I’m still white, but these experiences have colored my reaction to the ghetto imitation that i’ve seen the world over. Now i live in white, rural splendor. Yet i see kids who’ve probably never actually known a black person rollin’ like they’re a thug. I always wonder if their behavior is no deeper than fashion or if they believe that they can actually relate to the black, American experience.

The ghetto life portrayed in rap speaks to cold, violent reality if you’ve ever seen that life with your own two eyes, whereas it becomes borderline mythological hero worship when you’ve never had to arrange your living room furniture based on possible ballistic trajectories. I have to figure that most of the suburban gangsta contingent does not actually relate to black America any more than most of the 60’s hippies could actually relate to leftist radicals. It is often nothing more than rebellion against the life that “middle class” parents try so hard to create for their children…one without want or violence.

In other words, the emulation of black culture among today’s youth probably extends no deeper than the Sean Paul jeans; however, that imitation probably does prepare the minds of our youth for the idea of a black president…so long as they think deeply enough to realize that not every black person is a pimp, playa, or money mother fuckin’ maker.

Still, the fashionable emulation pisses me off to no end. I’m always tempted to start chest poking and ask how many of the cocked hat kid’s friends know what it feels like to take a bullet or have been locked down for murder. Taking everything except the burden and pretending they know about shit that would have them filling their $200 sneakers with a puddle of piss.

sorry for the rant.

This is kind of a tangent from the original topic. But while I agree with you that black culture has had a lot of influence, couldn’t you say that about a lot of other cultures as well? Seems like we have influences from all sorts of cultures — asian, african, polynesian, european, persian, muslim. Maybe I notice it more because I was raised in Hawaii in a city where europeans were, by far, the minority, i dunno.

Oddly enough, it seems like every time we get into a war with some particular “group” of people, whoever “they” are ultimately changes “our” culture. Would the Kite Runner have been as popular in the US if it had come out 20-30 years ago?

One term you used –”cultural outsiders”– I found interesting. I would say that while black America is outside of the mainstream culture they are perhaps the greatest exporters of “new” culture in the world today. Be it music, fashion, sports or even the evolution of the English lexicon, black America is having a tremendous influence on the world.

Since the Harlem Renaissance when upscale whites tried to be cool going into black clubs, to Elvis imitating black music, to now, with the world dressing, dancing and singing like black folk, one undeniable truism shines through: Much of the world wants to be black.

Bobby
http://www.idlewordship.com

Tell your sister-in-law that she’s in good company. “N- lover” was my sobriquet for more than a few of my teenage years.

Lara Amber

“And my door knocking experience on behalf of the McCain campaign this weekend (dare I say that on this site?)”

Actually as long as you following the posting rules and try to be coherent anyone seems welcome here. I’m an unrepentant republican, although a left wing repub who is going to have to vote Obama because McCain/Palin scares me, especially Palin. Jeff, who frequently posts is very republican and a right wing fiscal conservative of the first stripe but his postings, most especially the ones on economics, are articulate and generally well thought out and presented, even the ones I don’t agree with.

Put another way, when you’re part of the reason sexism is such a problem, you don’t get to play that card.

And my door knocking experience on behalf of the McCain campaign this weekend (dare I say that on this site?) validated that, several people voiced concern with Republicans playing the race card (granted, that was in an affluent suburban area of Colorado)

However, I’m finding the sexism Hillary and Palin has faced this year is much more overt and socially acceptable…

As a side note, whatever disagreements I have with them politically (and there are several), most (but not all) have been pretty decent, well-intentioned people. You know, the sorts of people you could have a beer with.

Fear and loathing on the campaign trail is no longer one man’s burden or dark, cynical humor; it is real. Which leads me to repeat one of HST’s favorite catchphrases, “We’re a nation of pigs and we’ll get what we deserve.” Only this time it isn’t my own dark, cynical humor that provokes the words from my mouth. Now it feels like prophecy.