Chet, one point only: I think the Chicago school can only help by taking on this genre and shining an apprently positive light on it. A lot of the general whute population are fearful of black youth because of their *music*. I just had a wonderful experience having dinner with Morris Dees, co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center and prominent civil rights attorney; as well as heard him lecture. He pointed out that to combat such fears of our differences, we must learn about each other through dialogue and sharing of our cultures. He said we are all angels with one wing. That we must embrace each other in order to fly.

Like it or not, rap is part of the urban culture of Americans of African descent. (I mentioned to him, at dinner, the PC thread I'd started and about people being tired of changes in designating someone's race. He uses the "American of whatever descent", which I felt was a worthy disticntion.) I hope that this program can help to bridge the enormous gap between different cultures.

katlaughing