While writing #5, I was pressed for time and did not fully research the time periods of the Civil Rights Movement or the invention of hip-hop. This resulted in a flat response with little to no evidence provided. This was also at the beginning of my writing experience in this class. I did not take into account how long this assignment would take me, and I waited until the last couple of hours to complete it. This is obviously shown in my weak response with "common sense" added to it. Since this was an issue, I decided to re-write it. This revision took some research in order to compose. This marks the beginning of including quotes from a text that emphasize my point within my essay. My revised answer provided lyrics from Nas and quotes Coates revealing that hip-hop expressed just "what he felt" during his childhood. I also added some quotes explaining what his childhood consisted of. The result was a well-constructed paragraph that actually made sense and could relate to the book! What a feat!

WP #2

5. During the Civil Rights Movements, black hip-hop artists made it clear that they want rights as well. Their lyrics were beautifully crafted to get there message across to those in a different way other than protests and speeches. Songs could easily get to the ears of teens who are experiencing the daily struggles of segregation. Since teenagers are able to relate to big artists, they will continue to fight for their rights with the soundtrack of Hip-Hop in the background. Hip-hop artists during this time have probably been heroes for some people who can relate to the lyrics being said; they inspire others through music.

(REVISED): Coates mentions that hip-hop lyrics during the 90's from artists such as Nas "described how he felt" during the Civil Rights Movement. Specifically, he brings up the lyric "schools where I learn they should be burned, they are poison" (26). He continues to expand his thoughts by saying schools did not "reveal the truth" and served as a means of "escape from death" awaiting on the streets. While growing up, Coates was constantly concerned about "mastering the streets" in order to survive among other blacks who were turning their sadness into rage (27). Since blacks were not given the same privileges as whites, the black community turned on each other in order to feel some kind of power among other people and "prove the inviolability of their bodies" (23). These memories of Coates childhood and "shielding his body" led him to reminisce upon the emotions felt during the Civil Rights Movement and understand the lyrics expressed by Nas (23).