How the New Generation Changed Black and White America

Chappell, Kevin, Ebony

If you haven't got it, you can't show it. If you hove got it, you can't hide it.

It is the creativity that has oozed out of Black folks since the beginning of time. It's what authors have written about, philosophers have explained, corporations have capitalized on, Whites have imitated and Ebony has reported on for half a century.

Decade after decade, generation after generation, for 50 straight years, Blacks, particularly youngsters, and especially those from urban areas, have marched in the vanguard of American culture. Despite being plagued by a vicious cycle of poverty, violence, drugs and poor education, Blacks have dominated every trend and style imaginable, causing a cultural stir from South Boston to North Hollywood by simply being themselves.

Ignored, stolen and written off as ignorant, the rich style of Black youths, time and time again, has prevailed, sucking in the entire country with its mood, texture, tempo and rhythm. Whether it was doing the Jitterbug together in 1945 or the Butterfly alone in 1995, wearing long knickers or short Daisy Dukes, listening to be-bop or hip-hop, slam-dunking or high-living, when Black youths did …

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Publication information: Article title: How the New Generation Changed Black and White America. Contributors: Chappell, Kevin - Author. Magazine title: Ebony. Volume: 51. Issue: 1 Publication date: November 1995. Page number: 190+. © 1999 Johnson Publishing Co. COPYRIGHT 1995 Gale Group.

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