Jason Whitlock column on Taylor

[BleedBurgundy]

Originally Posted by memphisskin

I agree. As a fan I want the focus to be on Sean Taylor, but the fact is that this did not occur in a vacuum. Think about it, today's generation is more familiar with Jay-Z than Jesse Jackson, more well versed in the words of Mystikal than Martin Luther King, why? Why is the smart guy ostracized and the drug dealer idolized? This phenomena is not limited to the black community, but like with most things it is totally exaggerated in the black community.

I have sometimes thought Jason Whitlock was crazy, but this article seemed to be spot on to me. I'm 36, so I grew up listening to Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, came of age on Rakim, made aware by Public Enemy and danced and rapped along with NWA. But what rappers can't do is pretend that they don't have influence, that what they do doesn't influence a whole generation of youth who look up to them. Music is the soundtrack of our lives, and to think that soundtrack doesn't influence our everyday mood is not realistic.

The Black KKK, I didn't take that to be hip hop, but rather a reference to the Black on Black crime that has become rampant in America, and without uproar there is acceptance.

I'm a white guy so please accept the following question is intended without malice: What is it with that segment of the black community that idealizes the thug lifestyle? (I know that there are segments of all races that idolize it but you know what I mean) I just don't get it. What's the appeal? I've had friends/coworkers who just absolutely let every opportunity to improve themselves pass by because that would be "selling out." For the life of me I dont' get it. It's disgusting to me but I can only imagine it must be truly exhasperating to be black and to see this from your own people in such large quantities. How do you protect your kids from these view points? If these questions/views offend anyone, I apologize, they're honestly just questions, not indictments of anyone's background.