[Dixielandjazz] Rap & Race

[Steve barbone]

<larrys.bands at charter.net> wrote about rap; (polite snip)

> No wonder white people see it in racial terms.  As it has been said before RAP
> plays into racial stereotypes.

Those "white" people who see it in racial terms are the same sort of white
people who saw jazz in racial terms from 1917 till just a few years ago.

In other words, the very same mindsets who blame a rape victim because
he/she was sexily dressed, and/or good looking and/or very young.

And, those whites are pretty ignorant of the fact that Eminem is THE
preeminent Rapper these days. I could be wrong, because I never asked him,
but I think he is, gasp, choke, white. AS IS HIS AUDIENCE.

Since working at the Showboat Casino for 10 months now, I've seen all sorts
of Rap Groups come to the House of Blues there. The audience may be
everything we detest, tattoos, spike hair, chains, piercings, heavy ghoulish
make-up, leather, boots, attitude, etc., etc., etc.

But one thing stands out. The audiences are predominantly WHITE.

So it seems from my perspective that if the music plays into racial
stereotypes then I think I'll start a winter tan.

Cheers,
Steve