Bettina Love presents Hip-Hop Civics
CHENEY – Author, abolitionist, and researcher Bettina Love, Ph.D., presented at the Eastern Washington University campus on Feb. 8.
“If you want to understand us [black culture], you have to see us.” Love said. The presentation centered around a historical analysis of cultural touchstones of African peoples of the late 15th century and how they have been transmitted across the world in successive generations.
Love gave a thesis on “hip-hop” civics which included depictions and analyses of black culture all over the world. Love’s presentation included musical, philosophical, and poetical examples, which she integrated into the overall thesis.
This thesis included examples of how black-Americans consistently demonstrate, academic, social, and emotional qualities which, to Love, are of paramount importance in the development and health of society.
“The skills and tools we bring from our culture are not only beneficial to us, but to everyone around us.” Love said.
Love listed some of these skills, which included social responsibility, grit and optimism, self-advocacy, and the capacity to research.
Love is the William F. Russell Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University, where her faculty expertise is listed as gender and LBGT, race and ethnicity, teacher education, urban schools.
Love is also an author who has been awarded the Nasir Jones Fellowship at the W. E. B. Du Bois Research Institute at the Hutchins.
Lucas is a former Cheney Free Press managing editor. He is a nationally published author who contributes regularly to several publications across the country.
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