Kriss Kross- Response to Gina

I posted this video on my facebook and got a message from an old teacher in response saying this:

http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=60461024034&h=HUwGY&u=-PbKO&ref=mf

Maybe I'm just getting old and curmudgeonly, but that video made me sad...Like, is that what our young awesome African American boys should be aiming for? I'd rather see a video with them chilling with the president in the oval office, y'know?
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I responded to her with this:

Hello-

I think you bring up a lot of great points, but I definitely have to disagree with you on this one.

I would love to see an image of black boys hanging out with Obama. However, the idea of this being the better image- or at least the "positive" image scares me. A lot. It reminds me of the idea of the "New Negro"- a concept that has recently re-emerged due to Obama's victory. (although it can be argued that this concept never went away, especially when looking at shows like The Cosby Show). There is a sentiment that by having a black president, we as black people now have become the model minority, and must always "be on our best behavior" and "do better" by being more like Obama. Which, of course, is assimilationist as well as classist.

It also makes me feel that by categorizing the representation of black boys as model citizens (once again, chilling in the oval office with the Obamas) as the "positive" image- or at least MORE positive image- then I feel that we are conceptualizing the depiction of boys hanging out and rapping as something that is negative.

In this video, we see black boys rapping, playing basketball, skateboarding, jumping (obvs, lol), standing in front of a car... but they are happy! They are having fun! We do not see these boys carrying guns, flashing "bling", skipping school, chasing half-naked girls, getting arrested... other negative images of black men that is usually portrayed in the media. Instead, they are empowering themselves through words- with no swears, might I add- and one boy even refer to themselves as a "young, loveable type of guy".

I would also like to mention that rap is a very powerful tool. Hip hop was not always filled with Soulja Boys and T-Pains. These are also not the only rappers still around. There are a lot of great rap artists who are promoting revolution and positive change in their songs. Some of the artists that I am into right now are Dead Prez, Rebel Diaz (latino group, amazing activists), Arrested Development (I'm so into the 90's) and Saul Williams (before he sold out to Nike). I definitely feel closer and can relate to the fight for change in their words a whole lot more than those of Obama. At the end of the day, he is still a politician.

AND rap is such a cultural thing as well. But I don't feel equipped enough to get into THAT conversation. Especially since the ways that Obama is culturally black are much different than say, the way that my family is black.

I am not saying that through this song, Kriss Kross was celebrating diversity, fighting for social justice and promoting world peace. I just do not believe that there is any harm in the video, either. White children can watch TV and see a plethora of affirming representations of white folk. I believe that black children should have that same right. There is no definite goal that black children should be aiming for. They should have lots of positive options/images to choose from and we should not limit them to one view of what is right. I want my little brother to feel pride and empowerment in whatever he chooses, and to not feel guilty or bad when images of young black children singing and playing are portrayed.

Best.

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What do you think?