SS th Century African American Leadership Unit 8 African American pop culture icons Kaplan University

Leaders through pop culture Leaders can emerge from the fields of literature, TV, film, and music Leaders can emerge from the fields of literature, TV, film, and music They use the influence of the mass media to convey their ideas to large audiences They use the influence of the mass media to convey their ideas to large audiences

Questions to consider 1. We’re going to take a look at each leader’s message 2. Was is a positive message for African Americans? A negative message? 3. Did the message help the culture, or hinder it?

Alice Walker Walker says in your book, “a people [should] not throw away their geniuses…[I]t is our duty as artists and as witnesses for the future to collect them.” Walker says in your book, “a people [should] not throw away their geniuses…[I]t is our duty as artists and as witnesses for the future to collect them.” What do you think of that statement? What do you think of that statement? What happens when those things fall away? What happens when those things fall away?

Other female African American writers Ntozake Shange: Ntozake Shange: “I write for young girls of color, for girls who don't even exist yet, so that there is something there for them when they arrive. I can only change how they live, not how they think. I want to say, "Here, look where you can live, look what you can think." I concentrate on giving this to young people because they are the treasurers of black culture.” ( “I write for young girls of color, for girls who don't even exist yet, so that there is something there for them when they arrive. I can only change how they live, not how they think. I want to say, "Here, look where you can live, look what you can think." I concentrate on giving this to young people because they are the treasurers of black culture.” (

Do Walker’s critics have a valid argument? Do Walker’s critics have a valid argument? When a race is trying hard to be accepted, should everyone work hard to showcase only the positive aspects? When a race is trying hard to be accepted, should everyone work hard to showcase only the positive aspects?

Bill Cosby Who watched “The Cosby Show” in the 1980s? Who watched “The Cosby Show” in the 1980s? Describe it Describe it How did it portray black families? How did it portray black families?

Do you think “The Cosby Show” reflected reality of African Americans of that time? Do you think “The Cosby Show” reflected reality of African Americans of that time? Do you think “The Cosby Show” helped the African American culture, or hindered it? Why or why not? Do you think “The Cosby Show” helped the African American culture, or hindered it? Why or why not?

Eddie Murphy Do you think his portrayal of characters is demeaning? Do you think his portrayal of characters is demeaning? Murphy’s films are not really doing anything to illuminate the lives of African Americans and the challenges and obstacles they face. If one were to watch an Eddie Murphy film, one would think, “What’s wrong with the African American experience? It looks just fine to me!” Murphy’s films are not really doing anything to illuminate the lives of African Americans and the challenges and obstacles they face. If one were to watch an Eddie Murphy film, one would think, “What’s wrong with the African American experience? It looks just fine to me!”

Do Murphy’s movies ‘lull’ the larger public into thinking everything is OK, that race relations can be repaired in two hours? Do Murphy’s movies ‘lull’ the larger public into thinking everything is OK, that race relations can be repaired in two hours? Help the culture, or hinder it? Help the culture, or hinder it?

Spike Lee “Growing up in this country, the rich culture I saw in my neighborhood, in my family - I didn't see that on television or on the movie screen. It was always my ambition that if I was successful I would try to portray a truthful portrait of African Americans in this country, negative and positive. I've never really tried to get in that hole where everything has to be 100%, - because I think that it's not necessarily true - and it's definitely not dramatic having the subject, the characters in your film be 100% angelic, and god-like.” “Growing up in this country, the rich culture I saw in my neighborhood, in my family - I didn't see that on television or on the movie screen. It was always my ambition that if I was successful I would try to portray a truthful portrait of African Americans in this country, negative and positive. I've never really tried to get in that hole where everything has to be 100%, - because I think that it's not necessarily true - and it's definitely not dramatic having the subject, the characters in your film be 100% angelic, and god-like.” (

Hip-hop and rap Who did rappers of the 1980s rap about? Who did rappers of the 1980s rap about? Help the culture, or hinder it? Help the culture, or hinder it?

What about “gansta” rap? Help the culture, or hinder it? What about “gansta” rap? Help the culture, or hinder it?