Embracing hip-hop

Controversial author Michael Eric Dyson spoke candidly to a diverse audience on African-American issues and hip-hop music Wednesday night. \nDyson is reputed for supporting hip-hop and and criticizing pop culture and its influence on American culture and perceptions of blacks around the globe. \nHis lecture, which was a keynote address in honor of Black History Month, touched on topics from African-American culture as the center of pop culture to criticizing leading political figures to affirmative action and the degradation of black men and women in U.S. society. The audience voiced agreement with many of his views as he spoke on topics sensitive to the African-American community. \nOne of the most surprising topics was his criticism of popular African-American figures, such as Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell and Al Sharpton. \n"We didn't need Colin Powell or Condoleezza Rice to tell us black people could think," Dyson said. \nDyson criticized Rice for not taking her experiences in Birmingham, Ala., and turning them into something meaningful and standing up for blacks in the White House. He also criticized Clarence Thomas for voting against the retrial of an African-American male on death row, who Dyson said was tried unfairly. \n"It is a self-defeating practice to support these people just because they are black," Dyson said.\n"Jews don't support Jews that deny the Holocaust." \nThroughout the entire speech he emphasized that listening to hip-hop and its message is the only way to be able to critique the subject. \n"When it comes to hip-hop, people think they are qualified to talk about something they haven't studied," he said. "You have to listen to it to understand the complexities."\nDyson's support for hip-hop is strong, but he also encourages African-American youth to critique the music they listen to. \n"We need to intervene intellectually by studying it, aesthetically by listening to it and critiquing and critically analyzing its components," Dyson said. \nDyson also stressed the profound influence the African-American culture has had on pop culture, music and sports, calling the influence a "stamp of blackness." \nHe criticized the film industry and its denial of giving blacks complex roles in American cinema. \n"Why didn't Denzel win an award for Malcolm, but he won an Oscar for portraying a crooked cop?" Dyson said.\n"Halle Berry's role in 'Monster's Ball,' was socially degrading and intensely complex," he said. "Is this the only representation of black female identity sought?" \nThe author also spoke about other black films such as "Shaft," "Superfly" and the film "Birth of a Nation," saying the film borrowed from stereotypes about black people. \nHe called the stereotypes portrayed in these films and other films a "lazy person's" way of thinking of other cultures, saying they portray African-Americans as ignorant, buck-eyed and highly emotional. He said they miss the most important part of the African-American legacy -- the pursuit of literacy.