Language Background info Claude Mc Kay was born

Language

Background info • Claude Mc. Kay was born in 1889, in Jamaica. His poems were reactionary views of injustices in his society. • He describe the “separate” world of African Americans in the Harlem Ren. • His revolutionary views affected Langston Hughes

Mc. Kay • • • Take a look at your poem. What is the main message? How do we get there? Themes? Diction? Imagery?

Hip-Hop • Hip-hop and rap also sprung up as a reaction— first in the 1970’s to express contempt for violence, social decay, and economic downfall. • As it caught on, hip-hop became a staple of everyday life. • Language—what’s “hip” changes through the decades. For example: “hip” “smooth” “cool” “fly”

Continued • Through hip-hop, the addition of many words into our vocab • Some even into dictionary • Hip-hop as a modification of language, as opposed to other music genres, like EDM, Country, etc. Let’s look at the back of the sheet. Themes? Message? How do we get there?

Questions • Which, poem or rap, is more effective at sending the message? Why? • Do you think that slang, or words, invented through rap and hip-hop are legitimate words? Do they belong in the dictionary? What’s the requirement for a word to be considered a real word?

• Let’s sit down at take a look at the modification of words. How do rappers AND poets modify the “standard” English words? What are the effects of this? For example: “unkillable” or “bling”. • If language is a reflection of society, what’s it say about our society of all we talk about in songs are about 6 main themes: money, drinking, women, violence. . etc. ? • And how do you think other cultures pick up / learn words from us? • And what about values?