2/23/07
Tasjha
Kansas City, Kansas
I simply want to start by saying that this documentary was necessary and long overdue, but wonderful that it has made it. I am deeply concerned with the current state of masculinity in our society and around the world. I have been for some time. I have fighting and trying to encourage men in my life, for some time now, against buying into the norm of what it means to be a man, and trying to myself challenge that and to get men to challenge that, either in action or at least in giving it some real thought and that leading to some real discussion and dialogue about the problems with trying to be so hard and in essence being afraid (and unfortunately, rightly so...)of the backlash that may come with being less than the hardest man on the block. It is the responsibility of all human beings, but more specifically women of color, to unite with our brothers of color to make a statement loud and clear about what we view as masculinity and how we want to live and raise our children. I am currently expecting my first child. I do not know the sex of the child, by my choice. But I do know one thing, change is slow, but if each and every person begins to develop the courage and actually has a "safe space" in which they can begin to go against the norm in our society, we desperately need to do exactly that. It is our responsibility as people of color and as women and men respectively, to not hand over our power for change to those in the political positions, but to create our own political voice and make our voices heard and understand that we have the power to change stereotypes and that it is up to us, no one else. Begin one person at a time, and start with yourself and your life. Thank You for such a powerfully-impacting documentary on such a socially critical issue.
2/23/07
César J. Alvarado
Austin, Tejas
Byron, PBS, and ITVS, Blessings and thank you. The film does a great job at laying many issues out on the table. I love it how Byron has personalized it. It would be another film if he had not done the opening the way he did and the other points of getting back to his comments while he sits at the chair. He laid the foundation of this is what he is dealing with and has a very strong feeling others are dealing with it also. As I have heard many of the people around me say, this film is allowing us a great "jumping off point". It is time for our African Ancestry to assist us in organizing and revolutionizing our conscious selfs. Con Amor y Paz, César.
2/23/07
Doc Smith
Baltimore, MD
I am glad that someone has voiced through video, what many Black men and many black middle class have been saying for years. Hip Hop has sold out to the almighty dollar. No longer is there a message of uplifting the community but one of tearing down the community. Attack our women through words that turn into negative actions against them, degrade our family structure by showing that manhood is all about the number of women you have children by and the physical intimidation that they can show.
Having listen to hip hop since it began, what happen to the message of empowerment and enlightenment that groups such as KRS1, NWA, and many of the other early groups gave us. You pointed out very well that it is all about business that is owned by everyone except us. Corporate american does not care about who is negatively affected by their business as long as they can make a profit. As one who works in corporate america, it is all about the dollar and spin control.
My thought question to you is, would corporate america be doing the same thing to the Jewish community? I think not! Those who control the purse strings, control who get affected by their decisions. It's hard for me when I talk to young men and women in high school about careers when they see these images on TV/Video's/Print media. As one student told me, when asked what do they feel is being successful, he stated that he needed a big car, a million dollars, a record deal, and to have at least two women with him at all times. Because I drove a 5 year old car, had no bling bling on, and talked about investing and becoming a positive role model, I was not successful. Thanks for the film, I though it was just me that was seeing those things.
2/23/07
Ayanna J.
Chicago, IL
I really appreciate this film. I saw a short clip of it in NYC, and was at its screening in Chicago. I feel thankful that someone is finally bringing up this issues and asking question of the members of the hip-hop industry itself. I must admit, it hurt my feelings to see some of those artists that I listen to get all sensitive about just talking about homosexuality and hip-hop. I also feel disgusted and ashamed that we as black and brown people can treat each other the way the film showed at the Spring Bling. It was sexual assault and indecent exposure, but the show just "went on". But then I think, we are not alone. All over this country, as the film points out, bikini-clad women of many colors are used to sell cars, beer, hot tubs, and skin lotion. And violence in movies when white people do it is simply called "action".
I think that we do need, as Kevin Powell and this film points out, a new definition of manhood and womanhood. And all of America could use that overhaul in perspective. T
he day we can glorify responsible fatherhood the way we glorify killing to protect one's honor, then we'll be getting somewhere. Violence isn't manly when 50 Cent does it, and it's not manly when Harrison Ford does it either. And maybe black and brown people could decide we're not going to follow mass culture anymore, but we're going to lead the way to a new definition and a new mainstream.
2/23/07
Sabrina Henderson
Madison, WI
I really enjoyed watching your film; I think it addressed really important issues that often go unquestioned regarding hip hop music and its relationship to violence, objectification of women, and the perpetuation of homophobia outside academia. I have to agree with Terry's comments (from Detroit on your Talk Back page) regarding the lack of women's voices represented in your film. Why did you not interview female hip hop artists or other women of color who are in the music business to hear their perspective? I would have loved to hear what Lauryn Hill, Missy Elliot, Erykah Badu, Queen Latifah, Lil' Kim, Jill Scott, etc. have to say about these issues. Or how about women writers, such as bell hooks, who could add interesting cultural analysis? I was shocked that you did not interview any gay hip-hop artists or queer activists, but rather just a few gay/trans gender people of color who were fan who were not in the business of hip hop. I think these voices would have brought further insight and depth into how hip hop can reclaim its political voice, which as you mentioned has been filtered out through white male corporate record label execs. Like Ani DiFranco sings in her song Serpentine: "...hip hop is tied up in the back room with a logo stuffed in its mouth cuz the master's tools will never dismantle the master's house." Overall, I want to thank you for contributing an important, thoughtful perspective on violence against women and its correlation with the objectification of women in hip hop culture.
2/23/07
Houston, TX
It's a funny how you can step back a bit and a picture reveals itself. I, like many, grew up listening to hip-hop, rap, whateva. And I must admit I am deeply disturbed by this documentary. I feel the issues it raises are valid, however, a lot of what you see is pretty much, I don't know how to put it, incomplete. This film addresses behaviors of black men and women that are developed long before they are able to take a trip to "Spring Bling." I mean I gained a lot of analytical thinking from listening to hip-hop, as well as, at home, in school, with my friends, etc. What's essential to this discussion is to stop raising black youth to reiterate these images. I mean I learned the hard way. I was eight or nine when I was first betrayed by hip hop. I was in the playground at school on the swings screaming to the top of my lungs, "HEY WE WANT SOME P___Y!!!!! Now I knew that it was wrong. But what made me understand that it was really wrong was the look on everyone's face. I mean teachers, my classmates, everybody. I think that is what defines what‚s wrong and what‚s not. What's acceptable behavior and what's not. Not a person 15 years your elder telling you, "You know man you shouldn't call that girl a b*** just cause she walk around with her a** and her breast hanging out."
2/23/07
B.
Houston, TX
I will say up front that I am an Anglo-american. I have listened to hip-hop since I was in 7th grade; I am now 27 years old. I always enjoyed the old school music but am sickened by what I hear today. I watched your "documentary" and agree with everything the biographer is saying. Number one: I hate (even as a white person) to see people of equal race committing genocide (holocaust!!!)! I think it's outlandish between races!!! I know that will never be possible due to the fact of personal hatred, but I am here to speak my peace. I DO NOT discriminate against ANY race......and I am white. But, PLEASE, do not think I had a wonderful childhood because my ancestors were not murdered in mass numbers. I suffer what is the WHITE MAN'S PLAGUE......that is when all of us (no discrimination against age) are raped by the time we are, at least 8. I just feel there are so many stigmas surrounding so many "groups" (ethnicity, gender) we, mostly, as women, should unite. I carried much anger watching the show tonight for many reasons: 1) that men have to compete for so many "unknown reasons", 2) That women are still so objectified, 3) that for so many racist years men and women of color were looked down upon for drug use and neglection of children. I would like to address these topics individually. 1) Men killing other men as signs of dominance or power shows complete weakness to me.
2/23/07
Teresa
Houston, TX
The "powers that be" introduced drugs into the black community to make money and control/keep down that group and then it bled into the white communities. They are doing the same with the music. The beats are great. The creativity is there to do great things and inspire. Instead the businessmen are playing to our most base instincts and giving the artists a pittance of the profits. Keeping us all crotch conscious. Perhaps www.Aquire the Fire.org says it best: "If they didn't tell us what was cool, would we know? It's time to take back our generation!" We need more of this kind of stuff. Why should we submit to our lives being destroyed so "they" can make money?!?!
2/23/07
BKtone
New Carrollton, MD
I have a "real" perception of hiphop- mainly b/c I've been around it since day UNO. What we're seeing now is just RAP. Hiphop is a culture- but one without discipline or direction. KRS-ONE tells us all the time, but it's falling on deaf ears. More mc's from the "golden era" need to speak up, that's how a culture thrives- the elders mentor the young. That's what's missing- and if it isn't, it's b/c "rappers" only want to get paid, so they'll do and say whatever the industry tells them. As far as the masculinity and violence, that's what we're seeing in many of our communities today. LL always said that "art imitates life". And lastly, when we (African-Americans) create our own distribution/labels, then we will be able to control our images the way we want to and not rely on others to. Audi...
2/23/07
Brookens
Plainfield, New Jersey
Thank you for your film on Hip Hop. As African American parents of very impressionable young boys, it is a daily struggle to battle these glorified images of violence, misplaced masculinity, and negative attitudes towards women. Your film came at a great time when we as a family have been discussing these very same issues as a result of a Christian video series - The truth behind Hip Hop by EX ministries. You gave us a more secular raw look at some of these issues and images that come streaming into our homes, eyes, and ears. As music lovers we can appreciate the need for a broader inclusion of those artists that are being shut out in the name of "that won't sell." Our community needs to speak up and let the BETs and Hot 97's know that we don't want, what they think
we want.
2/23/07
Scott Morgan
Bordentown, NJ
I'm white. I don't pretend to understand what it means to be anything but. And as a white guy, the black guy I'm often presented with on TV, in movies and in music is a foul-mouthed thug who views sex as conquest and settles his problems with a gun. I loved being reminded that black America is also loaded with insightful, intelligent, provocative minds who see the folly of defining manhood through aggression. I never realize how infrequently I see that side of black America. Your film was quite an achievement for a lot of reasons. Sad because it would be a wonderful world if such occasional reminders were unnecessary; triumphant because I see that there is someone (indeed, many someones) who sees a problem and hopes to change it for the better from within. I'm sure you have a rough rode ahead, but I wish you luck and for whatever my opinion is worth to you, I congratulate you on a powerful piece of film making.
2/23/07
Adom Yusef Ali
The 718, NY
Hip-hop has been resurrected, i have given life to it again. my name is dj munchie,from trenton nj. i truly hate the fact that we are small minded to hip hop. most people who listen to hip hop don't even really listen to what they are saying in the words and the rhymes. then also having only selected a few things from the song they tend to think they know the whole picture. a lack of understanding of things.underground music has always been the foundation that hip hop has stood on.thats where the real hip hop is,real talk real articulated words. the only thing i can say as far as the so called commercial rap is that it lacks the boldness of god/chirst jesus.freedom of preach by luda great song. pac whats next great song. real men, dealing with real issues about life speaking truth. hip was mature in some aspects but you have to remember that all ghettos are not the same, yet we deal with many related issues that have even deeper issues. i would love for you to sit down with me and have a one on one conversation question and answers from the dj. it is the dj's responsibility to make sure that the things that we hear are positive things,also to discern right from wrong. thier so much things people miss when they dont bye the whole album or listen to the whole album then make a statement on it, not having the facts. just give me one hour of your time and ill break down hip hop and where its going with the youth and the adults today. we must break the generation gap of miscommunication that can only be tought by the youth who have heard both old school and new school rap. only the 80's babies can do that. you can check me out at www.praise-yahshua.com or make a gift offering of 10 dollars towards the gospel of hip hop, my latest mix cd. if you want real talk and real answers come talk to a dj, cause the dj is the one who listens to all the music a mc puts out every lyric every word filters threw his ears. thank god for the dj,and if you talk about god yes your record will get played. DJ munchie. hip-hop is alive and well.
2/23/07
Mychal
The 718, NY
Finally, someone in the black community has the ba*** to speak out about the "violence and ignorance" within hip-hop culture.My mother once told me as a child that "ignorance breeds ignorance". Is there any hope left for the black community? To all yall wanta' be thug rappers "put down the mic and pick up a BOOK! Peace in the Middle East.
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