Famous quote by Jay-Z

"Racism is taught in the home. We agree on that? Well, it's very hard to teach racism to a teenager who's listening to rap music and who idolizes, say, Snoop Dogg. It's hard to say, 'That guy is less than you.' The kid is like, 'I like that guy, he's cool. How is he less than me?"

About this Quote

In this quote, Jay-Z is dealing with the deeply instilled social problem of bigotry and the function of cultural impacts in forming attitudes, particularly amongst youth. The quote starts with the assertion that "bigotry is taught in the home", stressing that discriminative beliefs are often given from generation to generation through family environments. Jay-Z concerns the effectiveness of these mentors by highlighting the cultural phenomenon of teenagers listening to rap music and idolizing figures like Snoop Dogg, a prominent African American artist.

The mention of rap music here is significant for a few reasons. First of all, it highlights the effective influence of pop culture on youths's understandings. Music, particularly a category like rap, frequently crosses racial and cultural limits, creating a commonalities for diverse audiences. When a teen appreciates an artist from a various racial background, it becomes difficult to fix up that appreciation with racist teachings that suggest people of certain races are inferior or "less than" others.

Jay-Z's rhetorical method involves mentioning this contradiction: if a teenager finds someone like Snoop Dogg cool and worth admiring, it undermines any effort to persuade them that individuals of a various race are inferior. This suggests that direct exposure to diverse cultural expressions can dilute discriminative views, cultivating a more inclusive mindset.

In essence, Jay-Z is advocating for the capacity of cultural exchange and the arts to combat racism. When young people are exposed to and embrace components of other cultures, it can erode the foundations of bigotry that are typically laid within the boundaries of the home. The quote indicates that social change is possible when varied voices and stories are heard and valued, informing and improving perceptions amongst the more youthful generations.

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About the Author

USA Flag This quote is written / told by Jay-Z somewhere between December 4, 1969 and today. He/she was a famous Musician from USA. The author also have 29 other quotes.
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