Is The Devil Hijacking Black Youth Culture? Part II

This is a follow-up to my previous blog about the negative, downhill moral journey of black youth culture. I have to admit that I got a little flack for the last article. People said I was being judgemental and that I thought I was perfect... So how bout this one? I know and believe that black culture is (or can be) so much more than just a combination of risky sexual behavior, drug-use, illegal drug activity, etc. And it is my personal opinion that this type of lifestyle should not be glorified! Children as well as adults see their heroes engaged in this type of activity and they seek to imitate it. Then it becomes almost normal or expected to continue the pattern.



My focus for this article is pop sensation Rihanna, and her new video, "We Found Love." I can relate to Rihanna and I admire her creativity but I still believe that the image she puts forth as a young black woman is irresponsible.

I do love her and most of her work, tho!

This video was brought to my attention by "The Grio" on Facebook.

The Grio's Chris Witherspoon published this article--> 15 most telling moments in Rihanna's 'We Found Love'





Rihanna's "We Found Love"



Here are my thoughts on the video as well as the article.

Risk-taking behavior at it's highest!

1.) The slot machine symbolizes risk taking. As does her other video, "Russian Roulette." So does behavior like jumping on tables in public places, doing lots of drugs(and also the way that they do them, like smoking 4 joints, or whatever that was, at 1 time) and last but not least, remaining in an abusive relationship.



2.) In the scene where she was passed out, Chris Witherspoon interpreted that the man was trying to "comfort her in a drunken stupor." To me he looked worried. Also, there were ambulance lights flashing in-between that scene.

3.) In the end she was balled up into a corner because she realized that she needed to change her life but it was hard...also she was detoxing. She's detoxing from the relationship, which itself was like a drug--> like she said, "wanting the good without the bad."

4.) I don't think people realize the reality of how much drug use/abuse can contribute to poor decision making! If I was high on drugs all the time, I might fall in love with a tree!

5.) She's sick and she knows it...And she's only 23yrs old. Wow...

In the song "Rehab" off her 2nd album, she says, "I gotta check into rehab cause baby you're my disease." (Yeah, the video with Justin Timberlake as her love interest.)
Well, this is her 6th album, so it seems like she's been dealing with these issues for at least the length of her entire music career!

6.) I applaud her for her creativity! However, I think a lot of kids will watch and think it's just cool to get high and f**k...

Skorpion Show Review


Click here for more info on Rihanna and Chris Brown.

More --> Kevin Powell's open letter to Chris Brown

When I Became A Man (Spoken Word)

On another note (and completely off topic I guess), the "We Found Love" video reminds me of Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream." Although, "We Found Love" reaches a little deeper and kind of looks more like a nightmare than a dream! A drug-induced one!