In the reading, “Total Chaos” by Jeff Chang, we see an interview taking place in which Juba and Tim’m, two older hip hop artists discuss the current state of the Hip Hop culture. Both artists bring up the issue of intersectionality as it relates to queerness within Hip Hop. Queer “Emcees” and “Deejays”, historically have always been grouped together as a part of the “homohop” movement which shed light on queer figures making waves within Hip Hop. The issue that many older generation hip hop artists who identify as queer have with this movement is that it makes it seem as though the influx of queer hip hop artists just began to come into relevance all of a sudden, even though there have been queer figures who have paved ways for a generation of artists to come long before this movement began.
Also, in the reading the conversation of gay hip hop artists not being perceived as marketable gets touched upon. In society, gay is seen as code for weak or feminine therefore making it impossible to be sold as “scary negro drag.” This is why an authentic Black “B-boy” cannot come out as queer because socially, culturally, and economically he is not safe enough to do so. He risks losing his entire demographic if he chooses to come out due to the blatant homophobia that lies within the hip hop community.
In the text it states, “Black gays have always preferred to abide alongside their black communities rather than “ghettoize” their sexualities into geographic safe spaces” this isn’t a criticism, just an observation.” I feel as though this quote stood out above all the rest to me due to the fact that I find it so relatable. As a queer man of color, I often times find myself finding a better sense of community amongst people who I identify with racially and ethnically, rather than force myself to fit into a space that’s more catered to white gays. Although White gay men and I may be able to relate on being oppressed through our queerness, there are still many things I feel as though I may go through that these men cannot relate on in terms of racism, discrimination,etc.
