Urban Think Tank Publications

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Publications

One of the most important functions of the Urban Think Tank institute is to publish articles regarding the current social and political climate. Some of the issues dealt with may seem tangential to the central work of the Urban Think Tank Institute, but that is not the case. All the articles somehow tie back into hip-hop and in to the effects that current events may have on young people.

Politics & Culture

"New Political Thought in Hip Hop" by Yvonne Bynoe
Bynoe advocates taking advantage of the potential hip hop has to be used politically. No longer should it be used simply to lure young people to political events, but to have them engage and analyze and think critically with the material, to create an image of an urban intellectual, and to promote a reason for civic participation.

Is Hip Hop A Culture? by Bakari Akil II
Akil responds to a question he heard at a conference that asked people to define hip hop. Since no one could define it, it maintained that you could not consider something a culture when it could not be defined. Akil Bakari goes about a definition of hip hop culture, breaking it into 4 components proposed by KRS-1 of MCing, DJing, break dancing, and graffiti and tracing what these components mean. In doing so, he comes down on the line that it is not a culture. Rather, it is an extension of African culture that has created and maintained a vital subculture still in the process of growing and changing.

Black Power(less): The Decline of Black Politics in America by Norman Kelley
Kelley describes how there is a lack of political organizing currently in the black movement. The black vote is determined by who shows up and leadership reduced to "Head Negro In Charge" syndrome. Black people are no longer being effectively organized into political action. The NAACP, not subject to the charisma-following of the "Head Negro In Charge" has ceased to be an effective structure of organizing political participation.

Making Sense of the Universal Draft by Bakari Akil II
Akil argues against Congressman Rangel who says that a universal draft would democratize the military so that it would not be just lower-income, minorities fighting wars for the rich. Akil argues that a universal draft, when nearly 50% of the country is against the war is ridiculous. He notes Rangel's assertion that not all military participation is battle but there are many ways to serve in the military, that the military makes use of people's various skills. He argues that the lower-income minorities with limited access to education would most likely not be getting those high-skilled positions, and would still, in effect, be the majority out in the front. Therefore, on all levels, the universal draft is reprehensible, according to Akil.

Does Feminism Make the Cut With Black Women? by Yvonne Bynoe
Bynoe here argues that white women's feminist victories have not translated to black women, that feminism does not really help or address the issues of black women, and that black women need a new language for their own "feminist" goals that responds to their issues of "race, class, money, sex, and power."

[http://www.urbanthinktank.org/newmarch.cfm Revisiting the March on Washington: Black America Must Have New Marching Orders by Benin Dakar]
Dakar argues for a revival of the dream King outlined on Washington, a revival that means activation. Dakar argues that blacks should seek more than rhetoric and blame, should not wait for a leader to rise and seek a different model of leadership outside of the Black Church than can respond to the economic realities of the day. Dakar also argues for black people to take responsibility for birth rates out of wedlock, blacks murdering blacks, and crime rates among the black community to live up to a new image of "self-respect, self-help, and self-discipline."

Ghettopoly: A New Spin On Old Behavior by Bakari Akil II
Akil describes how the resent game Ghettopoly, riddled with black stereotypes, should come as no surprise as it only expresses in a new way the image people have always had of black people. He argues that one should not be surprised but one should not be indifferent either. The challenge is to change the image and support the positive images to bring them to the forefront.

Issues in Hip-Hop

The Use of the N-Word: We're Talking Out of Both Sides of Our Mouth by Yvonne Bynoe
This article addresses the problems of the use of the n-word by various politicians and entertainers. It questions the black community's strength in combatting the degrading term and responds to the political and social ramifications of the word becoming mainstream.

"Who's Hatin' (On) Who?" by Earl Hardy
This article uses Eminem's provocative lyrics frame a discussion about homophobia and racism. The author's criticism of Eminem leads to self and community analysis. He raises questions about the bridges and barriers between blacks and gays-- how they work together and how they leave each other in the dust, in their struggles for equality.

If It's All About the Benjamins, Has Hip-Hop Souled Out? by Janelle Harris
Harris argues that with its growing popularity the face of hip hop has changed, so that it has lost touched with its West African roots and become a commercial commodity shipped out throughout the nation to all racial persuasions. She argues that hip hop is fundamentally a black thing, with roots that extend farther than the American ghettos and projects but to Senegal and Sierra Leone and when one accepts that consciousness, hip hop can become a tool toward Black Unity. She comes down against white people in hip hop and argues that Africans need to regain control of their heritage and legacy.

Elitism in Hip Hop by Daryl Nelson
“Elitism in Hip Hop” conveys the importance of maintaining hip hop’s diversity. Daryl Nelson writes about the danger in dividing the hip hop community into gangster rap and political rap. He argues that it should all be accepted under the larger umbrella of hip hop.

Culture Thief: A Confession of a White Negro Who Came to Save Hip Hop by Tim Adkins
Throughout history, whites have stolen culture, like jazz and rock n’ roll, from blacks. “Culture Thief” outlines the problems with this reoccurrence. The article is a call to reclaim hip hop from its pigeon-holing by the suburban and white mainstream

The 2004 Election

Why Vote in 2004 by Yvonne Bynoe
Bynoe makes a case for the urgency of the black vote in order to get their issues onto the current political agenda. Politicians cater to the voters. She also outlines what needs to be done to boost the black vote.

John Kerry Needs to Start Playing to Dean Supporters by Donna Brazile
Brazile argues that Howard Dean's campaign expressed and spoke to a new generation of voters who wanted to usher in a new generation of politics. She argues that it is important for John Kerry with Howard Dean's defeat to tap into this generation of voters and their energy in order to remain relevant.

Howard Dean's Sister Souljah by Eddie Huff
Huff comments on Dean's appeal to the red states, his call to embrace the redneck and Confederate flag wielding Southerners. Huff argues that he can do this because he knows he has the black vote in his pocket.

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