Black Music Month 2009 - Part IV: Saluting Our Past .... Shaping Our Future

CREATING A NEW GENERATION OF BLACK TECHNOCRATS

From medical labs and factory floors to recording studios and cyberspace, success in America has never been more dependent on the ability to master technology. So in this the final chapter in our current series for Black Music Month, we're going to combine some history with some technology and examine some valid reasons for both.

First, we want to look positively on the progress that's been made in spite of the obstacles that had to be overcome. We want to acknowledge the existence of those poverty pimps who used fighting poverty as a means of pursuing personal gain. Many of the early anti-poverty programs were rife with opportunism and corruption. Given the economic and social structure of how poverty reproduces itself, these programs became an unfolding cataclysm for minorities.

Fortunately in 2009, many of these programs have been exposed and eliminated. What we hope will replace them is an opportunity for more young people who love music to become involved from a different perspective. We would like to see some of these young artists, producers and musicians who live in the community, have access to technology so that they will eventually find a way to come back and shine the spotlight on local talent because of that technology.

Captivating Young Minds

The greater challenge is to increase the number of students who qualify to take advantage of technical opportunities. The push has to be to increase the size of the pool. That means captivating young minds by exciting their interest in science and technology. Even during these tough economic times, some colleges are addressing the pipeline problem by sponsoring summer and weekend outreach programs.

Everyone has to understand that this is a long-term endeavor; those of us still left with jobs in radio have an obligation to influence those minds who are listening for their favorite songs on our stations. We have to reach out to them even sooner. One of the good things about Arbitron's PPM is that it now captures the listening of those children 6-12 -- the pre-teens. Since they're important to radio in the era of electronic measurement, why not reach out to them?

There seems to be something magical about the elementary school years. There you find a lot of impressionable students who say, "I would love to be a scientist." But by the time they get to high school, it seems to be the farthest thing from their mind. It is often somewhere in the high school years that the "thug mentality" sets in. Whatever that thug mentality is, it's a culture that is embraced during these impressionable, formidable years. As black men and women we can't allow ourselves or our children to be defined by anyone -- by the media or ourselves. And we must reject the notion that one beginning means only one possible ending.

As black men and women we can't allow ourselves or our children to be defined by anyone.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, homicide is still the leading cause of death among black males ages 15-34. It's often because of their environment that these young brothers have to make the awful choice of sticking with their education or sticking with their boys.

Helping them to make the right decisions is a big job and one the educators cannot do alone. Successful African-American technocrats almost invariably credit supportive families and a strong emphasis on the value of education. If we in radio can find a way to help our teachers steer these young minds in a technical direction, a lot can change.

Then future Black Music Months will be filled with stories beyond the artists and their music. They will include stories about discovery and growth -- made possible by black musical technocrats.

Now, let's look at a little business history. In normal, non-recessionary times, African-Americans make up 10% of the labor force, but less than 3% of scientists and engineers. Why? There are several reasons and they all circle back to the same basic problem. The basic idea and preparation for most careers is best planted early, yet many African-American children are not encouraged in these areas soon enough. Prior to high school, many of these kids are not exposed to the sciences at all. That lack of exposure can be difficult, even impossible to make up for later.

Those who want to rap or become rich athletes simply don't have a realistic view of what happens if they don't make it. Some point to the cost of college and the guys from their neighborhoods that went on to have a career in music or sports. Others simply say the cost of college is too high even if they had the grades and the inclination. As for the expense associated with pursuing the levels of education many science-oriented careers require, right now there is still some funding for such pursuits for those who really want it.

children to be defined by anyone -- by the media or ourselves. And we must reject the notion that one beginning means only one possible ending.

We in radio have an obligation to find a way to encourage those who listen to our radio stations to look to the phenomenal growth of high-tech industries.

During Black Music Month and beyond, we in radio have an obligation to find a way to encourage those who listen to our radio stations to look beyond what they can see and hear to the phenomenal growth of high-tech industries and encourage them to get plugged in. Somebody who has a musical background needs to be involved technically. The possibilities are endless.

The State Of Black Music & Technology

As we reflect the state of black music and radio of the '80s, '90s and today, we find the conditions of African-Americans overall constantly reflected in our music. The music and America both evolved together. The '80s and '90s were decades of rebellion and change, growth and development. Black music and radio mirrored that decade. Obviously, the two are intertwined. The music came first, but once the music found its way onto the radio, the whole picture changed. For black radio, there was always a wide gap between rhetoric and reality.

Some who left the projects and the ghetto were heading back. A few had "found" themselves ... and a lot who claimed they had were still looking. Ghetto issues found their way into the songs and the rhymes that wound up on the radio and downloaded onto iPods.

Fast forward to 2009. Even with unemployment, syndication, voice\tracking, Arbitron's PPM, HD radio, iPods and satellite radio forever changing the landscape and wreaking havoc with our lives, there is hope. Now there is a new buzz that's attracting attention and spreading rumors, which will soon become a part of our history. It's called hi-tech, or simply technology. Despite setbacks, industry demand for technologists is stronger than ever. Demand from companies for students to sponsor still exists. As the economy improves ... and it will ... the mastery of technology will become even more critical to black advancement.

Finally, as we look forward to a future filled with hope and glance back to a past that gave us pride. we find another reason for a new generation of African-American technocrats to keep the struggle alive. What's the worst that can happen? A few will fail, but others will succeed. The only ones who never fail are the ones who never try.

Word.