Stanford University Black Female Professor Argues Virtue of Hip hop

By

Sherman N. Miller

 11/24/2006

I was taken aback listening to a Stanford University professor share the virtues of Hip-hop music. What was really disquieting is this professor was an African American female when it is common knowledge that Hip-hop artists are known to degrade black females with epithets such as bitches and whores.

            Marcyliena Morgan is a communication professor and director of the Hip-Hop Archive at Stanford University. Her November 2006 presentation before The Trotter Group Annual Meeting (National African American columnists) at Stanford University piqued my disdain when she argued the academic value of hip-hop. I could not believe that Stanford University was spending dollars to pay her salary. Finally Morgan’s presentation became so questionable I could no longer contain my disdain; I told her that she was out of touch with reality.

            It was difficult to get Morgan’s tomfoolery out of my mind. Then another speaker, Dr. Joseph Marshall one of the founders of the Omega Boys Club / Street Soldiers in the San Francisco Bay Area, gave a very low assessment of hip-hop. He spoke of the Hip Hop Ten Commandments. I was really disturbed as I read through these commandments (HIP HOP's (UNSPOKEN) TEN COMMANDMENTS) as presented by Stephanie Mwandisi Gadlin. I will share only Gadlin’s Commandment I.

”Commandment I: Thou must dis' black women. You are allowed to distinguish between bitches, hoes and ‘real sisters’ only during interviews when asked to clarify your statements. You must talk about beating a woman up at least once on your CD or demo. On at least four (4) but no more than five (5) singles/demos you must talk about having rough and unprotected sex with a woman. You must also refer to your girlfriend or wife as a ‘bitch’ in an endearing way. All music videos must reflect the aforementioned notions. You can talk about doing things to other people's mothers as acts of creative expression. You may also refer endearingly to an unplanned child as a ‘bastard,’ ‘shorty,’ ‘lil nigga,’ or ‘lil G.’ By honoring this commandment you vow to never rally behind black females or support a strong family bond. You see her only as an object for sex and to reap the repercussions of your rage. You also believe she is only out to get you.

”(Supplement for females) Thou must dis' black men. Female rappers are allowed to distinguish against niggas, bustas, scrubs and punk. You must lyrically emasculate them in every way possible. On at least one (1) CD or demo you must destroy his character by either calling him a homosexual or talking about his lack of money. You are allowed to refer to your boyfriend or husband as your ‘nigga’ in an endearing way. All music videos must reflect aforementioned notions. By honoring this Commandment you vow to never identify with the black male's struggle against white supremacy. You vow to never support a strong family bond. You also uphold the tenements that all of his problems are of his own doing. You see him as only an object for sex and money. You believe he is only out to get you.”

The other nine commandments are located on the Internet at http://www.daveyd.com/hiphoptencommandments.html . What is very troublesome is that apparently Professor Morgan is either disingenuous in her intellectual pursuit or is enchanted by the thug culture.

Perhaps Professor Morgan will ponder Gadlin’s contention on the nasty mindset that the new hip-hop artist needs to embrace to be successful. “I also know that new artists are more likely to follow the more controversial hip hop icons than buck them. The more shocking, the more vile, the more graphic, the more violent, the more sexist... the more money, the more sales... the more bling, bling..... Right or wrong?”

Return