically, and lyrically. This Chunk demonstrates on how the hip-hop generation are being blamed and held responsible for their actions towards the way they have become the obsession of the youth in society and how they play as a huge role model towards them as well. This chunk explores the impact hip-hop has had during the 90's and how hip-hop music has affected the political climate of that time.


Clarification: Do you think the hip-hop generation of the today has an affect on the younger generations mind?
Application: How many hip-hop artists have you noticed that tried to change the way people think of rap and do something positive for a chance to better not just blacks, but everyone in general?

"The Hip Hop Generation" Chunk #2

Bakari Kitwana's novel "The Hip Hop Generation", states the problems that African Americans have with the justice system, however, they are dealt with a bad hand. Chunk 2 discusses the race war, policing, incarceration as well as the containment of the black youth. During the years of 1964 and 1984 the hip-hop generators, which consisted of a group of African-Americans who faced a series of crisis within their culture. Even in today's world, the one thing that stops the younger generation is the prison crisis according to author Bakari Kitwanna because the prison crisis is what affects black Americans the most with an overall percentage of 62% of black amles in state prisons.With the corruption of the justice system as well as the decline of black power is one heck of a bad sign for all African Americans so far. Author Bakari Kitwana also implies that within the hip-hop generation, there is a difference between both male and female with the problem being that in a rap song women are either referred to as "bitches" or "ho's". How do you think the problems that people of this generation face point out a better future for the next hip-hop generation?

Clarification: What makes people think that the hip-hop generation signifies drugs and crimes?

Application: Do you think racial-based injustice also remained in the judiciary system, which triggered black youth's disbelief in policing?

Chunk 1 The Envy of the World "A Song of Celebration"

Ellis Cose, "The Envy of the World" is about the Black man's journey throughout America and his experiences in life, but Ellis Cose also considers the significance of the progress that has been made, particularly in recent decades, also illustrating the comments and experiences of men who represent the growing spectrum of black experience and "The Envy of the World" challenges us to rethink who we are and what we are becoming as society evolves. He uses statistics, and personal experience to strengthen his arguments also with the assitance of real-world anecdotes, in which the particular ways black men come to internalize the disdain and fear directed at them by American society and what they must to do in order to overcome it.

Clarification: Why is it always black men in the world who have the most problems to deal with?

Application:Do you think Eliis Cose is only directing this message towards black men or all racial groups?

Chunk 1 "The Hip Hop Generation"

Hip Hop Generation by Bakari Kitwana was written to raise new questions about the ways the hip-hop generation and the millennium generation, both who have lived their lives in post-segregation America, are processing race in radically different ways than any other generation of Americans. I think they have a lot to tell people as a country about ways of addressing racial matters. People see hip-hop and race as nothing new. I think that after 30 years of hip-hop as a nation we should have the sophistication to accept that there are distinctions between the corporate manifestation of hip-hop, which is sold as a commodity and package with sensational race, sex and violent imagery, and the hip-hop culture that kids are living everyday at a local level doesn't always fall in that environment. The locally lived hip-hop culture is what is giving many of America's young people the tool they need in order to survive and thrive in America, through facing the public policy that has written too many of today's youth off. For example, "The hip-hop generation, those Blacks born between 1965 and 1984, entered the job force during the 1980s and 1990s, a period marked by falling wages, worsening conditions for unskilled workers, and growing disparities in income and wealth between America's minority rich and majority poor (pg. 27)." There are few places in American culture that have made an effective case for entrepreneurship than hip-hop. Hip-hop tells the youth that our society is offering limited options for young people, while the white society points to a radical decline in living wage jobs for youth as well as meaningful and affordable education, but hip-hop is also offering an alternative legitimate economy that is giving young people hope for a better future.
In chapter 1 of the novel "The Hip-Hop Generation" the new black youth generation has been stereotyped to differ from their parents' for the obsession with materialistic and consumer trapping of financial success. However, the hip-hop generation, individually still comes first, but, however the worldviews are different from the hip-hop culture and lifestyle. I believe this is what created the hip-hop culture and is the reason for rap music appearance.
There are many problems within the "hip-hop generation" such as, the public culture and the visiblility of black youth within it, for example, just because a person sees a rapper in a nike or jordan sneakers advertisement doesn't mean anything, but Americans' believe this is why black youth around the world dress in the same style of clothing and speak the same style of language. Lasting Segregation in America, which discusses the end of racism and an equal society, but inequalities still exist. Young blacks are stuck between America's double standard of an unfair, unequal and unrealistic society that does not care at all. The negative representation of young blacks in America is what makes us look bad in other peoples eyes, but these are just three of the many problems the hip-hop generation faces in America.

Clarification: What makes past hip-hop generations so better than today's present hip-hop generation? What has the present hip-hop generation done that the past hip-hop generation has not?

Application: Have people in the world ever considered why white teens love hip-hop? If so why is that?

Black Men and Public Space

Brent Staple's essay, "Black Men and Public Space", focuses on the common issues of what it's like to be viewed as a thief everytime. Brent Staple provides anecdotes to show how people often fear him, a black man, when crossing paths, especially at night. He doesn't partically point out any other race simply because it happens to everyone who is black, white, and latino. When walking at night alone, if someone sees a black man who's not dressed professionally in a dress shirt, tie, and slacks, then he is considered to be a "mugger, rapist, or worse". Staple says he has the gift/ability to alter public space as an inheritance because he's no mugger or rapist and can change people's attitudes/behavior just by being in a place or entering a situation. Not all, but some black males have placed the stereotype upon the world making everyone else think were that dangerous as if we were contagious disease, so if you see a black male you better run, but thats not even true. You have some black males that go to school and they work to get into the best Universities with a concept of becoming someone in society, but other people just seem to make it more difficult for blacks, but we all have to realize that there just obstacles and barriers, who are trying to break our spirits, but we can make turn these into opportunities for the better.

New Addition to the Obamas'

The Obama family has settled on a first pet, a 6 month old Portuguese water dog that the their daughters named "Bo". It was one of the White House's most tightly kept secrets. President Obama's daughters Malia, who is 10 years old and Sasha who is 7 years old chose a black and white pup. A White House official spoke to the Associated Press saturday night and said the dog was a gift from Senator Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., who owns several Portuguese water dogs himself.Kennedy stated "we love our Portuguese water dogs and know that the girls and their parents will love theirs, too." Bo has made an impact on the family so far and has brought smiles to both Malia and Sasha.

Clarification: What made the Obama's choose a Portuguese water dog out of any other pet?

Application: How has this new addition to the family made a difference in the White House?

G20 summit: Barack Obama conciliatory over Nicolas Sarkozy's walkout threat

"The White House has stressed its willingness to push for tougher financial rules and accept blame for America's part in causing the global economic crisis after President Nicolas Sarkozy of France had threatened to walk out of the G-20 summit." So, President Sarkozy is demanding a new regulatory structure and if his demands are not met, he will leave an "empty chair." Christine Lagarde Paris-French Finance Minister stated that President Nicolas Sarkozy would walk away from this weeks Group of 20 meeting in London if no progress was made on the financial regualations.It seems that President Sarkozy was very clear on that front, "Ms. Lagarde said in a interview with the BBC News that he said, "if the deliverables aren't there, I won't sign it communique.It means walking away." Mr.Sarkozy is highly determined to gain some progress in the financial crisis and to achieve concrete results at the G-20 meeting. Why is the president of France so tempted to get answers right away knowing it's going to take some time? Is he scared or something?

Clarification:How will this affect the other countries involved with the G-20 meeting if President Sarkozy walks away?

Application: Why isn't he giving the plan a chance to come through knowing it will not be that easy to accomplish?

Huffington Post

Ryan Grim's article " GOP Senator: Stimulus Working Already" suggests that federal stimulus dollars have begun to flow, initiating a number of projects and creating jobs.One of the three republicans to support the passage of the $787 billon stimulus package was Snowe.It has taken a beating form conservatives for doing so, checks are beginning to go out and people can now feel the benefits.So he can further examine the question answers through a use of expert opinions and experiments. Snowe quoted "It's a paramount for people to see the activity, creating jobs or averting job losses," she said "even those who were opposed to the stimulus spending will see some of the projects that are underway in their communities as they're initiated". He's saying that the anti-spending argument is at its strongest right now, because we've got criticism without the benefits.

Clarification: What does Snowe mean when she said " It's paramount for people to see the activity, creating jobs or averting job losses?

Application: How will they get citizens to believe in the stimulus package?

AIG

Ian Swanson's online article "AIG staff: We deserve the money" (2009), she asserts that AIG's new management team last year proposed that its employees chose to give up their "retention" bonuses, or at least reduce them. A response from 370 or so employees set to scrape in about $450 million in bonuses until 2010. The AIG staff quoted "We suggested that early on, but there are people who feel this money was due to them", a source close to the company AIG informed The Hill. Swanson supports her claim about taxpayers providing $170 billion and counting to bail out AIG using proven facts. "Quants", The people who put together the computer-programmed algorithms,but between the complicated hedges and trades are what brought the company down, they refused to sacrifice their bonuses still. Her purpose is to resolve certain assumptions about the taxpayers and lawmakers not being so warm in the heart because most of the AIG staff who received bonuses already made enough money to the point where they don't have to work ever again in their life time. Ian Swanson is saying it's not fair to the people in the United States.

Clarification: How do the taxpayers and lawmakers plan to tackle this problem differently?

Clarification: How will AIG's staff affect the continuation of their company after coming out of a debt that taxpayers paid for to keep them in business?

Application: Do you think they feel guilty about what there doing or not?

The Root

"The End of Black History Month"
According to "The Root" it seems that they believe the Obama era to be seperating black history from the American history.Do you believe this is true? If so what is your thought on this?

Fox News

Obama Fox News Interview: "It's Fair To Say I Don't Always Get My Most Favorable Coverage On Fox"

I don't know what kind of joke Fox News was trying to pull, but I wasn't to happy about it, there nothing, but a bunch of phonies who expose the world to false information. If you haven't noticed what has been happening you may want to take a step back, Fox News has always had Bush back regardless of how many soldiers died or stayed this I believe links 9/11 to Iraq. I mean come on I'm not going to lie I hate Bush plus he had everything to gain at the time of 9/11 and he knows it, I mean look at the facts why attack the the twin towers it's obvious it was just a distraction from what he had really planned, Bush is nothing to me, a lier, snake, and Satan himself. Now because of him a man of honor has to fix the mistakes he caused, while he gets away freely, if it was up to me I'll make him pay. Fox News has always tried to ruin Obama by any means necessary because they are heartless and careless, but like the artist NAS says in his hit song "Sly Fox" he quotes: What's a fox characteristic? Slick shit, sensin', misinformation,Pimp the station, over-stimulation, Reception, deception, Comcast digital Satan, The Fox has a bushy tail,And Bush tells lies and foxtrots, So, I don't know what's real (what's real)". Believe it or not Fox are racist and think of others as nothing, but simply idiots in a box, which is why we need to think outside the box. Obama is an intelligent man and I'm pretty sure he knows whats going on and probably doesn't care whether the Fox News or The Republicans stand behind him because thats not what he's all about, what this country needs is a leader someone who knows how to adjust this country in order to have a good mentality for the determination of accomplishment.

Do you believe Fox is feeding the world nothing, but toxic and how does its' pressure seem to be universal? Do you believe they hate Barack Obama because he marches with the marches? Do you think Obama is the higher truth and the media is misleading?

Part 7 Showdown at Capability Gap & Part 8 Generation E

In part 7 Showdown at Capability Gap, T.R. Reid shows the United States pledging continued involvement in European security arrangements in return for a European commitment to organize itself both for external defence and internal stability remained unchanged. The European Allies would fail to meet the ambitious force goals they had set for themselves, so the United States had to engage in Europe in far more substantial ways than initially envisoned, a legacy in which NATO struggled until the end of the Cold War. I believe he's showing the difference between American and European history, but why is that.

In Generation E, Author T.R. Reid gives us insights into the cultural trends of the youth of Europe. Europe exerts greater Capitolism, while European people enjoy a more higher standard of living.It seems Europe for better or worse has been forming a single unified consumer culture such as icon legend David Beckham and a common style in dress, music, and television are developing hand-in-hand with the unified continental economy. The younger generation of Europe is socializing and learning in a decidedly non-religious environment.Mr. Reid identifies an interesting trend that was given similar attention in the European Dream such as the European antagonism to genetically modified food products. So Basically the genetically modified food is a staple in the Canadian and American diet, Europeans being hardened by their ideal with Mad Cow disease have an even greater skepticism on the food that their citizens consume.I think Reid is trying to show his audience that were similar in some ways, but different as well. Europe took a piece of the American Constitution and improved it to work to their advantages and they are now on their way to becoming the 21st century of this world, but I do believe America can make a come back, but first thing they'll have to do is stop being so stubborn and learn from the Europeans.

What do you think about NATO?

Do you believe Europeans are really skeptical on the food their citizens consume in their country? If so why?

What do you really believe the United States of Europe is all about and has to offer to the reader?

Part 5 L' Europe Qui Gagne & Part 6 The European Social Model

In part 5 of T.R. Reid's The United States of Europe, he shows us that in the travels of an average American couple, they will come into contact with a multitude of American firms that have produced their gasoline, music CD's, even their soft-drinks. European corporations have truly asserted themselves in the American economy, with American staples such as DKNY, Hellman's Mayonnaise, Kool, and Pennzoil in the hands of European Corporate Buisnesses.Don't you think Americans who own corporate buisnesses are pretty upset because of the competition they have to deal with? In this chapter Mr. Reid shows all the success stories of growth in small businesses and technological breakthroughs in the European Union, but they all show stereotypes of a motion less over regulated economy inferior to the supply-side economy of the United States.

In part 6 The European Social Model, T,R Reid argues & describes the structure of the European healthcare system and the corresponding high-tax model upon which the European welfare state relies. It's funny how Americans who have welfare find it disgusting, but Europeans are proud of the welfare in their country.The labyrinth of labor laws and workplace regulations can have detrimental effects on economic flexibility, the European investment in a social democracy seems to be paying off, with lower working hours, higher life expectancy, and lower crime rates than the United States. So basically the European commitment to the United Nations Convention on Human Rights and to internationalism as a whole has continued to define the European experience, all while inviting antagonism from the American right.

T.R. Reid makes his argument in a matter of fashion using facts, Statistics,Expert Opinions and Anecdotes, but while in the process he also gives us an insight into the European political system.It Seems that America has fallen behind and Europe has rised to the top as a new supremacy hoping to show the world the ways of their life style bringing new opportunities to the world.

Do you believe the European Corporations have truly asserted themselves in the American economy? If so why is that?

Do you think the European healthcare system and corresponding high tax model is what the European welfare state relies on or not? Explain your answer on why you think that is so?