--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Unfortunately there is a standard set for…" description: "\"Unfortunately there is a standard set for it that precedes hip-hop. It would be great if corporate America didn't do this, but there is a huge market f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/972/bakari-kitwana-29059_america_unfortunately-there-is-a-standard-set-fo_2977614.jpg" --- # Unfortunately there is a standard set for it that precedes… ![“Unfortunately there is a standard set for it that precedes hip-hop. It would be great if corporate America didn't do this, but there is a huge market for sex and violence and anti-Black representations in America and the world that doesn't begin or end with hip-hop.” quote by Bakari Kitwana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/972/bakari-kitwana-29059_america_unfortunately-there-is-a-standard-set-fo_2977614.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/972/bakari-kitwana-29059_america_unfortunately-there-is-a-standard-set-fo_2977614.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/972/bakari-kitwana-29059_america_unfortunately-there-is-a-standard-set-fo_2977614.jpg) > “Unfortunately there is a standard set for it that precedes hip-hop. It would be great if corporate America didn't do this, but there is a huge market for sex and violence and anti-Black representations in America and the world that doesn't begin or end with hip-hop.” [Bakari Kitwana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakari-kitwana/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Sex, violence, and anti‑Black portrayals dominate media beyond hip‑hop, reflecting broader market demands. **In simple terms:** Media often exploits harmful stereotypes for profit. Key Takeaway Support diverse, responsible media creation. Themes media representation race capitalism Mood critical motivational Type social cultural When to use this quote - advertising - film - music industry Key Concepts cultural critique market forces Questions to Reflect On - How can audiences demand better representation? - What role do creators play in challenging stereotypes? A Different Perspective Changing narratives requires consumer pressure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black/) [Black Representations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/black-representations-4614335/) [Corporate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporate/) [Corporate america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corporate-america/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Hip hop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hip-hop/) [Hips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hips/) [Hops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hops/) [Huge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/huge/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Rapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rapper/) [Representation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representation/) [Representations America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/representations-america-4614334/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Standards set](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards-set/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-doesn/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [Never set out to be the best. It's too low a standard. Set out to be good. Do Your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mintzberg/never-set-out-to-be-the-best-it-s-too-low-a-standard-set-out-to-be/) [Henry Mintzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mintzberg/) > [The standards you establish for others must reflect the standards you set for yourself. No one will follow a hypocrite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-holtz/the-standards-you-establish-for-others-must-reflect-the-standards-you/) [Lou Holtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-holtz/) > [There is no such thing as perfection, there are only standards. And after you have set a standard you learn that it was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jascha-heifetz/there-is-no-such-thing-as-perfection-there-are-only-standards-and/) [Jascha Heifetz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jascha-heifetz/) > [One way to cope with the provocations of novel art is to rest firm and maintain solid standards... set by the critic's long-practiced taste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-steinberg/one-way-to-cope-with-the-provocations-of-novel-art-is-to-rest-firm/) [Leo Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-steinberg/) > [No matter how you hire, ensuring the systems are in place to manage the process will be critical in allowing you to find the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gerber/no-matter-how-you-hire-ensuring-the-systems-are-in-place-to-manage/) [Michael Gerber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gerber/) > [It’s amazing how life will organize around the standards you set for yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hardy/it-s-amazing-how-life-will-organize-around-the-standards-you-set-for/) [Darren Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hardy/) > [The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kroc/the-quality-of-a-leader-is-reflected-in-the-standards-they-set-for/) [Ray Kroc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kroc/) > [ By going on the defensive. \[...\] libertarians are, inadvertently, conceding that speech should be policed for propriety, and that those who violate standards set… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilana-mercer/by-going-on-the-defensive-libertarians-are-inadvertently-conceding/) [Ilana Mercer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilana-mercer/) > [Young girls are obsessed with having a thigh gap. I blame the impossible body standards set by Spongebob.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/young-girls-are-obsessed-with-having-a-thigh-gap-i-blame-the/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Advance our standards, set upon our foes; Our ancient word of courage, fair Saint George, Inspire us with the spleen of fiery dragons!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/advance-our-standards-set-upon-our-foes-our-ancient-word-of-courage/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I'm just appreciative of the standards that's been set by those that have come before me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-m-just-appreciative-of-the-standards-that-s-been-set-by-those-that/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [“The end goal of all of this striving is to live joyfully, and that there are often more direct ways of achieving this than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/the-end-goal-of-all-of-this-striving-is-to-live-joyfully-and-that/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [Nobody owes anybody anything; it's up to each individual to set high standards for himself or herself, and to set about working hard and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/nobody-owes-anybody-anything-it-s-up-to-each-individual-to-set-high/) [Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/) > [Standards are different for all things, so the standard set by man is by no means the only 'certain' standard. If you mistake what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/standards-are-different-for-all-things-so-the-standard-set-by-man-is/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [I'm privileged to have followed Sir Matt because all you have to do is to try and maintain the standards that he set so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-ferguson/i-m-privileged-to-have-followed-sir-matt-because-all-you-have-to-do/) [Alex Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-ferguson/) ## More by Bakari Kitwana > [I'm not a poster boy for misogyny and I don't think hip-hop should be either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakari-kitwana/i-m-not-a-poster-boy-for-misogyny-and-i-don-t-think-hip-hop-should-be/) [Bakari Kitwana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakari-kitwana/) > [Hip-hop is contributing to American society's misogyny and racism, hyper-sexuality anti-Black representations. Hip-Hop isn't setting the standard for misogyny. No one reduces the presidency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakari-kitwana/hip-hop-is-contributing-to-american-society-s-misogyny-and-racism/) [Bakari Kitwana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakari-kitwana/) > [Few places in American culture have made as effective a case for entrepreneurship than hip-hop. Hip-hop tells young people that our society is offering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakari-kitwana/few-places-in-american-culture-have-made-as-effective-a-case-for/) [Bakari Kitwana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakari-kitwana/) > [The question 'Why white kids love hip-hop?' forces us immediately to deal with the historical weight of race in America. On the surface people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakari-kitwana/the-question-why-white-kids-love-hip-hop-forces-us-immediately-to/) [Bakari Kitwana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakari-kitwana/) > [And just as you can find hip-hop lyrics beating up on all these groups, including young Black men themselves, the primary producers of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakari-kitwana/and-just-as-you-can-find-hip-hop-lyrics-beating-up-on-all-these/) [Bakari Kitwana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakari-kitwana/) > [“Wigger: a young white who wants desperately to be down with hip-hop, who identifies more strongly with Black culture than white. (What's disturbing about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakari-kitwana/wigger-a-young-white-who-wants-desperately-to-be-down-with-hip-hop/) [Bakari Kitwana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakari-kitwana/) > [Hip-hop is a complex music and culture that has been reduced to a one-dimensional critique. Hip-hop's messages aren't all bad. Neither are they all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakari-kitwana/hip-hop-is-a-complex-music-and-culture-that-has-been-reduced-to-a-one/) [Bakari Kitwana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakari-kitwana/) > [I agree that a lot of mainstream corporate sold hip-hop is self-hating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakari-kitwana/i-agree-that-a-lot-of-mainstream-corporate-sold-hip-hop-is-self-hating/) [Bakari Kitwana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakari-kitwana/) > [My hope is to get young people to think about ways that they can translate hip-hop's great cultural movement into political power that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakari-kitwana/my-hope-is-to-get-young-people-to-think-about-ways-that-they-can/) [Bakari Kitwana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakari-kitwana/) > [Hip-Hop's cultural movement is much larger than the corporate representation. The images most of hip-hop's critics point to are those manufactured by major corporations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakari-kitwana/hip-hop-s-cultural-movement-is-much-larger-than-the-corporate/) [Bakari Kitwana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakari-kitwana/) > [Legions of young hip-hop fans are as against this as hip-hop's most fierce critics. There is a huge underground movement within hip-hop circles that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakari-kitwana/legions-of-young-hip-hop-fans-are-as-against-this-as-hip-hop-s-most/) [Bakari Kitwana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakari-kitwana/) > [I agree that all kids of all colors love hip-hop. My point in writing the book was to raise questions about the ways the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakari-kitwana/i-agree-that-all-kids-of-all-colors-love-hip-hop-my-point-in-writing/) [Bakari Kitwana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakari-kitwana/) > [After many years of hip-hop as a nation we should have the sophistication to accept that their are distinctions between the corporate manifestation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakari-kitwana/after-many-years-of-hip-hop-as-a-nation-we-should-have-the/) [Bakari Kitwana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakari-kitwana/) > [We need to look beyond the obvious. Yes, there are minstrel images in hip-hop. Yes, there are demeaning, anti-racist, misogynistic and homophobic representations. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakari-kitwana/we-need-to-look-beyond-the-obvious-yes-there-are-minstrel-images-in/) [Bakari Kitwana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakari-kitwana/) > [Locally lived hip-hop culture that is giving many of America's youth the tool they need to survive and thrive in America, in the face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakari-kitwana/locally-lived-hip-hop-culture-that-is-giving-many-of-america-s-youth/) [Bakari Kitwana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakari-kitwana/) [Explore all 18 Bakari Kitwana quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakari-kitwana/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Unfortunately there is a standard set for it that precedes hip-hop. 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