Hip Hop Matters - Book Report/Review Example

INTRODUCTION Hip hop movement is having its voice and influencing the world in a new way. Young people coming from this movement are well aware of the society’s problems and are reflecting on the ways to change the situation. In order to be in the position to make changes, young Kwame Kilpatrick runs the campaign to become the youngest mayor of Detroit. He is both educated as well as close to people, his personality and characteristics appeal to the public, and children love him too. Later, when asked about their mayor, Detroiters would refer to him simply as Kwame.

OVERVIEW Two election campaigns to become mayors for Detroit and Newarc are taking place about the same time. In both political races there is a younger and an older candidate. Kwame Kilpatrick appeals to the public in many ways. People believe him and chose him over his opponent Gil Hill. As soon as Kwame becomes a mayor, he is getting actively involved in the life of his city, affecting many vital changes. As opposed to the way Kwame Kilpatrick run his campaign, Newark’s younger candidate Corey Booker is dishonest in running for the mayor’s position and use it only as a way of getting publicly known in order to advance his carrier.

Therefore, people chose his older opponent, Sharpe James, to become their mayor. There were many mayoral campaigns run all over the United States with main candidates being representatives of civil-right and hip-hop generations. Does age equals wisdom? Would younger mayor be a better solution for the city than his older opponent? And can aspirations and drive take prominence over experience? Kilpatrick is studious, confident, single-minded, and full of drive man. He thinks big and seeks more than mere existence.

He is “baptized in the fiery waters of electoral politics” from the very tender age, and his decision to enter politics seems to be predestined. He understands the political situation and the state of Detroit, and strives to make a difference. But would he be able to bring needed changes? He is young, and lacks experience and insight into situations and people. And that’s what Kilpatrick’s opponent Gil Hill, another candidate to become a mayor, presents to the voters in attempt to win the elections.

Would Kilpatrick have enough wisdom in the task of tough decision making? Kilpatrick doesn’t take the challenge lightly, and before making final decision to run to become a mayor, he experiences doubts about his age and challenges that await him. For him to become a mayor is not only a matter of pursuing a carrier, he wants to find solutions for the problem of urban America. He does not take it lightly. In search for guidance in the moment of great uncertainty he opens the Bible and finds his reassurance in the passage about young David becoming a King.

The significance of the story is great, as David is about the same age as Kilpatrick; so Kwame takes it as a sign from God, and later carries his duties as God given responsibilities. From the doubts and uncertainty Kilpatrick once had comes his strength. He wanted to learn how to be a good mayor so he spent a lot of time consulting with businessmen, educators and politicians, also attended Mayor’s School at Harvard University. The knowledge he gained he used to establish priorities for his administration.

Would it be wise of him to keep things the old way? Or should there be other priorities in order to dramatically improve life in Detroit? Kwame is sincerely trying to improve life, so evaluating the state of the city; he decides to change the priorities the former mayor Archer pursued during his time as a mayor. Kwame’s first priority would be the Police Department, which by the time Kilpatrick became a mayor, was widely criticized for being corrupted, insufficient and ineffective. Investing in making police what it is suppose to be brings stability and a sense of security to Detroit’s citizens, lessens racial hostility.

His second priority is Detroit’s youth. He understood that investing in youth he was investing in the future. He cared to motivate young people and teach them, provide them with the recourses, activity, stimulation and adult instructions. Kwan also encouraged the whole community to participate in the Mayor’s Hour. Taking care of youth is to be priority and an investment that will pay out in lessening crime, substance abuse, academic underachievement, etc. Young people needed to have someone who cared – and Kilpatrick really does care, because he is able to relate to his community.

The “hip hop mayor” has a vision of inspiring youth to reach for the higher goals and things life could offer – a vision of hip hop movement that needed to be realized. Mayoral race between Corey Booker and Sharpe James: why the results are so tight? In a way, it was a similar campaign between older human rights candidate and his younger opponent, which came if not from hip hop movement itself, at least from the same generation. What is the difference between these two campaigns? If the age is not what makes politicians win or lose elections, what is?

Corey Booker, younger candidate to become Newark’s mayor, was manipulating, staging situations, challenging civil rights establishment etc. It seems he was simply making himself a carrier in politics rather than really carrying. Sharpe James is a stable candidate who was there for his people for years, and people can rely on his judgments. Yet, the need for changes and new ideas is obvious. That is the reason James won by a small percentage of votes. Can we “judge” the politician only on the ground of what movement he is coming from?

The examination of both of these campaigns gives a picture of different agendas in politics and different approaches used by hip hop generation. It is clear it is not the movement itself that makes for a good candidate; it is personal goals and aspirations, sincerity and loyalty that make for a good politician. Indeed, future is built by what we invest in today.