Christopher Brummer posits the question, “Is Hip Hop worthy of Black History Month?” I suppose his rationale should be obvious, all the posturing and misogyny and fake violence has rendered rap a cancer rather than a salve. You’ve all heard the arguments before. So in light of this, Brummer was troubled by a radio program that would salute “hip hop pioneers” in a celebration of Black History.
When I first read the post, I had an instinctually negative reaction. I couldn’t put my finger on it until I read a comment that called Brummer’s post elitist. Now, that’s not the word I was searching for. I was thinking, short sighted. First, I understand, that especially to card carrying members of the Black Bourgeoisie like Brummer and myself, Black History Month (Week when I was a lad) was always about firsts; who invented what, who was the first to do what, who freed our people. We looked at some posters of African kings (Egyptians tossed in for the Afrocentrists) and that was it.
Yet, it says “History” in the title. I see it right there. Black History. History is the study of past events. It isn’t the study of past events that promote the general good and to the exclusion of what we don’t like (which is of course the reason for having a Black History Month in the first place, so that “they” cannot exclude what they don’t think important). There aren’t a whole lot of developments in recent African American history bigger than the global takeover/influence by/of hip hop culture. Not to acknowledge this because of Ying Yang Twins and Rich Boy and Polow would be worse than keeping the Hit King out of the Hall because of a few gambling indiscretions.
We celebrate our heroes fanfare, however, to have an honest discussion about history, we acknowledge their folly. A discussion about the things we don’t like about hip hop culture is essential to any discussion about Black history, recent or long-standing.
Run DMC once did a song about Black History Month on some TV show, the song was never released on a record. Youtube failed me this time, or I would have had the clip up in this post. That’s where the post’s title originates, from my fuzzy memory.
Filed under: Music, Race Relations, rap
[...] Does hip-hop deserve celebration during Black History Month? The Dorkster explores: [I]t says “History” in the title. I see it right there. Black History. History is the study of past events. It isn’t the study of past events that promote the general good and to the exclusion of what we don’t like (which is of course the reason for having a Black History Month in the first place, so that “they” cannot exclude what they don’t think important). There aren’t a whole lot of developments in recent African American history bigger than the global takeover/influence by/of hip hop culture. Not to acknowledge this because of Ying Yang Twins and Rich Boy and Polow would be worse than keeping the Hit King out of the Hall because of a few gambling indiscretions. [...]
I came across this by “google”ing Run DMC. The tv show was Reading Rainbow with Lavar Burton on PBS. What I was looking for was seperate from the tv show It is a 1986 Run DMC song about 15 min long called Black History. It was a free cassette tape that came with the purchase of a black hair care product. The b side of the tape was a Kurtis Blow song that at the time I did not care for that much.
I remember that song also. I think it was given away i nJet or Ebony
I’ve been trying to find a download site for that song. Had I known it would be this hard to find it 20 years later, I would have kept it in a tropy case. Let me know if you find it.
The song was called “black History”, the B-side with Kurtis Blow was called “Famous Firsts”. It was a promotional give-away with Johnson & Johnson haircare products, that’s why it’s hard to find.I no longer have my tape either, but the lyrics are committed to memory.
And I thought I was the only one looking for that “Black History” tape! (And yes, we all know it was on a tape — not on CD!) My family used to rock to the Run DMC version (we didn’t car as much for the Kurtis Blow song). I have been searching for years — maybe Johnson & Johson can re-release it?? If anybody finds it, let people know!
omg, i’m 24 years old and would pay any price for that tape! i have been looking for it a long time and miss it so much! how about that open heart, red lights and more
notable lyrics:
some inventive black people set the scene,
for the way the world would look at things,
like the bantu tribe used the bark of a tree,
to cure all kinds of pain formalities
today we use the very same medicine too,
this medicine is know as aspirin to you.
this next inventor was extremely bright,
he made the first gas mask and the first traffic light,
the first time he used the mask was to save the lives,
of tunnel workers who were trapped on night,
the very same invention was later used,
as standard equipment for American troops,
the Garret A Morgan went on to invent,
the traffic light and we been using it ever since.
Now let’s step into the boxing ring,
and see how the Brown Bomber did his thing,
He went from a job on an assembly line,
to be one of the greatest fighters of all time
In front of over 70,000 fans,
the champion defeated a German man,
In 1938 on that history night,
Joe Louis showed the world we knew how to fight.
From the very first time she picked up a racket,
everybody knew Althea Gibson could hack it
Benjamin O. Davis was the first black to be,
made a General in the US army,
Then Benjamin Jr. followed daddy’s course,
and was the first black general in the US air Force.
When his show aired on NBC ,
it was the very first time in history,
that a radio show was hosted by a black
and I might as well give you another fact
he was also the first to have his own TV show,
this melody maker was Nate King Cole,
He was truly Un-forgettable
and his name was Nate King Cole.
Closer;
I hope you listened hard,
and I hope you listened well,
to all the wonderful stories that me and dj run had to tell
but just do me a favor
just remember that your roots run far and very deep,
and when it comes to being great, we’re all on top of the heap
all those that came before you are examples for you to see
of all the wonderful beautiful things that we all can be
be black, be strong and always be proud,
and do me a favor, don’t let anyone put you down,
be the best you can, in whatever you do,
who knows, you may be a part of black history too!
after starting out selling door to door,
Madame CJ Walker wasn’t poor anymore
She was the first black to take an Oscar home,
He was the first black to win one in a leading role.
Who were these two Oscar winning greats?
and the winner is……
Hattie McDaniel and Sidney Potier,
they’re both Oscar winning greats , yes!
Chorus,
Black, black, black history,
where you came from shouldn’t be a mystery,
so listen up while I school you on black history.
by the way,
the song was about 6 minutes long and also included references to Imhotep, Hanibal of Carthage, Duke Ellington ( his name had a very, very royal tone, the Duke, Duke Ellington stands alone), Marian Anderson ( a diva Divine), Paul Robeson ( he did scripts, plays, movies and the rest, Paul Robeson was one of the best), Langston Hughes-who earned his place, as the poet laureat of the whole black race, the brother refused to sing the blues, his name was Langston Hughes, Paul Lawrence Dunbar- Put my arm around her waist, raised her lips and took a taste, love me honey , love me true and she answered, course I do, way back then he was writing rap, Paul Lawrence Dunbar was a rapping chap.
It’s all in books, at the library of congress, and now that’s one to grow on!!!
I came across this forum by searching for that song. That was my JAM!! We use to listen to it everyday . Kurtis Blows Famous First was off the chain as well. “From the depths of the earth with his own hands, God created Blackman!! If anyone comes across the song PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me know
we need to find this song it is very very its amust that we find this song and shere it with the world