My wife @TaraZorEL (follow her on Twitter) recently asked me an interesting question about racism in the media. She saw someone posted a status on FB regarding the Progressive commercial involving the black couple and big money. The person who posted the status went on to describe the commercial as being racist towards the black community because of the dancing money sign. @TaraZorEL objected against the commercial being racist and in turn, asked me my thoughts on racism and the hip hop culture in the media, so here you go.
The media is trying its best to make television comfortable for the black community, and we can't get up in arms every time they don't get something 100% to our liking. Yes there are flops on the regular, but with error comes progress and we should recognize progression as well as the fuck ups. We should also be aware that people watch more train wrecks than sun rises, so don't be surprised if racist situations are purposely orchestrated and talked to help media outlets stay atop the ratings race. And stop giving them ammunition to fire upon us on.
Note that when I speak of the hip hop culture, I am talking about everyone who relates themselves to the music, style, and all around life of hip hop, no matter their race. For the hip hop culture to be the movement we want and expect it to be, we have to accept the way it is portrayed by those not quite part of the culture. We should be thrilled that we are becoming part of the main stream and we are starting to become more and more acceptable in the public's eye. There is no need to get bent out of shape when someone on Everybody Loves Raymond says "what's up home boy?" or when someone on American Idol says "that was hot!" The hip hop culture is fun, spontaneous, has great lingo, and constantly changing for the better, now, don't you think everyone would like to be a part of that.
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