Critical Hip Hop Pedagogy

Before the Akom reading, I had never given much thought to how valuable hip hop could be within the classroom. Akom insists that hip hop can be used as a tool to illuminate current issues of poverty, police brutality, patriarchy, misogyny, incarceration, racial discrimination, as well as love, hope, and joy. Not only does this approach to teaching social justice challenge the typical classroom practices, but it engages students by producing more justice-oriented citizens. The goal of integrating critical hip hop pedagogy is for students to develop meaningful strategies to fight for social justice and take on roles of advocating within their community. Not only does this encourage students to use critical thinking, reflection, analysis, and action with a social justice lens, it engages students with music, something kids care about. It is argued that Hip Hop is a valuable tool we can use to introduce youth to social justice issues as "Hip Hop is the dominant language of youth culture, and those of us who work with young people need to speak their language." (Akom, 2009, p. 53). I found this to be a powerful quote addressing the need for teachers to connect with their students, finding ways to effectively teach them using tools from their world and integrating them inside the classroom. Not only will students be interested in the classroom but it is a way to engage them in critical praxis and justice orientated citizenship. This helps students develop the skills to identify and address social problems. Introducing these tough concepts through music encourages students to develop a critical consciousness with the messages inside of the music they listen to daily. In deconstructing the messages they hear they will form a deeper appreciation for the music, as well as the meaning behind it. Understanding the messages portrayed through hip hop will empower students to learn more about these issues and fight along side the artists to work against the unequal structures of power which creates youth activists. Akom states "transformative education for the poor and disempowered begins with the creation of pedagogic spaces where marginalized youth become aware of how their experiences have been shaped by larger social institutions" (p.54). Students will be able to analyze and better understand how social institutions contribute to marginalization and discrimination and how to fight against the injustice they are faced. This is providing students the tools necessary to create societal change. I believe integrating critical hip hop pedagogy is important because it "foregrounds race and racism and their intersectionality with other forms of oppression"(p.63), challenges traditional methods of teaching, focuses on knowledge of students of color breaking away from the typical Eurocentric curriculum and focuses on social justice.