The lyricist stand poised at the mic, firing a message of verbal intensity at the crowd intently affixed to their unblinking gaze. After poetic measures of exchange, standing to their feet in unanimous approval the MC’s are met with the applause of a crowd in unison. Don’t be fooled, this is not a rap concert or a free styling poetry session---this is church. The MC’s are not your typical “lyricist” but activist and advocates of this universal form of verbal and visual dexterity we call Hip-Hop. Meet writer/author Kevin Powell, activist Ras Baraka and actor Jeffrey Wright. Juxtaposed against a backdrop of serenity and surrounded by the ubiquitous guise of moral appropriateness, the Hip Hop Speaks Summit held at The Riverside Church in Harlem, NY, tackled subjects that literally separate the church and the state of hip hop.
While the issues addressed ran the gamut of hip hop’s viral ills-including materialism, self hatred, and the subjugation of women, the topic of greatest intensity was that of manhood. What defines our men? What role does hip-hop play in its definition? What does the future hold for our men and what role can hip-hop play in shaping this future? The role of men and the definition of manhood becomes extremely relevant for a generation that internalizes the “hood” evangelism of rappers and singers more than parents and preachers. The emotionally charged didactics of Powell and Baraka, the evening’s main speakers, were directed not only to the community of hip hop listeners but to the community of rappers as well, challenging them to lift their lyrical content and re-interpret their frame of reference.
Changing what Powell considers a “manhood tied to mainstream” to something more positive and empowering is one of the many challenges this generation faces in reclaiming its sense of manhood. Barraged by the surround sounds of music devoid of substance and truth plagues the nurturing of a new mentality and tricks us, Baraka feels, into believing we are free when we are still slaves oppressed by our own tainted mental state. From Chains on the plantation to platinum chains adorned around our necks, Powell defines a parallel that continues to reduce our expectation of self.
A “radical revolution of values” and the urgency to organize and fight back rang as a call to action in the community, the church, and in the home. If the prevailing voice of hip-hop can define the trends and shape the look and sound of the industry, then it can also play an active role in shaping the future of our men. As a community with fewer prevailing leaders than in past decades, hip-hop in ways has become the surrogate parent for the community in search of a unifying voice. Creating a definition of manhood starts with creating a vision for our communities, our men, and our selves. |
