From Doo Wop to Hip Hop: The Bittersweet Odyssey of African Americans in the South Bronx.

Discussion Questions:
1. Discuss how Naison uses the music of the Chantels and the rap lyrics of Grandmaster Flash to structure his own argument?
Naison uses music of the Chantels to show and describe how times were in the 1950’s, the expression of the music showed that times were good that there was no struggle but in the 1970’s everything changes and the rap lyrics of Grandmaster Flesh said it all, he expresses his frustration and explains how hard times are in the South Bronx (projects) there is no more prosperity then it was full of violence and gangs.
2. What is the effect of interviewing actual people as evidence to support his augment?
The effect of interviewing actual people as evidence to support his facts or thesis, it gives a personal point of view to the reader.
3. How did the tenants of the Patterson houses in the 1950’s view their new residence?
The tenants of the Patterson houses in the 1950’s viewed their new residence as a new place to live on; they saw it as a place where kids could have security and a better opportunity for them to accomplish a successful career. Communities were a lot more safety, everyone took care of one another.
4. How where children treated at this time? What was available to them? What role did adults played in their lives?
Children at this time were adult’s first priority, they were always being watched. At this time many things were available to them for example music classes, sport activities, trips, summer camps, parks etc. Adults played a main role in their lives, they were the ones who always prevent them from doing something wrong, and parents always remain together. Their job was to keep them safe and turn them into a very useful person to the community.
5. What was economy like for working-class families in the 1950’s?
Economy in the 1950’s for the working class was very supportive, there wasn’t much struggle since everyone would help out each other, jobs were always available, the men in the house would be the bread winner and would support his family, there was hardly any struggle.
6. What was the effect of heroin in the mid 1960’s?
The effect of heroin in the mid 1960’s was a big change in the south Bronx. Things dramatically changed. Around the 1950’s children were receiving a good education, they were in good hands everyone looked after each other. When the mid 1960’s came, heroin came with it, it became the mayor drug used in the South Bronx, there was so much violence going on and gangs were taking over the neighborhoods.
7. What loss did the loss of jobs have? Do you think this is a larger social issue?
The role that the loss of jobs had was that many parents were separating. The bread winner who was most likely the father would abandon the family the cause of this was the lost of jobs and the fact that they couldn’t support their families no more. I do think this is a large social issue since the kids didn’t really get attention nor had someone always checking on them; the cause of this was that many kids fell into addictions or ended up making part of a gang and the results were that they had problems with the law.
8. What was early Hip-Hop like? What social and political agenda did it serve?
Early Hip-Hop was an expression, many used it as a way to express what was going on at the projects, there were gangs and drugs, much of the music described violence. There was no social or political agenda that played a role on this; even if they tried they didn’t do much to help them, it was like if everyone disappeared people were dying everyday and they didn’t care about what was going on.
9. Why does Naison argue that the story of Hip-Hop’s rise “does not have a happy ending”? How did Hip-Hop, according to him change? Do you agree with his assessment?
He argues that the story of Hip-Hop’s rise “does not have a happy ending “because it doesn’t help the already fracture neighborhoods, it didn’t change the conditions in the ghettos. Hip-Hop used to be about rhythm and it used to be heard in gospels, later on Hip-Hop was listened to by teenagers in the south Bronx because Hip-Hop was the way to express the struggles that the community was going through. Yes, I agree with his assessment since only people who struggle in the place that they live on or that there is violence and drugs in their community could identify themselves to Hip-Hop.
10. What solutions does Naison offer to revitalize troubled neighborhoods? Can you suggest any others?
The suggestions that Naison offer are to bring back after school activities, summer camps, music classes. I think one of the mayor suggestions will be to provide families and teachers a much higher income so that the conditions in which people live could improve.