Southern University: Hip-Hop & Politics

The Authenticity Tightrope in Digital Black Media

• Eugene • Season 1 • Episode 8

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Unlock the truth behind how black media shapes your views and beliefs. Films like "Why Did I Get Married" are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the powerful role of black media in crafting public opinion. Ari and I, Ryan, examine the stereotypes and dramatic narratives that often overshadow the diversity of black experiences. Misconceptions about black life being a constant struggle and black women's self-worth being tied to narrow beauty standards are just some of the topics we unravel. We're putting the spotlight on the reality that black joy, success, and love stories are as integral to the narrative as any tales of hardship.

Let's face it, the line between cultural appreciation and appropriation is razor-thin, and it's a tightrope we're walking in today's digital world. Our discussion spans from the impact of social media in framing public opinion to the sometimes insincere allyship that arises from moments like the Black Lives Matter movement's increased visibility. We dissect the complexities of genuine exposure and education, shedding light on movements that champion the rights and recognition of black women. Delving into the nuances of support and representation in the black community, we confront the need for deeper engagement from our allies and the quest for consistent inclusivity in mainstream media.

Finally, we navigate the influences shaping the image of black individuals, both within and outside their communities. We scrutinize how figures like Youngboy are upheld as icons of success and the implications that cultural symbols have on personal growth and authenticity. The pressures to conform to a prescribed image of blackness are dissected, revealing the subtle ways individuality is often compromised for acceptance. Ryan and Ari are here to guide you through a candid conversation about the societal expectations faced daily and the courage it takes to forge one's path amidst these cultural pressures. Join us for a thought-provoking journey through the landscape of black media influence and public opinion.

Ari:

So I was watching. Why Did I Get Married the first one before I came in here, and you know it just makes you wonder why do people get married?

Ryan:

I think people are lonely and I think people, like, are always chasing an optic of like what marriage should look like, instead of looking at like what marriage could actually be, like Like what's really going on, sometimes behind closed doors like what's really going on sometimes behind closed doors.

Ari:

But do you think about like people that watch those movies like how does that make them think that's what black marriages are like?

Ryan:

I think that that's like a direct relationship for some people who haven't seen like what an ideal marriage looks like to begin with and that's like what they've grown up watching, that that may be their only attachment to, like what black marriage is like it's supposed to be, like all the dramatics and the pain and the it shouldn't be no nobody's marriage should be like that.

Ryan:

But like I think that's what's always put out in black media, so I think that's what people like just attach to. Like, oh, like that's what's normal. Like yeah, that's how black black marriage is supposed to be dramatic and cheating and scandalous, and broken wine bottles yeah, but that's just one example of how movies influence of public opinion.

Ryan:

But anyways, I'm ari, I'm ryan, and this is, um, we're just chilling talking about public opinion in black media. Yeah, so, like, public opinion really comes from, like what the general public thinks about a particular topic. So you know, when we look at some of these movies, what's outputted, like that's kind of where people get their opinion from, because that's what they see. That's kind of all they know, especially if they're not in. You know, the black community, like you know, there was a movie you were talking about the other day. Um, what series was it? It was. What was it? Friday? It was friday and you were saying about the second one. What were you saying about the second one?

Ari:

um, so in the second one, um, it's, it's kind of they're like leveling up. You know from the first friday which they still in the hood, you know doing what they do and it's the level up they. They were moving to rental kookamonga, they seeking a better life, and, um, you know, they still get caught up in you know the black stuff, just like when, um, when they were in the record store and he was like the, the little white boy had the slip, he was like you don't know nothing about this, this black problems. What is a black problem?

Ryan:

well, I mean, like, what is a black problem? You tell me. I feel like I can only see my problems as problems, as black problems, because I'm black. But I do feel like, like how you're saying, like to make it out the hood. Do you think that sometimes, like the public opinion is that we're always trying to make out the hood but, like in some instances, we don't be in the hood Right, we're not from the hood? Like I grew up in a nice neighborhood.

Ari:

Exactly, I grew up in the suburbs.

Ryan:

I grew up in the city too have to like make it out or come around. White people are like oh, we have to move out and be in the suburbs or have to like get used to quote-unquote white life, because we've been living like a quote-unquote black life our entire lives. But I think that that comes from like really classes, because if we have to make it out of something like from the time we're born, then we're below other people, you know. So I think that also, it's a really good representation of how, like, the public opinion of us is really displayed by like what people get in. Like you know, we talk about how, like even like we're saying why did I get married If we don't, we don't, we aren't shown really good examples, we don't output really good examples. People are just always going to assume like what they see Tyler Perry put out or what you know Tyler Perry Studios has to say about know how we act and how you know we live our black lives.

Ari:

Quote unquote, but right and honestly speaking, of tyler perry. Tyler, he's a good example, or his movies are a good example of how, like um, women are always the the people that need to be saved. Oh, black women are always the people that need to be saved. They need to be going up that mountain to save that mountain. What are you crazy? I would have left that marriage at the mountain. I'm so sorry.

Ryan:

Like but I mean even still though, like, just the, just the trope of like, like you said, like they always had me say, but always having to be like laughed at, like we, like I just said, like I'm going up this, mountain to save my marriage. People been saying that since he dropped that movie and everyone knows exactly what you're talking about right like to the t, but it's a black.

Ari:

The influence of my culture itself.

Ryan:

But it's also like oh, the black lady gets cheated on because she's overweight. Or like public opinion is like, if a woman is overweight, then she, she should know that her man gonna step out. So that's like the public opinion of black culture, of like how we see it. Like okay, girl, if you don't got your stuff together, you don't got this together.

Ari:

Like you're gonna find somebody else, you know, but like that's what people see.

Ryan:

Like you said the bbl. Like we're not saying we're known, but that the public's opinion of us is you have to, you know, have a bbl or you have to be in a certain like size, measure yeah like you're. That's the only way to be loved you can only wear wigs, yeah like that's the only way you'll be pretty or accepted, you know.

Ryan:

So that creates like a really narrow line for us, as black women or black children, to walk in, even if we want to go against the grain. It's like that's what the greater mass majority say, so is on it. So like if we try to go out against that, you know, sometimes you can be mocked. Or like, oh, you do white stuff. Like how do you feel about when people say stuff like that?

Ari:

I feel like, you know, there's never like a white and a black thing. I feel like it's an exposure thing, because even I was talking to somebody the other day and I was like, oh, I went to get sushi for my birthday or whatever with my friend and they were like sushi, that's some like white stuff. White with my friend and they were like sushi oh, that's some like white stuff. I'm like white stuff, like that's just something you haven't been exposed to and don't just label it as white because you've never done that. That's just like you know, getting on a raft and going down the river, going on a hike, or you know, like that's not, those aren't white things and you know it's social media makes makes people think that those are white things, like just because we haven't been exposed to those things, or just because some black people haven't been exposed to those things, and that's not fair, but I feel like also, it's like a I don't even say it's a catch-22, but I do think if you like, if you're gonna open, you gotta open it fully.

Ryan:

I think that people will call it things, like you just said, due to lack of exposure. But, like social media, yeah, will show them that, will give them exposure but won't give them full understanding. So, like the greater public opinion of like oh, that's white people, then that greater opinion hasn't been exposed to, like what that content really is or like what we're even like, maybe poking fun at or discussing. So I do think that like, like, I agree with your saying that people aren't exposed to a lot of things. So it's easier for them just like pass judgment on it and if they see it online, like they can just see it for like maybe the 30 seconds it's on their feed or they may, you know, see it one or two times again, but they don't really get to experience it and like hand over that exposure to the next person. It's kind of like just to judge and keep on going to the next thing now, I do feel like the exposure does come on both ends, because we were talking about like movements that started like the black lives matter movement and even just like exposing people to just black life in general.

Ryan:

It wasn't as much positive give back as I think we originally thought. You know, like when the looting and things happened, people had a lot more racist opinions about black life. The public opinion really was showing how people truly felt instead of just, you know, like on the surface, like oh, you know we're all different and we don't see color. You know we have the january sixers come out, like everything has really turned very open. But I think the truth of that exposure is the fact that people are getting overly exposed to other people's private lives.

Ari:

And so now you know there is a more public opinion about a versus battle and a race battle and you know, this person versus that person well, I think, when people are exposed to well, I well, when it goes back to exposure, like I feel like when black people try to expose things, like it's more like we're trying to get it out for so people can understand where we're coming from. Like just like with the whole um, you know, with police officers, we're standing on the back of people necks, like black people were recording that to show what really happens to Black people. And the response that came out of that was like well, why are y'all, you know, recording this? Like this should not be out. Like, yeah, not even in a concern of like oh, is that person? Okay, there's somebody standing on his neck.

Ari:

It was just like, oh, my God, this should not be shown. Like this is not okay. But it's like when we do expose the things that need to be seen, the things that we need to talk about, it's always a bad response to them. You know, and I feel like that's how a lot of people that aren't Black, you know, supported the black lives matter movement by, you know, going to the walks and doing the protests and doing all the extra stuff. But it's like, how are you really, as a person, helping change that dynamic?

Ryan:

yeah, I feel like it's hard, like we like. We're saying exposure. I think that's probably one of the main things of public community and black media is what you're exposed to, because some people feel that you know, when they reposted the little black squares on instagram, like that was just like so revolutionary to me that was lame, like honestly, we could all post a black square if you did that and you're still up just a hell of judgment points, because like that wasn't that didn't save anybody's life like that didn't do anything for anybody but make instagram black and instagram is owned by a white man, so at the end of the day, it's like that was really performative.

Ryan:

But I do feel like the exposure of like oh, let's just do this. Like yeah, that's a layer to it. But if you're exposed to the drives, you're exposed to, like, really, the history behind standing up, then it's like yeah, you're really fully exposed and you understand, like what's going on. But if you're just exposed to same thing I say like the riots and you know the sit-ins and the marches, and you're just like, oh well, good for them, black folks it's like right you know, is it all really worth the exposure if you're not gonna do anything about it?

Ryan:

right exposure with education top tier and I also think understanding, though, like because you can get education if you don't understand what's being taught in a basic like math class, you're not. You're not learning anything right or doing any other information so with um any other movements, like, say, her name.

Ari:

How do you feel like that has helped black women? Um, you know, put black women spaces out there that are, you know, being murdered for no reason or killed for whatever reason, like you know?

Ryan:

I think that they're good, like I just I think they're good if people actually try. Like I think that everyone likes to be included for the sake of saying like, oh, like, I helped it, I'm an ally, but it's like, I posted this, but what did you do, though? Like everyone says, say her name, but could anybody tell me who it started by? Like could we really talk about like the history of it? Like you know, I think that goes for a lot of people, like people do a lot of talking, but the actual like doing things. Like of course, I could say, oh yeah, I love Say Her Name, but I haven't actively participated.

Ryan:

I don't know like the history of the movement, but I think I'm confident in my own self and I can be like, yeah, like I haven't done the most in that, but I do think that as black women there, sometimes we'll just jump on like the bandwagon for support and not really fully know, like what we're getting behind, or really not even just black women, people in general, but I'm always saying black women. As a black woman, like I do think sometimes to want support back will show support to others, but I think a lot of times we don't always see the full circle of like we don't get that same support back, like it's not always the same repost or the same, you know. Inclusion, like even to keep it on the woman's side, like breast cancer, like you'll see all these white ladies for breast cancer, all these. Oh well, she's a mom and right, and you know she's married for her.

Ryan:

Yeah, and it's like you got plenty black women who are single mothers or not even mothers, just women in general. That don't get that type of sympathy, but it's like we don't support all of that all of that.

Ryan:

But I do, like we keep saying, like the exposure to it's like if all you ever see is the ball, white ladies and the graphics, like we just started seeing black sanas, we just started seeing black ladies, you know, included in like even you know, google has the holidays and stuff on there. Like we just started seeing black people really get put into everyday life and not like in a oh, it's a February type of celebration, you know.

Ari:

Yeah, I feel like going into that music also affects the way we kind of you know view black life, because I think a lot of white people listen to our styles of music, our genres of music, like even just with, like Sexy Red.

Ryan:

I want to say just white people.

Ari:

Not even just white people.

Ryan:

The majority.

Ari:

Any non-black person Like Sexy Red getting booked at a white frat party.

Ryan:

And they love it. They're like oh, my God, my god, yeah, this is so great, so ghetto, so fun like what do you mean? But if a regular girl, like if a regular girl from the project or walk up on whatever frat house they it's not gonna be the same love. I'm sorry, but you're not welcome police call immediately, which I find it hilarious, or even like talk about the people down the street. No hate to them, but they love to have Boosie, they love to have Shaq, they love to have all these people.

Ryan:

But, truth be told, it's not that it's only for show, it's for the performance, like we keep saying, like it's not a real, like acceptance, it's the fact that it's like, oh yeah, that's hip, that's in, it's black, that's what everyone loves right now. It's hot, so like that's what we gonna get on. But I promise you, like if black people didn't love as much as we do, the white boys would not be moping boosie they would not know they would not know demons the way that they know demons.

Ryan:

They would not be trying to wreck ban rouge the way they wreck ban rouge. And I don't even wreck ban rouge that hard. I love ban rouge but I know some white boys that'll go go hard, throw they. White boys throw their foes up, but not one person could tell me like the history behind throwing your foes up for real for or tell me like where even any city like I'm from, houston, if you throw your foes up, you from anchor tones that's for four like any part somebody could really like resonate to their hood.

Ryan:

Yeah, if you tell a white boy where your force from uh, I played four on the baseball team like I'm just saying, like it's not the same type of hood, like they're not just over here saying different things, like I don't, I don't, I can't speak everybody, but I do think that's even a part of black culture. Like where we're from, like they do try to take a little bit of that, like in our music. Like depending on where you from, like you being from DC, like y'all have a whole different type of music game out there flow, flow music game. Y'all rap different, y'all stories is different, even with Louisiana too.

Ari:

So even with Youngboy's influence on not even just Ben Rouge, youngboy's influence on the world, when I first came to BR, youngboy was like I don't want to say he was first coming out because he's from here, like y'all knew him for a long time, but like that's when he first started to gain a lot of clout and whatever. And you can see how hard people try to go behind Youngboy and it's like you're not built like that. You learned how to do that from social media. You sat there and watched this boy do his whatever. You know have his mannerisms and you decided to copy that and try to emulate that off the strength of he's so cool. Why do you feel like he's so cool?

Ryan:

I mean because I will say like, like we're saying, like for baton rouge, it's like the hometown hero effect, like we were even saying earlier, like the making it out type thing. So it all kind of brings it back to it. If you're native to baton rouge like you, I think a lot of boys will resonate white or black could resonate with it. But there's that public opinion of making it out and, you know, really getting in the rap game and getting your family up the hood, like if you listen I know, being from Houston, I knew about young boy in high school like you if you listen to his music, you hear about everything he's been through. So, of course, I think when you come from the outside and you see, like, how they act towards him and you get out here, you see how it is.

Ari:

It's like, yeah, I could see how, the opinion, why everyone would want to act like that or try to emulate how he acts I feel like they emulate how he acts, because it's more of like a that's what's popping right now, like the hood, and you know, in quotes, it's like what's popping right now, like, just like I said, going back to what's going back to sexy red performing at the frat party. It's like why, why is sexy red at your frat party? Like y'all have never had anything like that happen ever, and had they had it, it would have went viral and we would have all known about it. But because you know, sexy red is being is what's being put out right now and she's with, you know, being pushed by people like drake, who white people love, um, they want to hop on a sexy red band because that's, like you said, what's popping, like that's what's what they're trying to strive to be, when that's they had never, ever lived or seen that right.

Ryan:

I mean, I feel like it does tie into the fact that you know, public opinion does rule everything, and so if the if one person tells you like oh well, this is considered black or this is what's considered hip, like if you want to stand in line, that's kind of what they're gonna do. And I do think that it's very funny to see how and I think for us like we're not from baton rouge, but we've stayed in baton rouge since about, I would say, 2019 to 2024 we've really seen how it's changed over the time that we've been here. It's gotten to be a very different type of city, a very different type of atmosphere, and I do think that, just like the media, social media, music, that original in those cities, that you could kind of see exactly what's popular, what's not popular, just the trends of yeah like.

Ryan:

It's a very trendy city.

Ryan:

It's from the like you have the bottom to the close down the close, like you got the bottom where everything's at. You got the top, you got the middle and it's a different genre of people and every which one it's a different category and every which one, like southern, is at the top. Lsu is at the bottom. If you're not in baton rouge and, like you, listen to the media, you would think that the bottom is where southern is at, exactly, but the bottom is where lsu is like that's right, that's back in the middle of the hood but lsu.

Ari:

If people who want to go to lsu, I think don't know till they get down here, like we're in the hood, like I think going back into, like the media, like the influence on the media, is like, um, you know the clothes, the emoji clothes, back from like 2014, 2015, whatever it was um, how, as soon as people posted that on social media, like it was the popular thing, like you know, way back when instagram was first starting, like, as soon as you posted something and you know enough, celebrities started posting it, everybody had to have it right and it was like, like I said, the emoji clothes, the bucket hats, the what the dying? Uh, tie-dying nike socks, like tie-dying shirts it's all that stuff got really uh popular right huff all those zoonies, like everything got popular.

Ryan:

But that kind of does like tie into. Basically all we've been saying is that whatever someone says like oh, this is it like someone's gonna follow the next thing. So I think, like, by looking at the outside of what people have deemed as the public opinion that we've always, like, I guess, followed, that kind of has put a different perspective and optic on the public opinion of black life. Because if you see, like you're saying through social media, if they wear phones and nike tech says, like this is what I gotta get to, like the end. Or like, oh, like, like this is what I have to do, like, oh, I have to become a rapper and then sell this tattoo so I can look cool, because that's what's in, and right people want to see that exactly.

Ryan:

So we really like we've allowed ourselves to kind of become consumers and really just like get absorbed with that optic of like okay, if this person does it, I gotta do it, if this was doing, I gotta do it like this. And if I'm not doing like this, then I'm not black enough, or I'm not, which causes no individuality for anybody within the black community.

Ari:

Because how could we ever get better if we're never learning new things or trying new things, or even open to doing new stuff?

Ryan:

right, and that kind of goes back to what we're talking about just exposure, like it all. It all starts kind of at the same source of like. We can't go too far out of the out of the uh norm. But if you do kind of go out of the norm, it's kind of hard to be accepted for it or to bring other people around with you. So it's kind of like a real hard catch 22. But I mean, people gonna be people, we're all gonna, you know, do what we're gonna do, whether it's black, white or blue. But I mean, that's the episode. I'm Ryan, I'm Ari, thank y'all.

Ari:

Bye.