“After many years of hip-hop as a nation we should have the sophistication to accept that their are distinctions between the corporate manifestation of hip-hop, 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, which often doesn't dabble in that terrain.” ShouldYearsKidsCultureNationsSexLevelsRaceAcceptingShould HaveEverydayHip HopViolentLocalsHipsCorporateManifestationDistinctionHopsCommodityImageryPackagesSophisticationTerrainSensationalLive Everyday Author:Bakari Kitwana
“Locally lived hip-hop culture that is giving many of America's youth the tool they need to survive and thrive in America, in the face of public policy that have written too many young people off.” PeopleNeedsGivingAmericaFacesYoungCultureWrittenPolicyYouthToolsHip HopHipsThriveHopsPublic Policy Author:Bakari Kitwana
“Few places in American culture have made as effective a case for entrepreneurship than hip-hop. Hip-hop tells young people that our society is offering very limited options for youth. And that while society points to a radical decline in living wage jobs for youth and meaningful and affordable education, hip-hop is offering an alternative legitimate economy that is giving youth hope.” PeopleGivingMadeJobsYoungCultureCasesEconomyYouthHip HopMeaningfulEntrepreneurshipRadicalHipsAlternativesHopsOur SocietyOfferingDeclineAmerican CultureAffordableLiving Wage Author:Bakari Kitwana
“Hip-hop is a complex music and culture that has been reduced to a one-dimensional critique. Hip-hop's messages aren't all bad. Neither are they all good.” Has BeensCultureMessagesComplexesHip HopHipsHopsCritique Author:Bakari Kitwana
“I am trying to get folks outside the hip-hop culture to understand why, despite the negatives, young people find hope and refuge in hip-hop. I'm hoping that young people immersed in the culture will work harder to capitalize on the possibilities for great social change that hip-hop represents as a national unified cultural youth movement.” PeopleTryingYoungCultureSocialMovementPossibilityYouthHard WorkHarderFolksHip HopDespiteHipsHopsRefugeSocial ChangeWork HarderUnified Author:Bakari Kitwana
