A letter to Oprah

Originally posted July 2006

Dear Oprah:

At the your website www.oprah.com

You ask the question, "Do you have an idea for a show? Do you have a comment you'd like to share with us? Please fill out the form below, type your message and click "Submit" when you are finished. We look forward to hearing from you!

Here was my idea. Dear Oprah You have been quoted as saying I've been accused of not liking hip-hop, and that's just not true. I would like to suggest that you do a show dedicated to the more positive aspects of hip hop culture. This show would be useful in educating Oprahs broad audience to the fact that not all rap is negative and misogynist, and that there is a largely ignored element of hip hop called Conscious Rap that is both entertaining and prolific. The show could be divided into 4 segments
Segment 1 A discussion on Conscious Rap (rap that is informative & uplifting,) artist such as The Roots, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, ZionI, Company of Prophets (add a name that could be part of this discussion.)

Segment 2 A discussion on the efforts to get more air play for positive rap and the media broadcasters reluctance to allow them airtime (this discussion could feature advocates for positive lyrics like Dr Cornell West and California radio DJ California Davy D. Please see his website www.daveyd.com)

Segment 3 A discussion on books that are targeted toward the hip hop generation, books that entertain inspire and inform. Adrian Harpers Night Biters a hip hop horror novel targeted toward urban, multi-cultural youth (most books in this genre are either in the suburbs or feature a mono-cultural character) Hill Harpers Letters to a Young Brother a book of letters inspiring young African American males to turn away from violence and to reach for the stars, also Jeff Chang's "Don't Stop Won't Stop a History of Hip Hop.

Segment 4 Lastly, a rollicking performance by artists that can move the audience while keeping it positive This would be a great response to the negative press that the Oprah Show has received and shed light on what the very essence of hip hop is all about.

Thank you for your time,

Adrian Harper