Black youth Quote by bell hooks
““Concurrently, the growing class power and public voice of conservative and liberal well-to-do black folks easily obscures the class cruelty these individuals enact both in the way they talk about underprivileged blacks and the way they represent them. The existence of that class cruelty and its fascist dimensions have been somewhat highlighted by the efforts of privileged-class blacks to censor the voices of black youth, particularly gangsta rappers who are opposing bourgeois class values by extolling the values of street culture and street vernacular. Significantly, the attack on urban underclass black youth culture and its gangster dimensions (glamorization of crime, etc.) is usually presented via a critique of sexism. Since most privileged-class blacks have shown no interest in advancing feminist politics, the only organized effort to end sexism and sexist oppression, this attack on sexism seems merely gratuitous, a smoke screen that deflects away from the fact that what really disturbs bourgeois folks is the support of rebellion, unruly behavior, and disrespect for their class values. In reality, they and their white counterparts fear the power these young folks have to change the minds and life choices of youth from privileged classes. If only underclass black folks were listening to gangsta rap, there would be no public effort to silence and censor this music. The fear is that it will generate class rebellion.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Yearning: Race, Gender, and Cultural Politics, 1990
Privileged Black individuals often mask class oppression by focusing on sexism, diverting attention from their own class-based cruelty and the rebellious power of underclass youth culture.
In simple terms: Class cruelty is hidden behind gender critiques.
Recognize class motives behind cultural censorship.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- music censorship
- youth activism
- media analysis
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What role does gender play in class oppression?
- How can we address both class and gender injustices?
The argument may overgeneralize all privileged Black voices.