Matt, if you’re really interested, then I would suggest staying away from MTV (and the author, by the way, who obviously has no clue about which she’s writing). A much saner, less offensive article, written by someone who can actually write, would be here:
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/21400/hiphop-curriculum-your-day-in-the-deekline-of-publick-skool-edyookayshun/

Zenzele on May 6, 2010 at 6:53 pm

You are so sadly misinformed. I don’t even understand how you were able to get a college degree let alone make it to graduate school.

Also, to attack a high school student’s form of expression is just low.

I’m sure you’ve never been to a poetry slam or even a First Wave workshop. You’re disgusting.

Izzy on May 6, 2010 at 7:41 pm

Where to start? You are another prime example of what’s wrong in this society. You impose your racist, ignorant, biased, and privileged views on something you know nothing about and will obviously never understand. The one thing I do commend you for is being honest about your moronic mentality, and not trying to hide it like most white people do. Let it out! You are intimidated by the power of a people, a culture, and a MOVEMENT, that you will clearly never understand. Spread that hate within yourself, not to others in this world.

Wendy Lopez on May 6, 2010 at 9:56 pm

Wow. Debbie, all I can say is that your article is living proof that hip hop and spoken word art and culture needs and deserves to be incorporated not only into youth education, but should be experienced by all. If your writing truly reflects what you think of hip hop culture – and isn’t just a lazy or sensationalistic piece – then I certainly encourage you to attend the Hip-Hop Educator and Community Leader Training Institute. It’s the antithesis of 99% of the hip hop on commercial radio and television, which seems to be all you’ve been exposed to…until now, perhaps?

MIchael Jones on May 6, 2010 at 10:06 pm

This is just sad.

Not on May 7, 2010 at 1:15 am

Debbie, please indulge in a little participatory research, go to the workshops. When you hear and see “Daddy Dress up” by Thiahera Nurse, you will be shocked in a good way. She is a brilliant young writer and performer. She does not deserve your criticism. I challenge you to go and actively listen to the information and participate in the activities. Real hip hop and spoken word will surprise you. The writing and performances are not the typical pop culture hip hop that is thrown down the throats of the world’s population. Urban Word is a respected poetry and performance for youth organization for a reason. They have been able to motivate young people to read, think, feel and write. Youth are excited to attend writing and research workshops.

Zera Priestess on May 7, 2010 at 6:45 am

Obviously you had what you consider a quality education? However your article is filled with misinformation, biased research, poor writing skills, and a lack of understanding of your subject matter. The FACTS include that these educational practices are tried and true to improve students performance in school and on standardized tests. These teachers and educators have helped their students exceed previous test scores though utilizing hip hop culture in their approach. There is TONS of literature out there about what these practices and pedagogies ACTUALLY are, perhaps you should look into a bit before making grandiose claims about your thoughts on the subject. I think you may have been miseducated and misinformed. Do your homework. (Letter Grade: F, Effort: 2)

osofly on May 7, 2010 at 12:58 pm

I am sorry that I cannot think of a more eloquent way to say “You have no idea what you are talking about,” but you clearly have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

The fact that you believe that the work of these extraordinarily talented hip hop artists and educators is even tangentially related to the “work” of 50 cent and Lil’ Wayne speaks volumes. Your blog does not.

If this poorly written post reflects what you learned in business or law school, I will gladly write to UW on your behalf and ask for a refund. If you want to learn how to express yourself clearly, there are programs that can help. Have you tried hip hop education?

Angel D on May 7, 2010 at 2:18 pm

Debbie,

Thank you for posting that titillating picture of Snoop Dogg and the scantily-clad women. Though I must say I actually feel more aroused by the the blue-eyed, blonde-haired beauty at the top of the page, which I presume to be your own likeness.

If you must be so absorbed with misogyny and over-sexualisation in hiphop, please attend to the broader societal context. A pre-occupation with attractive young ladies is an obssession of middle-age male executives whether they are programming Lil Wayne videos or Fox News discussions…

apl jus on May 7, 2010 at 3:24 pm

James Baldwin ~ “If Black English Isn’t a Language, Then Tell Me, What Is?”

I say that the present skirmish is rooted in American history, and it is. Black English is the creation of the black diaspora. Blacks came to the United States chained to each other, but from different tribes: Neither could speak the other’s language. If two black people, at that bitter hour of the world’s history, had been able to speak to each other, the institution of chattel slavery could never have lasted as long as it did. Subsequently, the slave was given, under the eye, and the gun, of his master, Congo Square, and the Bible—or in other words, and under these conditions, the slave began the formation of the black church, and it is within this unprecedented tabernacle that black English began to be formed. This was not, merely, as in the European example, the adoption of a foreign tongue, but an alchemy that transformed ancient elements into a new language: A language comes into existence by means of brutal necessity, and the rules of the language are dictated by what the language must convey.

There was a moment, in time, and in this place, when my brother, or my mother, or my father, or my sister, had to convey to me, for example, the danger in which I was standing from the white man standing just behind me, and to convey this with a speed, and in a language, that the white man could not possibly understand, and that, indeed, he cannot understand, until today. He cannot afford to understand it. This understanding would reveal to him too much about himself, and smash that mirror before which he has been frozen for so long.

Jumper on May 8, 2010 at 2:32 pm

I think, Debbie, that you may benefit from actually enrolling the class, and learning to transform your histrionics into useful, thoughtful, deliberate criticism. Why speculate about what a course would cover when you clearly have no understanding of the course’s topic? Wouldn’t it serve you better to unpack, deconstruct, argue against a course whose topic you actually grasp?

Metta on May 9, 2010 at 11:39 am

Debbie Schlussel, obviously a supporter of having Rastus remain as the Cream of Wheat mascot, is clueless about Hip Hop Culture. Why do you people even honor her with intelligent rebuttals?

Tah Phrum Duh Bush on May 10, 2010 at 11:08 am

At the high school I attend, being white is a minority and 1/3 of the students live below the poverty rate. To students who are having difficulty learning or are non-responsive to traditional methods of teaching, tapping into hip hop, a strong part of their lives, can really get them motivated to learn.
Oh, and please don’t make judgments about things you know nothing about. You can’t honestly say you know what you’re talking about, because you have no idea who these people are that you’re talking about.
You need to realize there’s life outside of the conservative bubble.

Johanna on May 17, 2010 at 9:39 pm

I crafted an artistic response to this blog, titled “THANK HIP HOP.” The first version of the song is just myself addressing the issues mentioned/implied in this article. The second version is a remix featuring an international cast of 9 Hip Hop Arts Educators. Please check them both out at rabbidarkside.bandcamp.com, where they are available for free download.

Rabbi Darkside on June 7, 2010 at 1:13 pm

Snoop should jump kick you!!!
This post is ignorance at its finest.

Bisco on June 14, 2010 at 4:14 pm

I don’t even know where to start. If you are going to critique something in terms of its validity as a teaching tool, basing your argument on an argument that it makes students dumber and warp young minds, you might want to make your presentation of that argument as flawless as possible. As an acquaintance of mine, who happens to be a Hip Hop educator, informed me, you apparently don’t know proper English yourself. I assume that, by “And you wonder why each generation of American kids is dumber and more incompetent than the next[,]” you meant “more incompetent than the previous” because, otherwise, that’s as nonsensical as the rest of your comments.

One of your initial questions is “[u]m, how can they use the word “scholar” and “hip-hop” in the same sentence with a straight face? The answer is: very easily. Somehow during your obviously deficient education, you learned that academic achievements may only be accomplished by traditional methods, ones that seem to have failed in your case. Successful educators realize and and act on the fact that all students learn differently.

I, a scholar AND a hip-hop enthusiast (<– look! Same sentence!), am a recent law school graduate and educator who has used hip-hop in the classroom to help students learn to be better writers and critical thinkers and work toward getting a 2400 on their SATs. (Research may have taught you something not only about hip-hop, but also about that little test that colleges use to assess student applications.)

Slim417 on July 6, 2010 at 3:28 am

Malcom X once said that there is nothing more frightening then ignorance in action. I am also sure you remember the statement that it is better to be thought of as a fool then to open your mouth and remove all doubt. Both statements apply to you Debbie Schlussel. It becomes apparent to any reader that you are not objective and you haven’t taken time into researching how hip hop can actually improve student performance. Have you even attended a hip hop class? From what I am reading you have not. You are making an assumption that we are only perpetuating ignorance in the classroom to our urban youth. That is far from what we mean. I teach the origin of hip hop at my school. I also teach African American History, Black Political Issues and Current Events. I am under the belief that this Hip Hop class will serve as the gateway to a higher conscious and critical thinking for this generation. Do you have another/better suggestion? Remember the bible scripture ” Hear ye the conclusion of the whole matter….maybe then you will open your mind to hip hop in the classroom.

Bernard Harris on September 4, 2010 at 2:59 am

This is such a sad blog. However, I’m so happy that this happened because it shows the true ignorance of a place that it supposed be progressive. I shouldn’t have to tell you this, but your speaking about topics as if you have a clue. As a scholar, you should know to educate yourself about which you shape an opinion.

If you knew anything about hip-hop in the UW and the admissions policies regarding first wave students, you would know that they are quite impressive in their performance as students. They deserve to be here more than you did when you were given everything in life and then decided you knew something about adversity. Please keep it up. Everyone needs to know that the opinions of Debbie Schlussel are the opinions of many in the University who fear change and loss of control.

Regards,

David Coleman
DCNY PRO LLC

David Coleman on November 15, 2010 at 3:58 pm

Wow…

iHonestly never thought iD see these type of days in my lifetime… the days when people would use ignorance for attention… The world does NOT need another “Nancy Gray”. Fact is, you try to degrade our culture simply because you’re afraid of us… so, you hide behind your desk and computer w/ your degrees on the wall from the SAME university that has been opening doors for the inner city youth to make their living situations better, not only for them, but for the world…. because fact is, everyone didn’t grow up w/ a silver spoon in their mouth…. God loves EVERYBODY. No matter race, color, social class etc….

You’ll most def be in my prayers..

Derrick James
DCNY Pro LLC.

Derrick James on November 15, 2010 at 4:15 pm

I certainly found this offensive. I also think this could not be written without the knowledge it would draw heavy criticism. I hope that was more of the purpose, otherwise it was just plain ignorant and irresponsible.

Professor Lyrical

This aired Friday. It is about my work as a Hip Hop artist and college math instructor at Northeastern University.

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/26612647/detail.html

Professor Lyrical on January 30, 2011 at 10:25 pm

Your hate makes me want to hate you, but I understand that it is your hateful ideas which make me cringe. Thank you for being so transparently discriminatory and prejudice.

B. Fox on April 26, 2011 at 1:47 pm