In the article “What is Hip Hop?”, the writer, Jay Ford, tells us his experience and faith of African culture through Hip Hop music. He was taught by his grandmother to discover and maintain the African culture as the “life-generating energy” when he was young.
Jay Ford believes that Hip Hop is not only just a kind of music, but also the way for African people to express what they think and believe in their culture. It’s the way that should not be forbidden or corrupted. African people should use this way to pass their culture from generation to generation. It is not just to leave over the history for their children and the following generation, but also to let them understand where they are from, why they should follow it, and how should they react while their culture start to be corrupted by other factors. Jay Ford thinks under all the negative life experiences and circumstances that American-Africans are suffering, Hip Hop music becomes their significant soul support. Hip Hop is the way they can get comfort and release their emotions. It is the musical translation and oral expression of African people’s voices, pleasure, and anger. It gives them the psychological and mental energy to satisfy their spiritual needs. That’s why Jay Ford explains Hip Hop is the life-generating energy behind one’s experience as he was told by his grandmother.
In my country, China, our culture is more introverted than Mr. Ford’s. As Hip Hop music style, it’s more about the oral expression and speak-out attitude of what they feel and think. Because of the slavery history or the racial discrimination that African people experience, Hip Hop music comes out in the rude and crude way with their anger and displeasure. In Chinese culture, people are more likely to surrender or compromise no matter what they encounter because they think it’s a virtue to obey. When you are praised, we should always decline because we should not be arrogant. When we are suffering, we should always endure because it’s the way that we are taught to be and we should not disobey about it. It’s not about the freedom issue, but it’s the attitude that we are taught how we should be. Of course, it did influence my character because I was taught and grew up in such Chinese culture. I was shy to speak up in school, and I won’t disobey what I was told although I thought it was wrong sometimes. Also, maybe I was influenced by other people, I thought it was better not to be the first one when no one dared to speak. I didn’t want to be isolated by acting differently than others.
Since I have come to America, I find out that people are living in a totally different style and concept here rather than my culture. In fact, U.S. is a multi-culture country because of immigrants from all over the world. People like freedom. They like to voice out what they think to strive for what they want. Here’s culture is more open and positive. Such as the music or movies that involve politics or any sensitive issues are allowed in this country, but are prohibited in China. Although I haven’t been living here for a long time, I learn the lesson to act positively or change my introverted attitude for more opportunities. Maybe I am influenced by the circumstance, I am not afraid to express myself. When I speak out my opinion, I find out my idea can be very important and be appreciated by other people such as in school, at work, or in my social groups. I become more active and willing to socialize and disclose myself gradually.
I think we should have faith in our culture because it is a part of our history and the treasure from our ancestors. Although I change my attitude a bit after I came to America, I am still the person as I was before. I still have my faith in my culture and I still appreciate I was taught to be modest and forbearing. I change doesn’t mean I throw away my culture. I change because this little change can turn me to a better way to survive and succeed. Just as Jay Ford says in the article, there is not everything about Hip Hop music is good. In everyone’s culture, nothing is absolutely right or wrong, and nothing is absolutely good or bad. We are all intelligent individuals to distinguish what we should follow, and what we should improve. It’s very important for everybody to defend one’s culture, and also to be open-minded to accept any positive changes by facing the weakness that we have. This is also the reason why we build up our behavior and character differently. Of course, everybody should respect his/her own culture, and should also respect other people’s cultures fairly. Therefore, we and our cultures can coexist peacefully in this world.