Interesting article here (May require registration). In high school I always found it to be a kind of double standard that white kids could like hip-hop and R&B and be considered cool. Yet the few Black kids who liked alternative or other types of rock were ridiculed for "acting" or "wanting to be white." mod edit: you cannot post full-length articles.
I went to a pretty well-intergrated high school and saw some of the same things you mention. Truth told, I think the most vocal critics of Black kids who don't limit themselves to one type of music are other Black kids. OTOH, they do it because they've been reared with the knowledge that those Black kids will never be be completely accepted within the rock/White community. My parents told me early on that the overwhelming majority of White kids, no matter how openminded they appear to be, will, at some point, say or do something to reveal that they have not distanced themselves sufficiently from the culture of their parents. My living, rock-listening and playing experiences have proven this to be true. Doesn't mean I throw out my CDs; it just means I listen and proceed with extreme caution when in the company of Whites. More later if needed.
Ditto. I had black friends who liked the Cure/Smiths/etc and few of them ever got weird looks except from other black students. It was nothing vicious mind you, just a little cock eyed.
Just found this site http://www.afropunk.com/ When you get right down to it, Blacks invented rock and roll. If there had been no Little Richard, there would've never been an Elvis Presley. If there had been no Robert Johnson, there would've never been a Led Zeppelin.
This is all fine and good, but the existance of Living Color does not, by any means, signify that the black community embraces rock music nor even recognized that they practically invented it. Most black youth do NOT buy rock music nor barely even recognize it.
Elvis was a hero to most But he never meant, shit to me you see Straight up racist that sucker was Simple and plain Mother ******** him and John Wayne
Ironically, hip hop is, when you get right down to it, rock and roll. Discuss! I'm the King (what's up?) of ROCK! Who am I? I'm the King (of what?) of ROCK! WHO ARE WE? I'm the King (alright, never let ya down) of ROCK! In the end it's just a rock song I'm the King (alright, alright, alright) of ROCK! In the end it's just a rock song Run-DMC
And speed punk too. Bad Brains, also from DC ultra fast, high-voltage style of the mid-80's became the master copy for others with their influence. my friend from Howard U told me that many of the kids their were into Pearl Jam. A yr later when I strode the halls of Pinchback dorm of Grambling, It wasn't unusual to hear Guns n' Roses or some other hard rock. Mos Def's first album is punctuated by some really hard punk riffs after a freestyle. the Gravediggas also used death metal to influence their style and musical form. A friend turned me on to the Judgement Night soundtrack which blends hip-hop and heavy metal together for something that wouldn't really catch on till yrs later. IMHO, it's just a maturation of the genre and a natural draw for suburban kids with mixed cultures finding their way across the internet and cable tv.
Just found this video of Robert Randolph and the Family Band (with Eric Krasno of Soulive) doing "Purple Haze" on Conan. I know this thread is more about fans, but since musicians have been brought up.... [youtube]i95hbPnMK-Y[/youtube]
Considering that half a dozen southern African Americans are the fathers of just about every music genre I love, rock being one of them, I don't understand why either side would criticize black rock fans or black rock artists... "If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it 'Chuck Berry'." - John Lennon
Whoever mixed that performance should be punched in the throat. All guitar and vocals, no rhythm section or keys.
It's kind of funny. I teach at a high school with a 99% black student population. I've noticed an interesting style that's developing among the girls... though it's limited. They've taken to wearing smallish denim and leather jackets with fake jewels (ala bedazzler) on them. These have the logos of various 70s rock bands painted or printed on the backs. So far I've seen The Who and Led Zeppelin. I asked the students if they knew who the bands were, and they said they did not. They just liked the jackets. In truth, they look pretty cool. Is there some singer who has taken to wearing these? Don't be surprised if you start seeing young black women wearing these! Oh... and, even though you weren't wondering... the boys have taken to wearing giant black hooded sweatshirts with big, bright skeletons and spiders on them. I've heard they're pretty expensive.
And if John Lee Hooker never existed, George Thoroughgood would never had been able to pay his bills on time.
I guess this is related to this thread, but has anyone heard of Whole Wheat Bread, a black punk rock band from Jacksonville? They're not too bad.