Men are from mars, Women ain't Part II (august 30)

Why are my friends afraid of the Blog? Most of them didn't know what a blog was until I told them. Web log; or an online journal. Anyway they have a fear that their interactions with me will be chronicled. And they will. But I'll protect their anonymity. I'll change the names and faces to protect the identities of the innocent. Maybe it'll scare them into acting right, ya think? Probably not.

But they are really worried about me divulging too much personal information. It's like they are saying, "put down the blog, back away from the blog." But I'm like, feel the blog, see the blog, be the blog, become one with the blog. It's ok. If you only could know how blogging is so very cathartic (thanks Key), maybe they would blog too. On second thought they might talk about me in them.

So now for part II

First off I know that part I was kind of wack. I’m not sure if this one is any more entertaining, but it should be more coherent. I’m going to try and make up for any disappointment tomorrow. I’ve got a lot to say on a topic that I’m more passionate about.

There is an author that I really have enjoyed. I've used his material on several occasions over the past year or so. That is Bikari Kitwana's "The Hip Hop Generation: Young Blacks And The Crisis In African-American Culture."

He starts out his chapter about our relationships with a Gansta rap quote...

You know I / Thug em / F em / Love em / Leave em

Cause I don't F'in need em.

Jay-Z "Big Pimpin"

And I don't know about you, but I love hip-hop. And I don't know if life imitates art or if art imitates life. But often times both women and men can identify with the raw emotion of Gansta Rap. The problem is that we do need each other.

So here is what Kitwana says contributes to the growing gulf between men and women of the Hip Hop generation.

1. Black male group loyalty is central to young Black male identity.

-The notion that one's boys are more important than a one's love interest. For a gansta rap reference check out Dr. Dre The Chronic "It ain't no fun."

2. Many hip-hop generation men lack interest in or understanding of feminism.

The author says, "Too many hip-hop generation men-blinded by their own egos and culturally entrenched sexist beliefs-fail to grasp the critical issues and they see little value in becoming educated in feminist issues." Are men satisfied with the perceived status quo of power in gender roles? Notice that I said perceived.

3. The objectification of women has intensified during our lifetime.

Now we didn't start this. This was going on with our daddies and our father's father. But we have taken it to another level. Just listen to the title of some hip-hop's top ten. Gimme that 'P-word.' Lil Webbie (Yes that's what he's saying. Thanks Cliniqueg6, I would've never known if it weren't for you.) “Wait, The whisper song” by the Yin Yang Twins. (You shouldn't even think crap like that, no less whisper it.)

4. The intense focus on materialism in our generation is undermining many relationships.

Tupac and MC Breed said it best, and I believe it holds true in our love relationships... "I got to get mine, you got to get yours."

5. As much as we are different from our parent's generation, we are similar. "Old sexist attitudes such as it's the woman's fault persist in our generation."

Look at the Omerosa backlash, how come no one blamed Trump?

6. When it comes to gender issues, hip-hop generationers are willing to disregard the dark side of their Heroes.

-Tupac's rape case

-Mike Tyson's rape case

-R. Kelly's molestation case and marriage to a then 15-year-old Aaliya.

All examples of how we forgive not only misogynistic lyrics but also behavior from our Hip hop heroes.

Now these are the author's thoughts, the numbered list and whatever is in the quotations that follow. Every thing else is my opinion added. As I look back over them while infringing on his copyrights, it seems that he's very heavy handed on the men's part to play in this.

What do you think? Is he totally off or on to something?