This past week I attended a seminar at John Jay college that was titled "A Hip Hop Theory of Justice". The discussion was lead by a former african american federal prosecutor and scholar. During his tenure as a prosecutor he witnessed, and took part in, a variety of practices which he found to disproportionately target minorities, and subsequently ensnare them in a viscious cycle of inequality. His response was to delve into the world of hip hop music and culture to find the answer from within.

He played for us a variety of snippets from rap songs, detailing their struggle, their values, and their solutions. He said he endorsed the "stop snitchin' movement and believes in jury nullification, which is the practice of jurors to consciously acquit guilty individuals who have come under drug chargers, especially if they are minorities. He stated that in a "Hip Hop Nation" consensual drug use among adults is a victimless crime that does not warrant punitive action. He was quick to point out that America has the highest rate of incarceration in the world, with more young african men in jail than in prison.

Overall, i found his discussion very provocative and thought provoking. Although i did not necesarily agree with all his points, he did manage to help me re-examine a few of my old beliefs. After the presentation an elderly women approached me asking very sharply-pointed questions. She said within the first five minutes she heard the F and N words used, and was entirely turned off to the entire message. I did my best to break it down for her, but she seemed so resistant to consider any point of view that was fused with such profane language. After i got frustrated and told her to take her questions to the man leading the discussion himself, she scoffed and said she didn't feel like wasting any more of her time.

I reacted just as strongly to her standpoint as i did the presentation itself. I know that the vulgar, yet marketable image that rappers often portray themselves as has disillusioned many. What is important is to separate the realness from the caricatures, looking past the superficial and finding the meaningful. Yet many still grapple to reconcile the virtue's and vices of rap culture.

Also in attendance was the Richard Pryor's nephew. He said that a lot of what his late uncle made jokes about, were things that he was crying about inside. I thought that was pretty interesting.