Hip Hop Vs. America:
Good Intentions Gone Wrong
“From the inception of the Black American experience, the struggle of the bond between Black women and men has been systematically sabotaged.”
That was the opening statement of BET’s “Hip Hop vs. America II: Where Did the Love Go?” hosted by MC Lyte and Jeff Johnson. It’s good premise worthy of analysis and discussion. Unfortunately, that was the first and last time the issue was raised. Instead, what followed was predominately condescension, intellectual grandstanding, shouting, eye rolling and ill mannered behavior that was demonstrative of the problem, and failed to illuminate any solution. There were good points made, and not everyone on the two panels engaged in conversation or behavior that wasn’t representative of their best self. However, that was the exception, and it was disappointing to watch.
In addition to the substance of the program, (hang on while I get a little technical) the production value just wasn’t good. The lighting was terrible. Performers of color know how rare it is that we are lit properly for the camera. Well, this is BET for goodness sake! If I can’t demand BET get it right, then who? It looked like my people were under a tree in the shade! Next, forgive me in advance, this is not a criticism of the man in any way, but I must be honest. I didn’t know who Jeff Johnson was. There was no mention of the brother’s name until he signed off the air! There were no names on the screen or voice over introduction to let the viewer know who was on the air. MC Lyte is a hip hop LEGEND we all know. She introduced herself at the top of the show. The producers should not have let Jeff’s introduction of Ali LeRoi as the executive producer of “Everybody Loves Chris” instead of “Everybody Hates Chris” make it to air. Beverly Bond on the second panel was introduced, and then never heard from at all!
I’ve got to stop there. If I continued to be constructively critical of everything I saw, just in terms of the presentation, I would exceed any reasonable length for one post. My final word on production: BET has got to do better.
My main criticism of the subject matter is balance and focus. If you say the series is “Hip Hop vs. America,” I expect to see artists and executives from hip hop on one side and people critical of hip hop on the other representing America. Then let everyone express their views on African American relationships and how hip hop has affected them. That couldn’t happen on the first panel, where of the six participants, only David Banner was representing hip hop.
The first question Jeff asked was, “How powerful is the media in the shaping of African American women’s image?” Huh? That’s a great question and a great topic. It’s not what the show promised. Hip hop is not “the media.” The image of black women in the media is not the relationship between black men and women. The show was all over the place from there.
Some of the best comments on topic came in the prerecorded pieces. Author Jill Nelson said “We (black women) have been conditioned to feel that black men have somehow suffered more and that it is our job to take low, so they can take high.” Dr. Cornell West said that too many have become “conformist,” “complacent,” “cowardly” and “well adjusted to injustice.” Ice-T said too many rap artists are in videos with “houses that ain’t theirs, cars that ain’t theirs, jewelry that ain’t theirs and women that ain’t theirs.” A brother who wasn’t identified said young men “learn from a very early age that women are there to service us.”
These were great points, on topic and made me wish they were all on the panel.
Kevin Powell provided a poignant observation that for over a decade, women have been “fed a constant diet” of music that doesn’t have their voice represented. A pattern of music where they are to be seen, not heard.
Princeton Professor Melissa Harris-Lacewell spoke for me when she said she misses MC Lyte’s voice. I wanted to hear from Lyte. Did you see her on “Def Poetry Jam?” AMAZING! Why didn’t anyone mention Lyte’s “Almost September?” I mean, talk about an opportunity missed. In a male dominated field, a woman who is one of hip hop’s greatest voices didn’t get to weigh in.
Oddly enough, one of the very best points ignited the programs worst moment. Rev. Eugene Rivers said black people as a whole have a “moral responsibility to each other.” Very straight forward and I would spend a lifetime advocating just that. However, Professor Harris-Lacewell not only rejected the idea, but did so in a manner I’m sure she regrets. But because her comments included a jab at President Bush, she was the one who received the applause.
I will continue to watch this series and hope it gets better. The conversation needs to continue.
Next week, a look at the HBO documentary “Hard Times at Douglas High”. Don’t miss it!
Let me get my remote!
Darryl Bell is an actor and Chicago native, best known for his roles in classic TV series “A Different World” and Spike Lee’s “School Daze.” His unique television commentary is exclusive to Urban Thought Collective.
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