Can't Stop Won't Stop (Young Adult Edition): A Hip-Hop History

Since its creation in the Bronx in the 1970s, hip-hop has made friends out of the most unlikely people. It has bridged gaps and broken down walls between gangs and races and even the world. Trace the ways that hip-hop has created unity in the past 50 years. What do you envision for the future of Hip-Hop as a Source of Unity? How can hip-hop be used today and in the future to further break down barriers between the people of America and the world?

Teaching Suggestion: As students process the history of hip-hop and how it helped to unite Black culture with itself and the rest of America, they may experience a series of emotions that could include anger, sadness, fear, inspiration, and hope. It could be helpful to have a pre-discussion about how students feel upon reading. From there, shift focus to hope for the future and how hip-hop can help to improve the world. As with any potentially sensitive discussion, students may want to review class guidelines on commenting, language, respect for all backgrounds, etc.

Differentiation Suggestion: Students seeking to practice their skills in the multiple intelligence areas of musical and/or verbal-linguistic intelligence might choose to write their own rap based on a political message or vision for the future they have for America.