Common to be at Clarion University

Clarion University Hip-Hop Symposium focuses on global impact

Clarion University Hip-Hop Symposium focuses on global impact

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Common	Bakari Kitwana

Hip-hop artist Common, a 2008 Grammy Award winner and five time NAACP Image Award winner, and Bakari Kitwana, co-founder of the first ever National Hip-Hop Political Convention, are the keynote speakers for Third Annual Clarion University Hip-Hop Symposium on Thursday, Oct. 23. The program features speakers from around the world and an International Film Festival based around the theme "Hip-Hop Symposium 2008: Global Impact!"

Common and Kitwana will cap the day's events with their presentation at 7 p.m. in Marwick-Boyd Auditorium.

Kitwana, in addition to being the co-founder of the first ever National Hip-Hop Political Convention is the author of "The Hip-Hop Generation: Young Blacks and the Crisis in African American Culture." He is currently an artist-in-residence at the University of Chicago.

Last summer he was called as an expert witness by the ACLU in the case of a junior high school student in Pennsylvania who was expelled for his rap lyrics. His expert testimony was referenced in the judge's ruling, which allowed the student to return to school.

The former editor of national top-selling music magazine ‘The Source," Kitwana's writings have appeared in the Village Voice, The New York Times, The Nation, Savoy and the Progressive. He has taught in the English departments at Texas Southern University and University of Houston Downtown. He's also been an adjunct professor in the political science department at Kent State University, where he taught a course "The Politics of the Hip-Hop Generation."

Kitwana has been the editorial director of Third World Press, a consultant for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and for the last decade since the publication of his first book, "The Rap on Gangsta Rap," has lectured on hip-hop and youth culture at colleges and universities across the country, including Harvard University, Columbia University, New York University, and Stanford University.

His book, "Hip-Hop Generation," has been adopted as a course book in over 100 college classrooms in a variety of disciplines from sociology, history and Black studies to anthropology, music, and political science. He holds masters degrees in English and education from the University of Rochester. "Why White Kids Love Hip-Hop: Wankstas, Wiggers, Wannabes and the New Reality of Race in America," is his most recent book.

Hip-Hop artist Common is recognized for his emphasis on family values and departure from the "gansta rap" material and negative posturing sometimes found in popular hip hop or rap lyrics and videos. Born Lonnie Rashid Lynn in 1973, he was raised in Chicago, Ill., becoming the first widely hailed MC to emerge from that area. Under the name Common Sense he signed with Relativity Records in 1991.

He released "Can I Borrow A Dollar" in 1992 and "Resurrection" in 1994, the same year he was forced to abbreviate his name to Common due to a lawsuit by an Orange County-based reggae group called Common Sense.

"Resurrection" commented on the stagnant state of hip-hop and rap with the single, "i used to love h.e.r." It created discussion within the hip-hop/rap realm, drew attention to his talent, and prompted a lawsuit by rapper Ice Cube, who felt he was maligned in the song. The lawsuit did not end favorably for Common, and litigation slowed the production of "Resurrection."

Three years later he released "One Day It'll All Make Sense," which included a roster of rap and hip-hop's most talented artists. One of the singles, "Retrospect For Life," recorded by Common and Lauryn Hill of the Fugees, dealt with the topic of abortion.

Common was in the forefront of an unprecedented wave of family values in the hip-hop community in 1998, the same year he was the headline act for the Elements of Hip-Hop tour. His contributions featured his own father, Lonnie, on a single titled "Pop's Rap," an apology from his father for not always being there; and a video of his single "Rap City " on the BET network told the story of a young black man who decided to do the right thing by his pregnant girlfriend.

Other noted rappers such as Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J, and Coolio turned to the joys of fatherhood and marriage in their material, and Common was among those ushering in a new lyrical and spiritual trend toward family values and adulthood.

Kitwana and Common are also part of the 2008-09 Clarion University Martin Luther King Jr. Speaker Series.

The hip-hop activities will begin on Oct. 16 with a Hip-Hop Arts Exhibit in Marwick-Boyd Fine Arts Building.

The day-long events begin at 8:30 a.m. with a radio broadcast in the Gemmell Rotunda. book/CD signings and sales will also be held in the rotunda beginning at 11 a.m.

Two tracks will be run, a general schedule and one for educators. Teachers registering for the educator's workshop will receive three Act 48 hours. High school students will also be taken on a campus tours and will participate in discussion groups led by Clarion University students.

The general track includes:

9:30 a.m. - Youth Movement Around the World and Presentation of Hip-Hop Poster Awards by Martha Diaz, founder and president of the Hip-Hop Association (H2A), New York City, and producer of the Hip-Hop Odyssey International Film Festival. Introductions by Paul Bylaska, vice-president for finance and administration, Clarion University.

11 a.m. - International Hip-Hop Film Festival and Performances, Gemmell Multi-Purpose Room. Welcome by Brian Perkins, Clarion University Student Senate.

2 p.m. - Hip-Hop Global Impact Panel - Toni Blackman, Bakari Kitwana, Rufus Morris, Giuseppe Pepitone, and Carlos "Los-1" Ramirez II, with Janet White as moderator, Gemmell Multi-Purpose Room. Introductions by Dr. Rachelle Prioleau, dean, College of Arts and Sciences, Clarion University. Brian Perkins, President of the Clarion University Student Senate will provide the welcome.

Blackman is a U.S. Department of State American Cultural Specialist and Hip-Hop Ambassador to Senegal, Ghana, Botswana, Swaziland and Southeast Asia.

Morris is CEO and President, School of the heARTS, Syracuse, N.Y.

Pipitone is the author of, "Bigger Than Hip-Hop" and "Hip-Hop from the Italian Diaspora." He is on the advisory board of the Black Soil International Hip-Hop Film Festival based in Rotterdam/Amsterdam, and is creator and manager of the digital magazine Hiphopreader.it

Ramirez is a youth motivation speaker from Tampa Fla., and is a United States armed forces, "Combat Support Speaker"

White is a TV producer and president of 5 Stone Entertainment

3:30 p.m. - Slam Poetry Workshop presented by John Miller, room 248, Gemmell Student Complex. Miller is president of the Clarion County Arts Council and is co-owner of Artfunkle.

The educators' track includes:

9:30 a.m. - "Critical Pedagogy and Hip-Hop" presented by Dr. Greg Goodman, assistant professor of education, Clarion University.

10 a.m. - "Hip-Hop Infusion into the Curriculum" presented by Dr. Susan Prezzano, professor of anthropology, geography, and earth science, Clarion University; and Dr. Laurie Occhipinti, associate professor of anthropology, geography, and earth science, Clarion University.

11 a.m. - "Hip-Hop Literature and Lesson Plans" presented by Dr. Edna Reid, associate professor of library science, Clarion University.

Noon - educator and speakers' luncheon, room 279 Gemmell Student Complex. Speaker- Martha Diaz.

Prior to the keynote address, Dr. Jamie Phillips will introduce the 2008 Bakari Scholars in a presentation "Hip-Hop - The World Sees U.S." beginning at 7 p.m. in Marwick-Boyd Auditorium. Clarion University student Ashley Connor, Clarion University Black Student Union, will provide the welcome.

For more information contact Dr. Joanne Washington, hiphopsymp@clarion.edu, telephone (814) 393-1883. Educators and other groups can reserve seating at http://jupiter.clarion.edu/~hiphopsymp. All events are free and open to the public.

Symposium sponsors include: Campus Progress, Clarion University's Black Student Union, Student Senate, Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee, Office of Faculty Research and Graduate Studies Presidential Advancement Award, Office of the Provost, Office of the President, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Business Administration, College of Education and Human Services, Division of Student and University Affairs, Department of Mass Media Arts, Journalism and Communication Studies, Extended Studies, Women's Studies, and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

Clarion University is the high-achieving, nationally recognized, comprehensive university that delivers a personal and challenging academic experience.