Why white boys dress like black boys: a study of the British Wigger Progress map

BOOK: WHY WHITE KIDS LOVE HIP-HOP: Wangstas, Wiggers, Wannabes, and the New Reality of Race in America

Kitwana, Bakari. (2005) Why White Kids Love Hip Hop: Wangstas, Wiggers, Wannabes, and the New Reality of Race in America, First Edition. Jackson: Basic Civitas Books.

'The black subculture that emerged in the South Bronx in the early to mid-1970s began as what hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa called the five elements - Graffiti Art, break dancing, rapping, deejaying and "doing the knowledge." What is popularly known as hip-hop expanded beyond that definition by the early 1990's, mostly due to the commercialisation of rap music.' (page.xii / preface)

'So today, when we speak of hip-hop culture, we are also referencing a hip-hop specific language, body language, fashion, style, sensibility and worldview.' (page.xii / preface)

'Hip-hop music, no matter how widely accepted in the mainstream, isn't entertainment alone; it's also a voice of the voiceless.' (page.xiii / preface)

'The music and culture of hip-hop, once deemed a black thing, has been a ready refuge.' (page.xiv / preface)

'The true story of America in the post 1970's era is the tale of how we as a nation have abandoned our young. We're not placing great enough emphasis on educating or listening to the voices of American youth.' (page.9)

'The turning point came when Cowell, in his response to Eminem as a genius. O'Reilly asked him why. Cowell answered "He's somebody who understood that white boys what to be black and exploited that fact"… I disagreed with Cowell. White boys don't necessarily want to be black this conclusion is an oversimplification.' (page.14)

'The more progressive and radical messages of Public Enemy, Poor Righteous Teachers, X-Clan and KRS-One attracted young whites… so did the idea of black kids having voice and agency.' (page.27)

'Given the growing visibility of successful people of colour, white Americans sense more now than ever that they have to compete with America's other racial and ethnic groups… The decline of white privilege has intensified… Significant numbers of white youth channel this intensifying sense of alienation into a fascination with hip-hop.' (page.35/36)