I'm browsing the interview now...and got this tidbit: "Flaws aside, the DEMF was something on a level that hadn't been seen before. Hip-Hop acts like Mos Def, De La Soul, and The Roots rubbed shoulders with a diversity of Techno and House DJs from Richie Hawtin and John Acquaviva to the "Holy Trinity" to Glenn Underground, Derrick Carter, and Mark Farina. It was a reconciliation of Dance music, which has traditionally been stigmatized in much of the Black community as "not Black enough" or "too Gay," with Hip-Hop, which has infinitely wider acceptance in Black communities across America. Could the festival be recognized as a step toward the recognition of Detroit Techno as a form of Black music in the eyes of Black America?"
Now I understand why "techno" is not viewed as a part of the black music pantheon, though I disagree with this. I'm blessed to be able to teach in a school that is fully integrated electronically...so during my black politics seminar I was playing a set by Reginald Dokes off of betalounge.com. Afterwards I had a brief discussion with my students about how techno was the creation of black kids in detroit and was intimately wed to the history of black american dance music. BUT the implicit argument above is that dance music ITSELF is criticized as not being "black enough" or being "too gay." Though I've heard anecdotes about how some hiphop artists felt this way...if anything this is very very parochial. I don't understand how one could think something like this...much less put it on paper. And May is wrong about how "history" will have the tell the tale because no one else will. But I can understand that...he doesn't know us. And with the exception of a brief encounter some years ago, he doesn't know ME. ;) --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
