What might explain this curious finding? Black Americans are richer and more prominent in government, education, and entertainment than ever before. Black pride, it seems, must be at an all-time high. Right?

Wrong.

Because of the Beyonce Dilemma, generations of black kids are growing up idolizing Black Americans that don’t embrace own their racial group membership. Is there any wonder how a young black girl who grows up worshiping Beyonce’s blonde hair and Tyra’s light-skinned complexion would end-up confused?

If Your Status Ain’t Hood

There once was a time when to be black-and-famous meant that you were black-and-proud. Muhammad Ali. Jackie Robinson. Jim Brown. The black community simply would not support an athlete or an entertainer if that individual did not support them. Get Your Mind Right: today, in 2007, James Brown is dead in more ways than one.

Perhaps this is why hip hop culture and music catch a disproportionate amount of criticism from outsiders for its negative aspects like violence, sex, and hatred. What was once a black thing has undeniably globalized into a worldwide phenomenon that now encompasses whites, Hispanics, Asians, Israelis and countless other racial and ethnic groups. Each of these groups, by the way, has racial identity issues of their own, just ask Carlos Mencia. Yet, they all resonate with Hip Hop’s refusal to apologize for itself. That proverbial middle finger just won’t go away.

Me, Myself, & I

Misguided, racially confused chaps like Jason Whitlock would have us all believe that we should just hold hands and try to forget about our differences. To them, those differences are to blame for everything from dog-fighting to black-on-black on homicide.

Not I.

I celebrate those differences. I’m proud to be a black man; and I don’t apologize for that proudness (yes I said proudness) anymore than a white guy who’s proud to be white or an Asian who’s proud to be Asian.

And guess what… Neither does Hip Hop.

_{References
Johnson, R.L. (2002). The relationships among racial identity, self-esteem, sociodemographics, and health-promoting lifestyles. Research and Theory for Nursing Practice 16(3),193-207}

James, W.H., Kim, G.K., Armijo, E.(2000). The influence of ethnic identity on drug use among ethnic minority adolescents. Journal of Drug Education, 30(3), 265-280.