Peace journalists ponder hip-hop culture

By Steven Youngblood

A very bright young lady named Lilia asked a million dollar question at my Bronx, NY peace journalism boot camp last week.

What, she asked, is the role of hip-hop and other entertainment in promoting negative stereotypes? Because I teach journalism, I haven’t given this subject much thought, even though it’s clear that the images created by the entertainment industry are every bit as power as those crafted by journalists. Now, thanks to Lilia, I will be incorporating the discussion that we had about this subject in the Bronx in my future peace journalism trainings.

Hip-hop, the students agreed, is often misogynistic and promotes violence. Many hip-hop artists, the students said, aren’t really living the street lifestyle, but are instead presenting themselves as gangsters for public relations purposes—to connect with their audience and

thus sell CD’s.

So, why should peace journalists care about any of this? The students and I agreed that anything that promotes stereotypes and distortions about any one group can undermine understanding and peace. Thus, it is the journalist’s role to expose anything—music, movies, TV programs—that creates a false negative stereotype. If our commitment as journalists is to the facts, and to facts presented in context, then let’s consider reporting about African American males (for example) that goes beyond the words and images in hip-hop music and videos.

Bronx boot camp students present Peace Positive

BronxNet peace journalism students worked hard during the boot camp last week producing man on the street montages and video packages with peace journalism themes. They are collecting their stories into a 30-min program that they are calling “Peace Positive”. I will post the link to this program once they finish editing it later in June. (Photos: From recording session for Peace Positive interview/anchor segments).

For a sample of some of the topics their work covered, see the anchor intros below, taken from “Peace Positive’s” master script.

B-WHEN WE LOOK AT MEDIA TODAY, HOW DO YOU THINK AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE PORTRAYED? WE SPOKE TO A FEW BRONX RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC. LILIA YUDINA HAS THE REPORT.

A—INTRO 5 CRIME VICTIM TREATMENT HAS A POWERFUL PRESENCE IN THE BRONX…AS IT PLAYS A CONSISTENT ROLE IN THE DAILY LIVES OF SOME OF ITS RESIDENTS. THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE ON THIS TOPIC HAVE A RIGHT TO HEARD. SO REPORTER LILIA YUDINA WENT OUT TO GET THEIR VIEWPOINTS.

A—INTRO 7 TERRORISM HAS PLAUGED OUR COUNTRY FOR THE LAST DECADE. BUT, SHOULD TERRORISTS BE ABLE TO SEEK JUSTICE IN OUR COURTS? OUR REPORTERS SPOKE TO BRONX RESIDENTS ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

B—INTRO 9 THERE’S BEEN A GREAT CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING THE 9-11 MEMORIAL AT GROUND ZERO. SHOULD THE HIJACKERS FROM THE ATTACK BE FEATURED IN THE MUSEUM, SINCE THEY ARE A PART OF THE HISTORY? OUR REPORTERS GOT REACTIONS FROM BRONX RESIDENTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE.