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In Response to George M. Johnson’s portrayal of Nipsey Hussle
“Death before dishonor” never seemed more fitting.
The following is an attempt to better understand and critique an NBC News opinion piece composed by George M. Johnson regarding the death of rapper and activist Nipsey Hussle. Though Johnson’s intent was to specifically highlight the intricacies of navigating spaces as a member of the Black LBGTQIA+ community while highlighting aspects of toxic masculinity, one could argue that his piece caused more harm than good and painted Hussle in an unfair light.
The Man…
In his opening Johnson began by underscoring the glorification of gang culture and its role in shaping a narrative about Black masculinity. As was stated in the article “Toxic Masculinity — Why “It” Is,” written by J. Stokes, “activities within gangs often result in toxic masculine behaviors.” This includes gun violence, excessive criminal activity, and aggressively marking and protecting certain gang territories. Some Black individuals might be raised in environments where gangs are prevalent or subjected to media — hip-hop music especially — where gang affiliation among Blacks is praised. This can lead to harmful behaviors, especially in Black males.
After his talk of Black masculinity Johnson went on to mention Hussle, stating that though he tried to…
