Well, basically:
(1) rap is currently extremely dominated by male voices in this era,
(2) it marginalizes women and women's voices, and
(3) whenever the majority of music presented in any one-hour on VOA at U.S.
tax payers expense is rap, it is thus exporting a vision of America that is
(a) degrading,
(b) demoralizing, and also to a degree
(c) inaccurately portraying some of the greater progresses in America of the last 50 years--in terms of American progressive movements having provided certain disadvantaged humans of particular gender(s)- and race with more advantages than many of their forefathers (and foremothers) had experienced.
Yes, I am a lifelong educator and a Christian, but I believe as much as the next guy about the freedom of speech.
Nonetheless, no one should have to put-up with lame excuses that "because some male rappers come from a disadvantaged community that they deserve the right to promote abusive language all around the planet"-without being challenged by others around the planet-such as by lifelong cross-cultural educators like me!
In short, as humans, we all are born with gifts and advantages. Some have more advantages and more gifts than others--and this is not normally just in any of our eyes.
Likewise, many of us are born with less gifts and advantages than others. Further, this is not always a just situation for many, either. However, neither is being different and having different life experience automatically always an unjust situation.
Using language that is abusive and misogynist and twisting it around while claiming it to be the language of the disempowered does not always build stronger and better life in America!
Nor is it a great thing to export to the world without a proper dosage of self-criticism and analysis. In short, living out loud in America today is to live out loud on the whole planet. We should be more discerning as educators and promoters of peace around the globe.
So, even if the normally brilliant writer and preacher Professor Michael Eric Dyson does have a few good arguments for supporting any black singer using the n-word, the b-word, or even the mf-word in his/her songs, he needs to admit that some common sense is needed when living out load all over the planet-and perhaps when living (out loud) in the USA to boot!
This common sense should include the wisdom that what goes-around does come-around. That is:
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