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| Hip-Hop, Sports, and the African Americanization of American Culture
This spring LSU will introduce a new learning community discussing the influences of hip-hop and sports on American popular culture. The combined six-credit course will be taught by Louis Harrison, Jr., assistant professor of kinesiology, and Leonard Moore, associate professor of history and director of the African & African American Studies Program.
In the class, Moore will explore the evolution of hip-hop by focusing on the music, culture, and politics. Harrison will discuss the role of sport in the African American community. The learning community will allow students to look at the intersection of hip-hop and sports, as well as their impact on American culture. “The class will look at the broad popularity of hip-hop artists and African American athletes,” Moore said, adding that these artists and athletes find fame in many aspects of entertainment including films, television, and fashion, as well in music and sports. Moore described football star Jim Brown and boxing champion Muhammad Ali as early examples of popular athletes who later found both added fame and disdain through political activism. Today’s society awards celebrity status to professional athletes of all races, and the images and portrayed lifestyles that accompany this status are affecting the younger American generation. At the same time, the popularity of African American athletes has reached unprecedented levels.
“There are theories that suggest African Americans are superior in certain sports due to genetics, but we also look at other factors, such as social forces and psychological forces,” Harrison said. “As a result, some sports are perceived to be black sports, primarily basketball, football, and track. Black youngsters see only these athletes and aren’t exposed to other sports.” Harrison and Moore agreed the marketing tactics used in hip-hop and sports are also affecting the career decisions of African American youth and perceptions in American society. “A lot of kids grow up wanting to be hip-hop artists or athletes. They’ve been brought up with the idea that the only way out of the ghetto is through these industries. What they don’t realize is that there are 90,000 African American doctors in the country but only a few thousand African Americans who are professional athletes.” “There are only five- or six-thousand people playing professional
sports,” said Harrison, “but there are hundreds of thousands
of young African Americans aspiring to fill those positions. There
just aren’t enough positions to make all of their dreams to
come true.” Moore also explained that hip-hop and sports offered African Americans a place “where they can be themselves.” Sports and entertainment are the only avenues where African Americans can transcend the boundaries of race, he said. However, African American athletes and hip-hop artists find themselves both glorified and demonized by the media. Moore, who taught his first hip-hop class at LSU in 1999, specializes in African American urban and political history. Harrison’s research interests include race, sport, and physical activity, including developing a greater understanding of racial labels applied to various activities and how these labels affect individuals’ participation and motivation. Both professors admitted their classes include a majority of African American students but agree such courses offer benefits for all students. Written by Teresa Devlin |
University Relations Related Links African & African
American Studies Program |
“We’re
training students to go out and be leaders in the community, and
the community is diverse,” Harrison said. “[Today’s
students] will be providing services for and working with and for
people of all different races and backgrounds. Courses like those
that make up this learning community provide an opportunity for
students from varied backgrounds to gain real insight into African
American popular culture instead of relying on inaccurate stereotypes
and caricatures.”
