Stand and Deliver: Political Activism, Leadership, and Hip Hop Culture

by Yvonne Bynoe

Hip Hop activism, a joining of a musical genre with political action, is a highly ambiguous term that encompasses a range of initiatives, from those that are genuinely attempting to affect public policy to largely self-promotional efforts that are more about getting media exposure for celebrities than addressing the cause they are allegedly representing.
For too long, Bynoe maintains, Black leaders have only been "Charismatic Leaders," and have...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1932360107
• ISBN13: 9781932360103
• Release Date: March 2004
• Publisher: Soft Skull
• Length: 150 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Hip Hop vs. Old School?

It is probably obvious to any thinking Black American that the movement toward an equitable society is lacking in leadership today. The old school civil rights leaders are not connecting with the Hip Hop generation and the Hip Hop generation does not relate to where the civil rights leaders from the sixties and seventies are coming from. Yvonne Bynoe explores the reasons for this disconnect in the Black community. Her book, STAND AND DELIVER, is rich with the history of the civil rights era and also delves deeply into the psyche of the Hip Hop generation. She is equitable in placing responsibility for shortcomings from both generations where they belong and gives credit where it should be given. Bynoe thoughtfully explores the history and the reasoning behind each generation and gives reasonable explanations about why people do the things they do. What makes her book an outstanding read is that she doesn't just ask the questions; she also provides reasonable solutions and outlines exactly how activism can once more be a part of the Black community. She gives concrete suggestions for the questions the Hip Hop generation must ask, such as how do we make America an equitable society. She even gives information on how to disagree without destroying a movement. In addition, she reminds those from other generations that they must come to the Hip Hop generation as equals, not with a snobbish attitude that suggests that they know without a shadow of a doubt, how to solve the problem of inequality in America. Bynoe also reminds us that in the new century, we can no longer exclude people from the movement because of race, class, or economic condition but we must find a common ground to insure that all Americans have an equal chance to be the best that they can. I frequently found myself nodding in agreement as I read her words. She is a voice to be reckoned with. Reviewed by alice Holman of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Reader from PA

This is an excellent and timely book! Ms. Bynoe provides new and important insights about how we should critique and engage political leaders and activists. She is truly an independent thinker who is more interested in people improving their communities than in them propping up ineffectual Black leaders, young or old----based on out-dated rules about party or race unity. Her thoughts about Hip Hop activism are on the money. It is time that the Hip Hop generation move beyond the rhetoric of political activism to actually implementing the tried and true, long-term organizing and mobilizing strategies that actually helped us to make progress years ago. Registration drives without plans to get folks to the polls are not effective! People who talk about problems but who have no solid plans to solve them are irrelevant! Read "Stand and Deliver," Yvonne Bynoe is definitely a new and important voice that we should pay heed to.