Political Rap Music and Black Politics

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Political science professor Lakeyta Bonnette of Georgia State University will present on the topic: "Pulse of the People: Political Rap Music and Black Politics."
Overview: On January 11, 2018, newly elected Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance-Bottoms announced her 38 member transition team. Among the business and educational leaders she identified two activist, native Atlanta rappers, T.I. and Killer Mike. Of course, we can point to the mass support both rappers gave Lance-Bottoms during the run-off elections and the activism of both of these artists against issues of racial and economic injustice as possible reasons why Lance-Bottoms included them in her team. Hip Hop culture is important and embedded in most aspects of our lives, from movies, marketing, law, politics, the arts, pedagogy/education and social justice. Lance-Bottoms as well as previous President Barack Obama both recognized the influence and involvement of Hip Hop culture and both have strategically utilized elements of the culture symbolically and politically (i.e. Obama’s relationship with Jay-Z, his meeting with Ludacris(Atlanta) before he ran and the invitation and subsequent of Kendrick Lamar to the White House, as a few examples). However, these are only a few examples.

This talk examines the relationship between Hip Hop culture, politics and political attitudes. (Feb. 5, 2018)

The James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference supports research, teaching, and public dialogue that examine race and intersecting dimensions of human difference including but not limited to class, gender, religion, and sexuality.