Imus redux-redux & MySpace class wars

Two of Americans’ least favorite subjects remain race and class.  They’re not pleasant subjects, not easy to resolve or always get a grip on and inflame strong passions in many people.  All the more reason why these subjects fascinate me and make me want to learn and read more about them.  As I gradually wrap my brain around a Frantz Fanon book (Black Skin White Masks from Grove Press) that my girlfriend got me for my b-day, I also note Dr. Edward Rhymes’ Caucasian Please (Black Agenda Report) which explores the deep and long-running roots of misogyny, crime-glorification and other vices or as Rhymes puts it “Never do we ask, ‘What has been society’s role in shaping and influencing hip-hop?’”  He gets some rock facts fudged but his general point is well-taken.  Then there’s Danah Boyd’s Viewing American class divisions through Facebook and MySpace.  Boyd lays out an interesting class divide between MySpace and Facebook that points out divisions reflected online and offline, though some of his research methodology is a questionable (i.e. the age information and other vital info given on MySpace definitely ain’t always on the up and up).