African and African American Studies: Alan Singer: Slavery and the Law Takes an Honest L...

African and African American Studies: Alan Singer: Slavery and the Law Takes an Honest L...: Alan Singer: Slavery and the Law Takes an Honest Look at Our History : 'via Blog this'

African and African American Studies: Study: Black Teens Less Likely to Use Drugs Than O...

African and African American Studies: Study: Black Teens Less Likely to Use Drugs Than O...: Study: Black Teens Less Likely to Use Drugs Than Other Races | Madame Noire | Black Women's Lifestyle Guide | Black Hair | Black Love : 'vi...

This is a refreshing study.  It is good to know the majority of our youth are not following the example of the few.  It maybe that past reports provided erroneous results to facilitate low self esteem among our youth.  Erroneous reporting is just a modern day means of invoking racism.

African and African American Studies: Alan Singer: Slavery and the Law Takes an Honest L...

African and African American Studies: Alan Singer: Slavery and the Law Takes an Honest L...: Alan Singer: Slavery and the Law Takes an Honest Look at Our History : 'via Blog this'

Since I do not know that much about hip hop, I decided to do some quick research about the subject.  Based on my internet search, hip hop is in every facet of the academic world.   Hip Hop is used in the classroom to motivate K-12 grade students and boost test scores.  “Flocabulary in the Classroom” provides unlimited digital access to videos and songs for K-12 grade students. 

 

A Hip Hop University website has been designed to serve as research resource for undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and other researchers interested in the hip hop culture. 

 

A journal, Words. Beats. Life: The Global Journal of Hip-Hop Culture, was created for the purpose of “nurturing and showcasing the creative talents and expertise” in the field of Hip Hop.  This journal serves as the “premier resource for hip-hop theory and practice”.    

 

According to Kiese Laymon, a professor of English at Vassar University, “hip hop is a multifaceted genre with ties to numerous backgrounds and experiences.” Hip Hop enhances critical thinking and promotes collaboration among students.  This may be the government has gotten on board the academic hip hop tidal wave.  The U. S. State Department is using hip hop to improve America’s tarnished image with some countries.  In the mid-2000s the state department sent 'hip hop envoys' (rappers, dancers, and disc jockeys) to perform and speak in different parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

 

For anyone interested in furthering their Hip Hop education, the first annual Academic Hip Hop Conference will be held at California State University at Northridge on November 18, 2011.    This conference is sponsored by the Hip Hop Think Tank.   This conference will provide “a space to bring together influential members of the hip-hop community to share their experiences and help foster a deeper understanding of hip-hop as a tool to advocate for social justice”.

 

David Cook may have been the initiator of Hip Hop Academia, but now many are following in his footsteps.