black is beautiful was created as a form of positive expression to combat negative portrayals of black people.

Many Hip-Hop rappers have captured the minds of black children, especially black males, that are forever lost to the gang culture and violence these rappers embrace.

My goal is to do what the public school system and many black parents have not done: educate blacks about our rich history through book reviews, my personal commentary, articles, and more.

The public school system has utilized a watered-down version of American history. I remember my grade school history classes as depressing because there were hardly any positive role models to look up to.

Besides a few notable exceptions, the positive contribution of black Americans are non-existent in the public school curriculum. The focus is mainly on the slave trade, how mostly White Americans profitted from it, and how America was built upon the backs of black folk. This was an America where the N-word was used to describe blacks in a disparaging way. It became a way of life.

The use of the N-word brings me to another point. Too many Hip-Hoppers use the word in their language, in their music, and in their music videos. We have picked up where the white racists left off and we seem to be doing an excellent job at perpetuating the stereotypes of our own people that was pronounced on our ancestors hundreds of years ago.

I find it ironic that Blacks who use the word so fluently are insulted when other races use the word toward us. Blacks cannot expect people outside our race not to use the word when we assault one another with it on a constant basis. It does not matter how we intend to use the word with one another.

Everyone that hears us using the word so freely believe they can use it freely as well. We cannot be insulted or try to physically harm those who are only following our lead.

These are a few of subjects I would like to address through black is beautiful. Thanks for visiting.

Check me out on myspace at: Grayson’s Space

Enjoy the ride and stay tuned.