Review of Jeff Johnson speech at Ithaca College - 2.28.2008.2

When I first noticed a piece of news about Jeff Johnson speaking at Ithaca College I honestly didn’t think much of it. I had never heard of the man. But after reflecting on the college, which was a mere hour or so away from me, I decided to really read the announcement. From that I learned that Mr. Johnson was more than just some entertainer but was a recognized influence on hip hop and youth activism.

I also found out that he had worked with Black Entertainment Television, on the program Rap City as Cousin Jeff, and then later in the Jeff Johnson Chronicles. In all honesty that lowered my still unclear opinion of the man, and drove me to go to the event in hopes of discussing the actions of BET with Hot Ghetto Mess (now called We Got To Do Better) and the less than positive representations of Blacks by the cable network (owned by Viacom) with him.

Prior to going to the event, I read through the biography of Jeff Johnson via the website of his management team. Again, in all honesty as an opponent of gangsta rap, I was not encouraged by the endorsement of Source Magazine or the BET collaboration. At the same time I was interested by the fact he had been the only American reporter to interview Africa’s first female head of state, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in Liberia. Add to that the fact that he was a former National Youth Director for the NAACP and appointed by Russell Simmons as the Vice-President of the Hip Hop Summit Action Network.

There was more to the man than what the association with rap and BET may make some 40 year olds conclude. And I’m happy to say that I miserably under-estimated the ability, sincerity, intelligence, and communication skills of this man. I was impressed not just because I had foolishly almost closed my mind to what he could be and was awoken to the fact that I nearly allowed my own prejudices to miss this event, but because of what he was imbuing the students at Ithaca with. He gave them more than hope or polispeak; he gave them a motivation to seek out their own purpose and the drive to make a difference.

I have already spoken about the students at this event. Let me tell you about Jeff Johnson’s speech.

First of all, Mr. Johnson is an excellent orator. He has a command of the stage that few I have heard have. And he isn’t shy. Not in the subjects he discusses, the message he wants to convey, the examples and images he draws upon, nor in the desire to get feedback from his audience as he talks to them. I want to be clear; he doesn’t talk at the audience but speaks to them.

The first clue to that came when Mr. Johnson bypassed the podium and stood before his audience and asked if we could all hear his voice. While the room was of decent size (easily holding over 200 people at a guess) there was no question that his voice filled the room. A good sign and more comforting than watching someone shielded by a podium.

Mr. Johnson started off with the Black community’s struggle with Black History Month. The fact that there are too few programs on people of color (the preference of Mr. Johnson when referring to Black Americans, being inclusive to all the heritages that make up what is the Black community but also used to include all non-whites) and noting that Black History Month currently exists on a superficial level, ignoring it’s inception as Negro History Week, why it was created and what it has evolved into.

As Mr. Johnson stated

“Blacks have been patriots longer than citizens.”

And that the Civil Rights Movement was ‘gangsta’ because never had so much changed without violence and revolution, and Civil Rights purpose was the change of Laws and Policy in this nation. Only a true gangster could effect so much change without rising up arms to do so. And they raised a generation of children that couldn’t fight.

Yet one of the problems in 2008 was that the children of the Civil Rights Movement have an identity crisis that is separate of civil rights or BET. It was because of 2 things, the ending messages of Civil Rights. I will try to paraphrase it

“First, I don’t want you to fight like I did – go to school, get an education (and lose your minds).

Second – [in a whisper] If you don’t tell people you are Black they might not know.

Both of these things can be found in the personifying an image of Blackness connected to hip hop rooted to Africa that doesn’t reflect Africa and has nothing to do with being Black.”

Read that again. It’s very powerful, and I fully admit I do not give justice to the way and full scope of what Mr. Johnson said on this. I’m giving you a paltry couple of seconds’ summary of at least 10 minutes of conversation that was far more intense. But the point is there I believe.

From this point the speech went on to discuss the split that occurred in hip hop and the emergence of rap. Like many recognize, prior to 1992 the rap industry was about social commentary. That not only included groups like Public Enemy but also much of the tracks from N.W.A. Right up until the album, The Chronic.

At that point a new model for rap was created, funded by White people while Black people (or people of color) danced to it, and had record companies saying ‘Pimp stuff sells thus we sell it’. And that was the first time, after the last track of the Chronic album was out, that people started to say ‘I don’t listen to what they say, I listen to the beat.’

Jumping forward a bit Mr. Johnson then went on to discuss how the grandchildren of Civil Rights Movement have less power than the parents of the Civil Rights Movements (meaning slaves) and how we buy into the lie that Dr. Marin Luther King would have had the same dream from 1965 to 2008.

Another point that I agreed with and struck the audience was the thought that there is $100 million dollars being spent on a statue of Dr. King that ½ of Black America can’t afford to go see. Or that less could be spent, or a matching funds campaign could be made, to fund schools across America.

At a later point Mr. Johnson stated

“Black History is a time where our obligation is to share with the world our history. And if we don’t know it, it’s just a party celebrating our ignorance.”

As I mentioned Mr. Johnson is hardly reserved in the points he makes. And that is a good thing as the comments are needed. The impact and repercussions of what he is discussing are real events and inaction that is in the Black community today.

By confronting the youth of today, especially those that are people of color, with these realities, and reminding them of the ability and power they have to change the world around them he helps to improve America for us all. We can play chess as if it were checker and wonder at our repeated losses, or we can plan and act and win. And often those that are just entering the adult world can have the biggest and longest lasting impact. Because they shape the future and present, and live with the consequences.

I will not claim to do justice for the speech of Jeff Johnson. There are many elements that I have not covered, and others I have paraphrased, perhaps poorly. But I will say that my understanding of his message, and the ability that he has to positively impact the youth of the nation is more than just a pleasant surprise.

I may not agree with every aspect of what he said, that is not important. But I will say that many would find benefit in hearing or reading a speech by him. Even better to be there as he give his words the power of his voice.

I look forward to speaking with Jeff Johnson in the future, if possible, and passing that conversation on to you. But until that time I suggest that you look into him via his website at jeffsnation.com