The NY Daily News' Stanley Crouch Fails to Understand the Legacy of Malcolm X

(From Global Grind) With the rampant abuse of the planet, animals and people throughout the world, Stanley Crouch is a routine conformist. He appears to be overly content with defending the status quo. When leaders like Malcolm X spoke out against oppression in America, his words and poetry were felt and embraced by the solidarity of millions of people internationally.

Today the same is true with rappers. Hip-Hop has emerged as a global cultural phenomena because of the truth of its poetic expression and artistic genius. Crouch can't see how artists like rappers are important because of their poetry and other creative expressions. They heighten sensitivity in others. The spirit of hip-hop is a part of youth culture that cares and takes responsibility for helping to make the world a better place.

Poets especially see the contradictions in a social order that treats abuse with complacency. The policies and practices of those who do not want to see real change need to be challenged. Historically, there has always been a contest between the conformists and agents of change.

Rappers, in the spirit of Malcolm X, point out the contradictions. Both in their words and cultural dress codes, hip-hop defies the rigidity of people like Crouch. Their lifestyle and dress bring attention to their rebellion. They are all Lil' Malcolm X's and although I'm a little older now, rappers are still my cultural heros.

It is the conformists who characteristically sit through and permit the abuse of people, the animals and the planet. Always the existence of genocide, the periods of human slavery, the unjustified promotion of wars, and all the other human catastrophes or abuses are usually created by people who look and think like Stanley Crouch.

So thank God for the rappers and other artists who are less racist, sexist, oppressive and homophobic than people who adhere to the Crouch mind set. And even the expressions of the "gangster rappers" (who I love) are much less gangster than the policies and actions of George Bush.

-Russell Simmons

Related:
Stanley Crouch: For the future of hip hop, all that glitters is not gold teeth

Comments

[MojoTens]

So many posts reflect a shallow perception of both Malcolm X and hip hop music.

Malcolm was far more than a demagogue in a conservative suit, just as hip hop musicians are far more than criminals in warm-up suits. The only people espousing those viewpoints are those who aren't familiar with their subjects.

Stanley Crouch is a egomaniac who thrives on controversy. He's far more interested in assuaging his temper tantrums and provoking responses than considering opposing views and listening. He lost his job at JazzTimes for asserting that white music critics elevate white musicians above their merits and lemme tell you it takes a lot to be fired from a job as a columnist. He holds no credibility with me and I skip over his articles whenever I encounter them. If I met Stanley, I would tell him all that to his face, and I'd turn the other cheek if he swung on me like he did Howard Mandel.

[Nommo]

Actually, in person, he is quite pleasant and cordial. Weird.

[Dorraj]

People like Mr Crouch does not realize rappers talk about the part of society that the mainstream tries to ignore. Most people would be scared to death to go in the neighborhoods alot of these rappers grew up in during the daytime, but seem shocked when they rap about guns, death, and fast women. Most grow up with no father and an inadequate mother. Sellings drugs in their neighborhoods is like working at walmart, it is what you do. Yet people seem to only care when these people become famous. How becoming an engineer or doctors in these neighborhoods seems about as achievable as being an astronaut.
Take Vick for instance. Everybody screamed bloody murder over dogfighting, yet I can tell from living in Newport News that it was everywhere and as common as hunting in rural areas. Was it wrong yes, but something that was tolerated in poor neighborhoods. Most people from these areas dont even understand why it is bad. Rappers reflect their neighborhoods, it is that simple. Improve that and the music will change

[Pantelleria01]

In all sincerity, using the words Malcom X and Hip Hop in the same article is just reaching for and manufacturing relevance for yourself. Freedom of expression allows almost any combination of words of course, just as gravity requires you to be somewhere standing around on the planet instead of floating off into space. Your emotion seems sincere but your brain, in making this analogy, is clearly fried, taking reality for a ride, busted up from the inside, lost on the flip side, confused in its pride, broken down in the landslide....

[Flick08]

Sorry, Russell, not buying it. Malcolm was all about discipline, self-respect and carrying one's self with dignity. I don't think the slouchy, baggy, shiftless hip-hop style fits the bill.

There seems to be a big difference between the white, suburban kids who love hip-hop and the inner-city black kids. The white kids go through college affecting the hip-hop swagger and dress code but somewhere along about their junior year they get a hair cut, a nice suit, and proceed to the next level (ie getting a good job, getting married, buying a home, providing a secure environment to raise a family).

Unfortunately, too many of our black kids view hip-hop as a way of life instead of a music style. This inability to distinguish between music and lifestyle is ruining our communities.

P.S. What's so poetic about "Move b*tch, get out the way" or the image of running a credit card between a woman's buttocks? There once was poetry but it's been sold out for the almighty dollar and now studios will record any crap that will sell.

[MyNameIsJames]

What you have to realize is that Hip Hop as a cultural expression filled a void that was left in the African American community after the Civil Rights & Black Power movements. Hip Hop has seen many phases over the past 35 years. Yes I said it-- 35 years. There are hip-hoppers in their late 40's.

To reduce Hip-Hop to the past 10 years of materialism and bad press will never allow you to understand what is REALLY going on...

Hip Hop is a cultural movement - a world-view that was born of African musical roots - urban poverty and mainstream marginalization. Oh-yeah and the inability of the elder generation of African americans to provide a meaningful set of expectations that inspired the younger generation.

Stanley Couch has very little influence over the people he criticizes. So if a tree fall in the forest does it make a sound if no one is listening

[Flick08]

Hate to quote myself but..."There once was poetry but it's been sold out for the almighty dollar and now studios will record any crap that will sell." By once I meant sometime prior to the last 10 yrs.

Fine. Listen to the music but find your inspiration from within.

[rajoro]

Hip Hop is a spirit of rebellion spoken by the underclass and close observers of the underclass. Crouch either doesn't understand or resents this and acts as an apologist. The Rappers most people like Crouch despise are products of the remnants of the dysfunctional culture that was created in slavery, institutionalized in Jim Crow and solidified in social/welfare programs. Rappers are the "griots" of this culture.

What Simmons doesn't realize is that this dysfunctional culture, as beautiful as it is, does not address the social, political and economic change that Malcolm X and others hoped to bring, if anything it glorifies a legacy of degradation. On the street in real terms, gangsta rap produces as much, or more, misery as it produces ladders to "success" for the underclass. If one doubts this ask a victim or survivor of the self-destruction and violence produced by those who hear the lifestyle it promotes, not as a cautionary tale but as a roadmap to a self serving life of materialism.

Gangsta Rap is all good entertainment, like the "Godfather" or "Scarface", but for a people with little political, social or cultural institutions to combat the scourges it represents we must be judicious and not promote it as an ideal. I reject the arrogance of Crouch and the rationalizations of Simmons as extremes. The question is how can the "Obama Generation" develop this beautiful art form to promote a new vision of human potential going forward into the 21st century?

[Madampotential]

It is not just hip hop with Mr. Crouch. He was fired from writing for a jazz publication because he was such a traditionalist that he was critical of anything new in even jazz music. He is just a closed minded tradionalist.

I don't think most rappers are poets and many labels don't sign "real" artists, you have to find them on myspace and facebook. It is crazy to think both Jazmine Sullivan and Alicia Keys were both dropped by labels before signing with J Records.

When I listen to top 40 radio I can understand people's contempt for hip hop when they are only exposed to that mainstream mess ( with a few exceptions ofcourse). I give credit to Def Jam because I think Def Jam has signed some really talented artsits such as LL, Chrisette Michelle, Lupe Fiasco and Nas.

[Flick08]

Pretty much everything Crouch writes is either about jazz or is written in the style of jazz. And he's still in print and the stuff still sales--just saying

[UnknownSoldier]

In order to understand Russell Simmors rebuttal you have to read Crouch's essay. Essentially Crouch said that Malcolm X would have been forgotten if Spike Lee did not make the BioPic about Malcom X's life.

I read the Biography of Malcom X written by Alex Haley (the guy who wrote book the TV mini series Roots was based on)

[M Razz]

Without Spike Lee the internet would have revived him. Malcolm X would definately not have been forgotten. He is a twentieth century hero for many.

[Swerinjer2]

Malcolm X is a footnote. His memory is already fading now that white guilt is dead.

[sankofaman]

Arguably one of the more uninformed and ignorant comments I have read on Huffpo. Malcolm is one of the giants of the civil rights era. Never gonna happen pal.

[MyNameIsJames]

Can you explain yourself a little more. What does White guilt have to do with how African Americans perceived Malcolm X?

Furthermore, most Whites never had much guilt.... So they had to be FORCED to stand down. White guilt has never played a dominant role in race relations in this nation. WHITE FEAR has-- fear of retribution has done more to influence race relations in this nation than any sens of White guilt

[MrBlack]

Russ, Stanley Crouch and I are Black men in our early 60s - who are highly opinionated about racial politics. I agree with your comment that Crouch is a conformist with the status quo on war and peace issues. The one area that I agree with Crouch on is his use of literate language when talking about the Hip-Hop crowd. A fact that applies to Russ the mogul on this platform too. lol!

With regard to most Hip-Hop rappers I sensed that most are given a stage or a record deal to expose their lack of a liberal education. It would be helpful if the rappers were required to read a few books about African American history before they start spewing the n-word and you know what I saying a dozen times in a sentence.

I respect Hip-Hop musical artists who can communicate in a lyrical style while dealing with the realities of their experiencies in the hood. And I suspect Russell Simmons will agree with Crouch and I as he heads toward 60 with young daughters that spewing idiotic racist words is no substitute for real talent.

I remember James Brown's "Say It Loud, I am Black and Proud", and "There Was A Time" both monster jams that will live forever. And Aretha Franklin's "Respect" a rendition that will last to the end of time. This is the backdrop the foul-mouthed rappers are polutting - as a 60s guy I ain't down with it .

[M Razz]

I see your point, but I think hiphop-culture is this generations way of saying "I am Black and I am Proud" and show me some "Respect"... The struggle for rights and freedom did not end in the sixties. Black people have still a lot to be frustrated about.. Using strong words in lyrics to express that frustration sounds very normal to me.

[Flick08]

Unless you're a black woman then hip-hop seems to say, show 'disrespect'.

[MyNameIsJames]

This is ONE THING that many Blacks who have integrated their minds into the mainstream fail to UNDERSTAND.

The BLACK struggle for human dignity is much broader than the Civil Rights movement.

Black people from Africa started fighting for their dignity and their own expression from the time they were captured in Africa. This struggle has continued for centuries. From revolts in Jamaica, Haiti and Brazil, to the Underground railroad in the United States.

When we attempt to draw artificial historical lines that delineate the Black experience in this nation like we do with the "Civil Rights Movement" we lose touch with the SOUL of what is really happening with Black people.

If you go to the Caribbean,Brazil or Central America -- YOU will see Black people who create expressions that are in conflict with the status quo of oppression and marginalization that they find themselves trapped in throughout this hemisphere. HIP- HOP is part of that expression.

HIP - HOP is created from the collective psyches of people who need to demonstrate their view of the world. It isn't always pretty -- but the context in which Black people have lived for CENTURIES has not been pretty.

Black people are expected to believe & repeat the stories of others - whether it is Jewish stories of the Bible,or European stories force -fed to Black children in the public school systems. None of these stories are ADEQUATE to meet the needs and desires of Black people. THIS is why HIP

[skepticalsteve]

Russell Simmons is verbally firing wildly and inaccurately here. On this point, Stanley Crouch is much closer to Malcolm X, who did believe in the importance of appearance. How often was Malcolm seen without coat and tie? I can't think of a single occasion. He often referred approvingly to the "clean cut proud Muslims" who were his friends and associates in the Nation of Islam.

More important, as a significantly original and critical thinker, Malcolm would have had nuanced comments on both Obama and hip hop -- and, undoubtedly, Crouch and Simmons, too.

[DC]

Don't read too much of Crouch to say, but "truth of its poetic expression and artistic genius."

Oh brother, give me a break. You made you millions pimping insecure young AA men with your gangsta vision.

Hip Hop quickly degenerated from its promise into cheap, toxic and ugly trash. All about self pity, money, violence and dehumanization of the individual, especially women.

It has screwed up many. Are you proud?

[renatam]

To deny that Mr. Simmons (and Bob Johnson) has commoditized some of our more base elements -- which sold very well to media - worldwide - as the definition of our culture THEY wanted to see as a profitable (for them) faustian bargain we ALL PAID FOR -- is unrealistic and untrue.

Again, to his credit, Mr. Simmons is continuing to morph Hip-Hop with voter registration and other proactive, positive aspects of our culture -- and, Bob Johnson sold out for billions, and is now trying to launch yet another cable network focused on "bi-racial and multicultural" American life (and not a minute too soon). So, even they mature -- when the market no longer exists for toxic imagery of their own people.

Change or die.

[renatam]

I rarely agree with Stanley Crouch, but every once in awhile even he has something to say worthwhile -- albiet, for the wrong reasons.

What was formerly called Rap/Gangsta Rap, and rebranded by Mr. Simmons and others when business was threatened due to toxic imagery and language -- as Hip-Hop -- has been very a very profitable, packagable LIFESTYLE commoditization. As an entrepreneur myself, I understand not wanting to see one's profit center diminished. However, as an entrepreneur one has to know when your product, good or services are dated and time is running out on its shelf life.

To his credit, Mr. Simmons has been retooling the Hip-Hop genre over time, to provide it with relevance and meaning beyond what was proffered on Bob Johnson's BET, disgracefully - to some of us -- as the default and definition of AA culture for all of us. It was/is not. It was/is a sliver of our cultural tapestry -- and, now we are adopting and internalizing another facet that ALWAYS EXISTED -- though would not/did not SELL to major media and advertisers who did not want sophisticated media images of AAs. That has now changed, leaving the narrow Hip-Hop element of our culture to either adjust/adopt/morph/mature -- or not.

[pfc1369]

"So thank God for the rappers and other artists who are less racist, sexist, oppressive and homophobic than people who adhere to the Crouch mind set."

I don't know what "the Crouch mind set" is, but the claim that preceeds that phrase is preposterous; that is, of course, unless the "Crouch mind set" is a monster of vampirish proportions.

[Casey Gane-McCalla - Huffpost Blogger]

Crouch is once again trying to demonize any black person that doesn'st fit his cookie cutter depiction of positive black people. Its funny how Al Qaeda tries to demonize Obama for being an uncle Tom and crouch is trying to demonize Malcolm as an angry black radial, when they're really not that differenct.

Malcolm X and Barack Obama: Far From Opposites
http://newsone.blackplanet.com/nation/obama-and-malcolm-x-far-from-opposites/

[Flick08]

And many hip-hop proponents try to demonize any black person that doesn't fit their cookie cutter depiction of black people. Why is it that hip-hop idolizes getting bling, buying over-priced designer clothes, and acquiring a harem of hos rather than obtaining an education, managing your finances and committing to stable relationship? The main thing that Malcolm X and Obama have in common is that they both presented themselves as educated, thoughtful, grown men rather than narcissistic pimps.

[mindact]

Hip-hop is simply an art -form, pure and simple. It's a vehicle that is used and can be used to propagate varying messages. what's wrong with Hip-hop is not the art-form, the message is the problem. when rappers glorify drugs, guns, promiscuity and homophobia, that's a problem.

There is a chicken and egg relationhsip that exists b/w Hip-hop and life on the streets. It's a vicious cycle that serves to re-inforce each other. While people spend time having an academic debate on what's driving what, people are going to jail and lives are being destroyed. Enough, hold politicians accountable for the harshness and lost opportunities on the streets, but also hold the rappers responsible.

By the way, when you say Barack and Malcom are far froom opposites, which Malcom are you referring to, the early one or the just before his death? Either way, there are very different animals. Just like Malcom and Martin were two different elements to the struggle. I'm not arguing an either or being better, all had their roles to play.