Southern University: Hip-Hop & Politics

The Narrative Spectrum: Unraveling Black Representation in Media and Sports

• Eugene • Season 1 • Episode 5

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Prepare to navigate the intricate web of black representation in media, as Nick Luggett and Tim lay bare the forces shaping the images and stories we consume. This episode promises a deep exploration into the portrayal of black individuals in the music industry and sports, dissecting how narrow depictions in rap music and the absence of black voices in arenas like baseball are affecting our culture and youth. We expose the challenges that come with being a black artist or athlete in today's society, and the profound impact that movements like Black Lives Matter have had in amplifying - or silencing - their voices.

As your hosts, we stand at the intersection of media influence and community empowerment, questioning the biases that skew the narrative surrounding black achievement and creativity. We shine a light on the uphill climb that black content creators face on social media, wrestling with algorithmic biases that often overshadow their positive contributions. In a world where the media's focus can skew negatively, we underscore the importance of championing stories of black excellence. Join us for an unflinching conversation that seeks to ignite change and recognize the importance of the black community in shaping its own narrative.

Nick Luckett:

Hey, what's up, guys? My name is Nick Luggett and I'm here with Tim, and today we're going to be talking about black people shaping new narratives in today's society.

Tim:

So we're going to talk about. The first topic we're going to talk about is how black people are portrayed in the media and stuff like that, specifically in the music industry. So like when you see black people like in the music industry now, it's like nowadays, it's like there's only like one type of like narrative being pushed and stuff like that. But it's many different other aspects of black people as well. So like when it comes to like males and stuff like that male rappers all you see is like them being portrayed as like very violent and stuff like that. True, it's either like drugs or like killing other black men and stuff like that. So with women, like they're always seen, it's like everything that's portrayed is like mostly like mostly over sexualized and stuff like that, and like it's many different other aspects of black people besides it. And I don't feel like I feel like you can have that like there's nothing wrong with that, but there needs to be a balance.

Nick Luckett:

Yeah right, yeah right. Yeah, that's a good point. I haven't considered the point of there also being a balance. I was viewing it as what they were giving it to us, the over-sexualized part. But a big talk going around right now is Sexy Red. You know she's going around. Every song she's coming out with is you know, bow, bow, bow. All this kind of nonsense, I think. And uh, we have our younger generation not even mainly us, but also the children in elementary schools are coming up with songs, their own songs, with that beat and kind of it's. It's not good for the younger generation, I can say that for sure yeah, yeah, but I agree with you on that part.

Tim:

Um, like, if you look back like to the 90s and like the early 2000s, they had like sexual music and stuff like that, but it was you had like just just the same amount of positive music as well.

Nick Luckett:

Yeah, I couldn't even really think of something off the top of my head. That's just pure positivity in today's music, honestly.

Tim:

Yeah, and with the children and stuff like that. They had children, artists, teenage artists to listen to back then. They don't have any of that now.

Nick Luckett:

So now all you have to look at is adults and stuff like that, yeah, and even those few teens that are in the industry they're trying to portray as these grown adults that are still doing the wrong things. It's all a downfall and it's getting worse and worse. But a topic I like to speak on is sports. I'm a student athlete here. I play baseball. So black representation throughout sports and maybe even in a political aspect, because in baseball there's already a handful amount of black people in the major leagues, full amount of black people in the major leagues.

Nick Luckett:

So most of the people that are colored and dark-skinned, those are Latin Americans and Dominicans and there are many people that really step up to the plate and say, like the Black Lives Matter movement, we had NBA players coming out with shirts and really taking their stand on that, but there really wasn't much of that in the baseball world. So I feel like that's something that really needs to be picked up on, because you know, as an HBCU baseball player, I travel and I play these PWIs and other HBCUs and whether I'm a pitcher, so I don't play every game, but whether I play a game or not, I have kids and parents coming up to me saying you know you're thank you for taking a picture with my son or signing this ball for my son. You know he really looks up to you guys. There's not many of us, not too many of us, out here.

Tim:

I agree with you on that. I feel like that's a really good thing that you do that, because it shows representation. It shows kids like if he can do it, he looks like me. If he could do it, I could do it too. So that's a good thing.

Nick Luckett:

And for me, looking up to all I had was my dad. My dad's about to be 60 something years old, so he's he had that older kind of Negro league generation. So I was always looking up to, you know, the Jackie Robinsons, the cool Papa Bells and Willie Mays, and that that really took a, it took a hit and it died down tremendously.

Tim:

Yeah, I do think it died down tremendously. Yeah, I do think it um died down. So, um, another point I was going to talk about was like in the tv aspect of things as well. Okay, so when it comes to tv, um, like back in the 90s and 2000s 80s, you had like all different types of like shows. You show black people in a very positive light and like the shows, like those sitcoms. Back then they had like HBCUs and stuff like that. Now you, you don't really have that as much, but it's like everything is shown in like one aspect. So I feel like the stuff is not really as realistic anymore.

Nick Luckett:

So you know, yeah, I can, I can pick up on that. I still have to go back and watch those shows. Now, nowadays, you know the Martin's, the living singles and fresh Prince of Bel-Air, things like that we still have to go back just to enjoy those times. Nowadays, almost all all black surrounded tv shows or netflix shows or documentaries or everything they all want to go to I was speaking about this to one of my teammates earlier. They all want to go to south central la and portray that negative image and carry that on in some some fashion where I think we should show the show people in hawaii, show people, you know, everywhere, just having fun yeah, and to add on to what you said, like I feel like another thing is, like it's just we need there needs to be more representation and stuff like that as well too.

Tim:

Like when it comes to like colorism and stuff like that, like if you're not a certain type of to like colorism and stuff like that, like if you're not a certain type of skin tone or a certain type of aspect, you're not pushed as much, but everybody needs to be seen, just not one particular type of person.

Nick Luckett:

Right. Right, I think I saw I was taking a class and they had showed a picture of I think it was this class. Honestly, it was a picture of I think it was this class. Honestly, it was a picture of Beyonce and it showed how she used to look and she was her normal caramel color and another different picture and she was a very light skin tone and straight hair. Yeah, but something I want to talk about is a cultural impact that's going on in today's society, like on TikTok or Instagram and social media and things like that. There's a lot and lots of black creators that's coming about, and some good, some bad, and some are just piggybacking off of each other trying to make it, piggybacking off of each other trying to make it. But there really is a lot of positive because people are coming up with their own businesses and making, making money and supporting their, supporting their families and stuff like that so I I do see what you're saying.

Tim:

I'd be on on social media and I see people you know doing things they normally wouldn't have been able to do. So I think that's a very good way of shaping your own narrative and stuff like that, and you can do that now without having to go through like all these different types of hoops or having to go through a certain person. So I see the positive aspects in it as well.

Nick Luckett:

so I see the positive aspects in it as well. So, how do you think social media allows you to portray yourself? For me personally, being a student athlete, again, I do have certain restrictions that I may hold upon myself, just, I guess, as my standards, because I know that people are looking at my social medias. I know I still have kids following me on Instagrams and, hey, good job yesterday. You know things like that, and I don't want to be that guy that shows them the wrong things. You know I don't want to do that at all. So, uh, I feel like I kind of suppress myself in that way because I'm not able to post what I may truly want to post, and I'll even go on a little social media hiatus where I don't even post for a year or some months because I don't have anything else to post but sports or a good picture with the fam.

Tim:

So to piggyback off of what you were saying, you know I have to also be mindful that what I post. I might not be in athletics but just, being a student at HBCU, have to be mindful about what I post because, like when it comes to black people, everybody holds you to a certain standard and what you do can affect and affect everything that goes on around you. So what if I post negative stuff all the time? People will see that and they'll associate my school with being negative and stuff like that. So I also have to be mindful about what I post and um post like positive things and stuff like that yeah, um, I can say, uh, it's even happening on a bigger scale in like businesses and industries.

Nick Luckett:

I can say, in the ncaa I'm speaking on baseball because for athletes sports is life, you know but in the NCAA we had a. There was a game where, I think it was, prairie View had won a game, I believe, like 26 to 0. And it was like a whole like record, but nothing was said about it. And then, as soon as PWI had done it, it was on Twitter, instagram, on ESPN and everything, and it just kind of shows you what they think about us.

Tim:

Yeah, I see that as well. I see that a lot. When it's something good that we're doing, it's not really posted, it's not really pushed, but if it's something negative, it's everywhere. So I feel like that goes hand in hand with the shape and the narratives and stuff like that. Yeah, what?

Nick Luckett:

what kind of challenges do you think are? What kind of challenges do you think there are for black people on the media?

Tim:

I feel like, um, on, the black people have to face a lot of criticism from mainstream media and just things like the way how things are worded and stuff like that and a lot of like. When it's something bad, like how it's just highlighted, so it's when it's something you know, let's just say negative. It's when it's something you know, let's just say negative. Well, now everybody's, you know, looking at us a certain type of way and they already see us in the negative light as it is now. So like if something bad happens, you got people saying, oh well, they was going to do that anyways, it's just like them.

Nick Luckett:

Right. It's just like we're following the stereotypes that they already have in their mind, placed for us. And there are good people in all media that push those positive things for the black people in the communities and the positive things that we need, but for some reason they're just suppressed and kept underground.

Tim:

I agree with you on it, especially like on social media and stuff, and I feel like we as consumers can help um, you know, give them more notoriety. So one way I think that we can help is like just actually like going out there buying, supporting their themes, like um, for example. When it comes to like music, um, cardi b made a really good point one time. She was like when people, when she made positive music, when people they have rappers that make positive music and stuff like that, but it's not pushed, people don't really go out there and buy it and stuff like this. So we as consumers can go out there and buy it.

Nick Luckett:

And if more people buy it, then the record labels and stuff like that. That's what they're going to push, because it's what's making the money. Yeah, and right right along back to the twitters and instagram, if I see something that's great, just for I've just a black people, just a black person doing something great and just success, and I can repost that and just let the people who follow me know that this, these things are going on. They might even repost that and just let the people who follow me know that these things are going on. They might even repost it as well because they might feel that success.

Nick Luckett:

And that goes back to black people being suppressed in the media. Like, let's speak on the algorithm. Like, why is all I'm seeing negative on TikTok? Why are people going through shootouts and robbing Kias and you know the Kia boys are doing these things why is that the only thing being shown across my phone? When the higher ups, the people who own TikTok and the people who have control over that, that's what they want me to see, that's what they want all black people to see, and that's how they even want the white people to see and that's how they want to portray us and all of society.

Tim:

I agree with you on that and I feel like that's why it's even like we got to shape our narrative, but it makes it like twice as hard, like we have to work twice as hard to shape our narrative and like, for example, like with TikTok. So like in like China, their TikTok is different than ours. Like theirs is like math problems and like you know stuff for like academics, but here is like challenges and stuff like the Keea Boys and things like that. So I like, like challenges and stuff, like like the kia boys and things like that. So I agree with you on that point there and even like instagram, it's only like certain things being pushed and if you don't fit like a certain type of image or a certain type of narrative, then you're not really pushed that much. It's only like the negative stuff that they show. Yeah, like.

Nick Luckett:

I have friends who are in the process of trying to be content creators and it's incredibly hard to try and beat that algorithm, for if it's low, if it's positive or even if it's not not exactly positive, but if you're just gaming, that's not. They won't even help us out right there that's. There's not even even that line that we can cross. Where we're even in the comfort of our own homes streaming a game or just chilling at home, and that's where Kaissanet he's the biggest streamer out right now and he's showing that we can do this stuff and he's inspiring plenty of young people to do what he does.

Tim:

Yeah.

Nick Luckett:

And, like he said this, it wasn't easy to do that. It's hard to beat that algorithm. He was posting two to three times every day for years, on years and you just have to be that consistent just to get the little amount of success that someone who may be white can just blow up in a week or two.

Tim:

Yeah, and he had to work twice as hard to do it and so it took you years and even then you still it's just you just have to do a lot, yeah, so you know, representation and stuff like that is good. Yeah, you know, representation and stuff like that is good. So, like, another point I was going to talk about was like what do you think about like, when it comes to like news and stuff like that and the narratives?

Nick Luckett:

The only thing I see popping up on the news is the weather and black people being murdered, Like there's never anything positive going on, whether it's political or in the streets. It's always shutting us down and showing the negative sides where I could have done my own. I have a friend who has a clothing brand and every Christmas he makes tons of hoodies and he goes out to the homeless people in Houston and he hands them out hoodies for the Christmas time. You know it's cold out there, so why isn't that being portrayed on the news but I'm hearing about? They're talking about the homeless people, but they're not talking about the black people.

Tim:

That's trying to help the homeless people talking about the black people that's trying to help the homeless people. You know, yeah, they talk about it in like a bad way or like if it's homeless, oh we got to get them off the streets but or try to criminalize them. But y'all, when people try to help, y'all don't show that and stuff to keep them down. Yeah, so how do you think black people shape their own image in the real world, outside of the media, and how can they change it?

Nick Luckett:

Honestly, outside in the real world, I think for most black people they just follow what's what's being shown and they give in to the stereotypes. Because right now it's a struggle outside in the real world, like people are shooting guns every day and killing each other, and all for nothing, you know, and I feel like that can change just by go pick up the bible, go back to the the old ways, go to let's be respectable this.

Tim:

there's a responsibility that's supposed to be that's supposed to be taken care of.

Nick Luckett:

Like, say, for a parent to a child. I'm not supposed to be able to go watch the boondocks or listen to Sexy Red as an elementary school student, but I am in this world and some parents are even pushing that towards their kids, which is crazy. You know like a mom may be dancing to Nicki Minaj twerking and her baby's right there dancing with her and they're just laughing and giggling, but that's almost like muscle memory.

Tim:

It's not going to be good. It's not gonna be good and just to piggyback off of what you were saying um, I also feel like it takes a a village to raise children, and stuff like that as well.

Nick Luckett:

You have to like, we have to come together as a community of black people and just come together and just raise everybody yeah, like I, I used to be outside and so I would get home from the school bus before my parents would get home from work. So I'd be at home alone and I might just run outside without my shoes on, just, you know, having fun with my friends, and his parents may tell me hey, go put your shoes on. You know little things like that. It's just, it's the little things that matter. You know, on my baseball team we like to say we have this saying called mastery. Mastery is the art of doing the little things, correct, and it starts from there. You got to do the little things and it'll grow and grow, and to a point where it's not you won't even have to think about it, it's just natural.

Tim:

Yeah and um, like, I think also like some people always try to associate themselves with whiteness and align themselves with it. They feel like anything you know closer to it is better, and I feel like we have to get away from that mindset.

Nick Luckett:

Yeah, I can attest to this personally, because I grew up in the hood in Houston and when it came to time for middle school and high school, my dad was driving me 30 minutes, 45 minutes, to a whole different area and I was in a predominantly white middle school and high school and he may have thought that that was going to be better for me, but he just experienced me to a whole new world that, yeah, I was going to have to see and grow up into anyways, but it wasn't the positive way that he thought it was going to be. You know that these white kids were doing worse drugs than I could I had seen in the hood back home. You know it's, and they had that freedom to do it and it was. I had to make that adjustment and be able to hold myself accountable and that that goes into the the whole narrative of shaping.

Tim:

You know shaping it because they do that type of stuff. They can do way worse stuff than this, but you never, never see that, yeah, never. So, um, yeah, I see what you're saying with that, even just like I'm from Baton Rouge and just growing up in Baton Rouge. You know people. You know some people feel like you know people. You know some people feel like you know, oh well, if it's, if it's, if it's associated with blackness, it's just ghetto or it's just ratchet, and that's not the case most of the time.

Nick Luckett:

It's a culture and negative or negative or positive, it's, it's a part of who we are, but we do.

Tim:

There are steps that need to be taken to change yeah to change that and we can, because, unfortunately, after like, years and years of this just being, you know, ingrained in our minds and, you know, growing up, that's what people think, but it's not the case well, that's all the time we have for today.

Nick Luckett:

My name is Nick Luckett.

Tim:

And I'm Timmy Hempton.

Nick Luckett:

And thank you all for listening.