By Dominique Sade Brown

Music has had an effect on society, since the beginning of time. For many years music has helped different people in different ways. Music has a strong impact on the media as well. There are so many different types of music, effecting different cultures, religions, house holds, and personalities. A lot of cultures are affected in different ways, but the African American culture is effected more then any other culture. Music has a much more negative effect on the African American society. There are many music genres, let’s start with rap. Rap can have a very positive message, but other times it can have a really negative message. Fortunately the only negative thing about rap is the words that are used, and the message that is portrayed. Such as the really cruel names they call individuals, or the message they set for young women. For example, in order to be beautiful you have to be half naked. Rappers tend to tell their fans that it’s okay to call all young ladies, sexually explicit names. Realistically it’s not okay and it’s not true. It makes young women who have a low self esteem and women who may not have a mom or dad feel worse. Then their going to think its okay for a boy or man to disrespect her, given the fact that all “the cool” rappers call girls those names. It makes young ladies, have a lack of self respect, and a loss of self worth. Not only does it affect our young ladies, it also affects our young men. It affects a lot of the young men who don’t have a father figure who sets a positive example. Forcing them to look up to the very famous rappers who made it out the “hood’. Making our future citizens, have a lack of respect. I’m sure other cultures listen to rap, I’m sure rap doesn’t only affect the African American culture. It has a very big impact on a lot of other cultures. That’s why we have to come together and find ways to prevent our society and our future generation from the horrific content of our music. For youth radio. I am Dominique Sade brown. You can hear this commentary and more at WWW.YOUTHRADIO.ORG