So, a while back, I mentioned my neighbor’s definition of “nigger.”
I am fairly certain that same apartment is the current source of the Biggie track blasting in my building right now.
I’m not naive. I know rabidly bigoted sentiment can come from a person who also takes interest–even pleasure–in some aspects of minority culture.
I’m just still not clear on how they reconcile the two.
I’d go into detail about it–how I’m often suspicious of non-black people who have extensive knowledge of and interest in hip hop culture, what that implies, etc., but frankly, that’s what Kelefa Sanneh is for.
“non-black people who have extensive knowledge of and interest in hip hop culture” Oh, you mean my husband?
He used to blast Dead Prez in the car until the day the baby sang along, “It’s real hip-hop and it don’t stop ’til we get them crackers off the block!”
My husband’s face turned red[der].
I turned my face so he couldn’t see my grin. The baby said, “Again! Play hip-hop again!” My husband said, “I’m feeling a little uncomfortable here.” I giggled. “This is not okay,” he said, all hurt-faced and serious. I cackled. We rode in silence the rest of the way.
Now he justs puts on NPR when we’re in the car.
Ah, I didn’t know the “n-word” guy was not African-American…Hmmm…
How was that interview? Why was I the last to know that you moved to Chicago?
Hey Nettie, I thought you knew I was in town, but I guess I haven’t made a big announcement. I just shifted my references to Chicago places.
Also, have I added you to my Myspace friends list? I thought I had but maybe not.
Yeah, I’m the only non-white person in my building right now. The neighborhood is pretty much trixie/chadsville. I’ll probably be moving further west soon, but for now this was a good place for the transitional phase.
Cat: Yeah, I don’t think people shouldn’t be allowed to become interested in hip hop. I do think, however, that most don’t appreciate it in a mindful way. It’s catchy, so they like it, without attempting to develop any understanding of what drives the culture, the historical context, the social context. So they get to rap nigga this and nigga that and never appreciate what it all means. Booooo.
And kids say the darndest things!