WISee - September 2008

What I See - September⁰⁸ by D2Nott

Lights, camera, a call to action, an alarm to stand up and pay attention, is that what the month of August was about. We had large gatherings in Denver and in Minneapolis; two parties; lots of people paying attention to words said, the casts, the characters, the body movements, seeking one thing, to convince you to vote for them! It's all about the beat, the rhythm and movement of music, words and people.

By John McWhorter

New York Time 's Bestselling Author

Gotham Books, June 2008

One of the most outspoken voices in America's cultural dialogues, John McWhorter can always be counted on to provide provocative viewpoints steeped in scholarly savvy. Now he turns his formidable intellect to the topic of hip-hop music and culture, smashing the claims that hip-hop is politically valuable because it delivers the only "real" portrayal of black society.

In this measured, impassioned work, McWhorter delves into the rhythms of hip-hop, analyzing its content and celebrating its artistry and craftsmanship. But at the same time he points out that hip-hop is, at its core, simply music, and takes issue with those who celebrate hip-hop as the beginning of a new civil rights revolution and inflate the lyrics with a kind of radical chic . In a power vacuum, this often offensive and destructive music has become a leading voice of Black America , and McWhorter stridently calls for a renewed sense of purpose and pride in black communities.