Is Hip Hop Playing into Stereotypes that Hold Us Back?

Ann Arbor, Michigan - On a snowy night in Michigan, 30 black students gathered for a forum on Hip Hop. The forum entitled, "Hip Hop and You: The Images", was an in-depth look at Hip Hop and what stereo-types are being promoted to the black community and the world. It was a part of the push to get young people involved in Black History Month. It was held at the University of Michigan Computer Science and Engineering Building.

The night was sponsored by The M.U.S.E.S., a campus group with in the University of Michigan. The M.U.S.E.S., which stands for the "Movement of Underrepresented Sisters in Engineering and Sciences", has since 1999 provided support for women of color studying the sciences. A controversial film was shown, "Hip Hop: Beyond the Beats and Rhymes" by film-maker Byron Hurt. It was a documentary piece, which touches on the stereotypes of black men and women in America as provided by Hip Hop. This Sundance Festival favorite (It received a standing ovation) was an hour long and featured interviews from rapper Mos Def, rapper Busta Rhymes, Chuck D. from rap group Public Enemy, Univ. Prof. Michael Dyson of Georgetown University, and many others.