Socio-economics Dynamics of the home of Hip-Hop: The Hood
Lesson 6: The “Ghetto”
Objectives:
- To discuss the socio-economic conditions from which Hip-Hop was birthed, getting learners to identify social break-downs within communities and society, and exploring how it relates to them on a personal level.
Materials:
- Projector
- Lap-top
- Internet access
- Handouts of lyrics for songs: Akon - “Ghetto”, Jelleestone - “The Hood Is Here"
Procedure
Definition of “Ghetto”
Ask the whole group: What’s the definition of the word “Ghetto?”
Definition
Ghetto:
- a quarter of a city in which Jews were formerly required to live
- a quarter of a city in which members of a minority group live especially because of social, legal, or economic pressure
- an isolated group (a geriatric ghetto)
- a situation that resembles a ghetto especially in conferring inferior status or limiting opportunity (the pink-collar ghetto)
Videos & Discussions
Video 1: "Warsaw Ghetto Uprising" (documentary)Play video (10:01 min).
Video 2: Akon – "Ghetto" (music video)Handout: Akon - "Ghetto" (lyrics)
Play video (2:41 min).
Discussion Questions:
- What is a ghetto to you?
- Does Canada have ghettos?
Play video (4:39 min).
Video 4: Jelleestone – "Hood Is Here (Remix)" (music video)Handout: Jelleestone – "Hood Is Here (Remix)" (lyrics)
Play video (4:56 min).
Discussion Questions:
- What circumstances create ghettos?
- Do you live or know some one who lives in the ghetto?
- Does the media/rappers glamorize ghetto life?
Video 5: Ras Kass featuring Dr.Dre & Mack 10 - "Ghettofabolous" (music video)
Play video (4:58 min).
Video 6: 50 Cent - "In My Hood" (music video)Play video (EXPLICIT 3:53 min).
Video 7: "Boyz N The Hood" Clip 7 (movie clip)Play clip from the movie (9:23 min).
Video 8: "Boyz N The Hood" Clip 8 (movie clip) (music video)Play clip from the movie (9:19 min).
Discussion Questions:
- What do you think getrification is?
- What do you think we can do to improve the issues that people face in the hood/Ghetto?
- Do you think gentrification is a solution?
- What do you think would happen if all of the hoods in Toronto were gentrified?
- Who benafits form this? (Real Estate Developers, Share Holders, Government)
- Does the community really benefit?
Question & Answer (Informal Evaluation)
Time for participants to ask questions, give comments and feedback about anything they found interesting from the workshop.
