By Chris Wright
Art imitates life... And some people don't like it.
The subject is MTV's Jersey Shore. A reality show about a group of 20 something buffed and sexy Italians partying, sexing, and fist pumping in Seaside Heights, NJ. These kids act out all of the stereotypes that many Italian-Americans are not so proud of. Some of them sound like Stallone. They interact with colorful characters named Vito, Vinny, Tony, Michael and of course the usual Joey. They wear tight shirts which accents their biceps. They have slick dark hair with the best gel that money can buy. Many of the girls look and act like Adrieonna on the Sopranos; popping chewing gum while at the same time dropping F-bombs in tiger striped tights.
Now of course, older proud Italian-Americans and anti-defamation groups and lawmakers are coming out of the woodwork demanding that MTV remove the show from the air. Mostly because it airs Italian-Americans in a bad light. And more importantly, might taint the youth who want to emulate the characters in the show.
It is so stupid! Then need to just STFU! You know what that means.
As a black man (I prefer that label over African-American, thank you) my life and being has been greatly affected by the hip-hop generation; both good and bad. Hip Hop has dominated American culture ever since The Sugarhill Gang told us to bang bang boogie and up jump the boogie in Rapper's Delight. Clothes got looser. An new lexicon was created with words like fresh, dope, chill and even now common words used by even the most intellectual Americans like "dissed". Hip hop is in everything we watch today from alter-egos to name changes. There were no Ochocincos in the NFL in he 70s or Answers in the NBA. You didn't see people with Grillz on the sidelines. Even the 85 Bears did the Super Bowl Shuffle.
While many Americans have enjoyed the lighter side of hip hop and have enjoyed the glee that it has bestowed upon our society, many black people have suffered from the negative side of hip hop which brings stereotypes, negative perception, decreased expectations, and quite simply racist views of Black people in general. I've been told "You're not really Black", "you talk like a white guy", "you dress like a white man", "you date white women, you must wanna be white", "you have a white job", "you're ashamed of being black", "why are putting a brother down", "you need to look out for a brother", "oh, i didn't know you listened to hip hop", "who's that? alanis morrisette? why you listening to her", "you're going to a green day concert?", and many more extremely offensive questions and phrases that aren't meant to harm. It's just how people have perceived black people since Hip Hop has dominated our society. People also say things like, "he speaks so well" or "i was surprised at how eloquent he spoke". In my business, I speak to customers by phone, then set up appointments. When they see me, I sense the surprise in their eyes and demeanor that I'm Black. I'm never offended, only amused.
But don't let the smooth taste fool you. I am hip hop. Every part of me. And I can slip in and out of it with the grace of a Chinese acrobat. Because of who I choose to be, the career I have, the interest that I have, and mostly the fact that I have children, commands that I behave in a responsible adult manner and not be Hip Hop.
What does this have to do with MTV's Jersey Shore? The fact is, these young people exist. As much as lawmakers and Italian Anti-defamation groups may want them to disappear, they are very real! I know them. I grew up in Philadelphia. South Philly is a prime locale for Italian-American residents. The community is well-known for the Mafia, Italian restaurants, and fist-pumping Italians. It's no mistake that Sylvester Stallone chose Philadelphia when creating Rocky. And Rocky Balboa, a fictional character is more synonymous with Philly and Jersey Shore Italians than Mario Lanza. Does this mean that ALL Italians are this way? Because you might meet an Italian that doesn't say 'YO", does that make him less Italian? If he doesn't have his hair gelled up like whoa, does that make him less Italian? Some Italians have made millions of dollars being "urban italian" like Robert DeNiro. Then there are others who you would never know they were Italian if they did not have a vowel at the end of their name.
MTVs Jersey Shore does not define Italians. It only shows you a group of young Italians at the Jersey Shore! We should embrace that and enjoy the entertainment for which it is created for. I love the Italian American culture, even down to the colorful derogatory names that they use for Black people. I'm never offended because they're so good! Who could make up names like egg plant, mulignan, and mooley. And who can make the "C" word sound like a fine Italian cuisine with a word like pucchiacha. Only the "urban italian".
Like hip hop has allowed the art of so many thugs in American homes and on young people's walls like Jay-Z, Nas, The Wu-Tang Clan, and Old Dirty Bastard when ordinarily one wouldn't even allow these types on their front door step; we too have accepted Tony, Big Pussy, and Don Corleone into our lives and into our homes. Doesn't it make it easier when your son or daughter brings home a friend that might be different? And because Casey might bring his friend Rasheem home from school and Rasheem has on baggy Rocawear jeans and cornrows in his hair, you might not be so quick to put your valuables away, just as little Rasheem says, "Hi Mrs. Potter, thank you for allowing me into your beautiful home".
One more thing that should be understood. Young people have dreams and aspirations to be in acting and entertainment. Justin Timberlake had a desire to be a Hip Hop/R&B singer, but N'Sync was a foot in the door. He did what he had to do. Omar Epps wanted to do more straight roles like the one he does in "House", but he had to play 10 various Hip Hop roles in movies like Juice, Higher Learning, and The Program in order to get his break. Tupac was hardcore in music, but very poetic and a very good actor in movies like Poetic Justice and Gridlocked. And finally, Ice Cube was fucking the police with NWA and now he's entertaining your kids in "Are We There Yet?". Sometimes, these stereotypical roles are a means to an end. We have to let the art breathe because there is something for everyone.
Mike Sorrentino, aka "The Situation" was a male exotic dancer before getting his shot on MTVs Jersey Shore. This according to TMZ. My question for the proud Italians is would you prefer he bounce his banana in a hammock or fist pump on the Jersey Shore?
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