409 Search results for "context"

                                    This past weekend I had the honor of moderating a panel discussion on hip-hop and youth activism. The panel consisted of musical artists: Invincible, Rhymefest,  Jasiri X,  Dana Lynn, Fresco and BBU. The reason I call this […]

At certain moments, especially when cultural expectations require you to reflect on thankfulness, it becomes difficult to know exactly how to process certain events that take place in life. As I continue to try and understand privilege, struggle, and resilience the two things that continue to surface are the themes of place and environment. Specifically […]

Talk That Talk is the probably the best pop album of the year. So If you’re hungry for something of great social and political import, go curl up with some Marx. The rest of us’ll be listening to Talk That Talk. And having FUN.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5ELJl7Dy8g&feature=share This past spring was the first time I attended a meeting for an organization that is mobilizing youth to stand up for their rights and be heard. The organizations name is FLY (fearless leading by the youth). Fly is now in the middle of a Trauma Center Campaign that continues to grow on the […]

Throughout the historical landscape of the United States a dream has been engrained in a pseudo-American identity. Some call this the American dream; others might refer to it as the American fallacy. Unfortunately, people who experience poverty in the United States very rarely have the opportunity to call this dream a reality. The trajectory of […]

Living in America, and especially being a young person in America, means that I am arguably at the very center of the growing culture of excessive communication and interconnectedness that has permeated all aspects of the coming generation. I barely know a anyone who doesn’t have a cell phone and email and facebook and at […]

Last week my friend, and fellow BYP blogger, wrote a gripping piece about the omnipresence of homophobic lyrics in hip-hop through the lens of Tyler, the Creator. Jonathan’s post made me think again about what role I as a listener, and other hip-hop fans have in combating homophobia and sexism within this space. I began […]

Coalition of Black Women Pen Open Letter Criticizing “SLUT WALKS”   A coalition of African American women – including activists, academics, and organizational leaders – have co-authored an open letter to the organizers of “Slut Walk,” taking to task the movement’s use of the term “slut,” as well as its level of engagement (or lack […]

Culture in itself is harmless. Simply a hallow word that curls off the surface of one’s tongue. It is only when culture is contextualized that it begins to define our world, our actions, and our perception. When “culture” is paired with another term, it ceases to be ambiguous and comes to life to either uplift […]

When the SAT asked however many thousands of high school seniors take it every year to find the word that relates most to ‘oarsman’ and the correct answer is ‘regatta’, half of the white test takers knew the answer and a fifth of black test takers knew it. The white kids were more likely to […]

Last week, America’s Next Top Model brought an All Star Season of previous ANTM contenders onto the catwalk in the season premier. Ratings of ANTM having been sinking for a while now, this is clearly a pull-out-all-the-gimics twist on the series infused with all types of contradiction. Tyra persists with her usual persona, self-mocking and […]

On any given Saturday it’s not unusual for a camera to pan a stadium full of fans and land on a group that has covered in body paint in their school’s colors. This body painting practice is ubiquitous and was probably never given a second thought until a few Arizona State University students showed up […]