News

By George Moses
DemocratandChronicle.com

News flash! The proverbial "village" has been infected - at the very core of what helped the village overcome adversity. Low expectations have infected our music. I agree that the individual should have the right of free speech - but with a high expectation that the music will contain a message that will entertain and elicit a positive response.

I experienced tremendous hope at "Music in the Movement," a 10-day training program this month in Knoxville, Tenn., held by the Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools for some 2,000 young people, including 20 from Rochester, working in Freedom Schools - 130 nationwide including ours in Rochester. These young folks were challenged to use the power of words to "say" something. And with that high expectation, many things were said.

Two moments in particular stand out for me, one being the words of inspiration and story of struggle spoken by Darryl "DMC" McDaniel, a godfather of rap music. He challenged young folks to do what he wasn't able to fully accomplish - take the music up to a higher level. He explained that he was an A student and loved to rhyme, and that those experiences transcended his music with such famous lines as this one, which many of us recited: "I'm DMC in the place to be; I went to St. John's University; and since kindergarten, I acquired the knowledge; after 12th grade, I went straight to college." That was what he said he wanted to be remembered by.

The other momentous event was when Luther R. Campbell, known as Luke Skyywalker, one of the originators of 2 Live Crew, happened by one of our main gatherings, obviously attracted by the music. A group of young folks hearing of his arrival within a matter of minutes flipped one of his songs into a positive chant.

So, when an artist creates a piece to contribute to society, will it be a work glamorizing the effects of poverty, violence and irresponsible sexual behavior - or a positive message to pass on to future generations?  Moses is project director, North East Area Development's CDF Freedom School in Rochester.