(l-r) Slim Thug, Trae and Robert Muhammad listen to comments from the audience. Photo: Jesse Muhammad
HOUSTON (FinalCall.com) - Since its inception in the 70s, hip hop has been a source of criticism for many social ills. A lot of recent attention in this vein was spawned by the infamous comments of radio personality Don Imus. In an attempt to directly address these and other issues, the University of Houston Sankofa Pan Afrikan Organization, along with Quanell X of Houston’s New Black Panther Nation, held a panel discussion titled “Is Hip Hop Responsible for the Destruction of the Black Community? If Not … Who is?” on Nov. 14 at the University of Houston. The room was filled to capacity with students from local area colleges.
Among the panelists were local rap artists Slim Thug, Trae, Wicket Crickett, and Lil’ O. Also on the panel were M1 of the group Dead Prez, former Destiny’s Child member Letoya Luckett, Robert Muhammad of the Nation of Islam, Ariel Brinkley of the Sankofa Student Organizations and Dr. Assata Richards. Akua Holt, of Amandla Producions, served as the event’s moderator.
Before the panelists were introduced, the audience was treated to Afrikan drumming, they shopped among vendors, and browsed information tables. There was a mini step show by the Jack Yates High School Gents, as well as Texas Southern University’s Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. The Young Maroons, an African-centered military training program for children, led the audience in the pledge to the red, black, and green flag. Swatara and David Landry gave a very original rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
(top) Platinum-selling artist Letoya Luckett (r) joined the panel. (lower) Crowd listens during Nov. 14 forum on hip hop at the University of Houston.
The panel discussion kicked-off with the question of the function of music and spoken word in the Black community.
“Music is the very beat of our hearts; our life, an expression of the original people on this earth used for religious and cultural expression. It is also our tool of communicating what’s going on in our community. Hip hop is the CNN of our community,” said Robert Muhammad. He also stressed the warning from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, that there is a plot to destroy the present young generation.
Slim Thug reinforced this view, referring to music as “the soundtrack for whatever you do. It’s a way to explain how I feel and where I came from.”
The panel took questions from the audience about the highly individualistic image of hip hop and commercialism as opposed to what’s considered conscious music. “We used to hear Black folks voice, now we’re hearing the voice of Sony, the voice of JP Morgan Chase, and the voice of Seagram’s Gin,” added M1 of Dead Prez.
The audience asked about how a popular demand for conscious music and socially responsible artists could be created. Lil’ O stressed the value of parental guidance and the importance of youth looking to doctors and lawyers as their role models instead of entertainers. Lil Xavier, a 15-year-old rapper, actor, and youth activist, encouraged listeners to “really get out there and make a difference. If we get together we can make it happen.”
Quanell X, who convened the event, reiterated the importance of unity. “We will agree to disagree, but we will not abandon each other. We will agree to work with one another to find solutions to our problems” he said.
At the close of the discussion, panelists talked about things students and the community at large could do to attack social issues. Various grassroots organizations offered information including, youth inmate outreach program Operation Outreach, the National Black United Front, the Nation of Islam, Afrikans Committed to Liberation, the NOW Committee, Objectif Magazine, SHAPE Community Center and more. For more information on the Sankofa Pan-Afrikan Student Organization, call (832) 725-9950 or email sankofa.uh @ gmail.com.
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