By Maya Pope-Chappell

Following the Oscar win for Three Six Mafia's "Its Hard Out Here for a Pimp," a new genre of music has emerged known as "Minstrel Show Rap" including hit singles, "Chain Hang Low" by Jibbs, "Chicken Noodle Soup" by DJ Webstar and Young B, and new to the scene, "Ms. Peachez's Fried Chicken." Equipped with catchy hooks and repetitive lyrics, these modern displays of buffoonery have us singing along to our own degradation while subconsciously reinforcing negative stereotypes of ourselves.

Some may say this music is not to be taken seriously and that we should all just lighten up a bit. As a theory, that sounds great. But in reality, to actually ignore the messages inherent in this confused form of rap would demand one turn a blind eye at our history. We've been here before.

Minstrelsy, a racist form of entertainment that included comic skits, music, and dance, was performed mostly by whites beginning in the 1800's, continuing through the 20th century. During minstrel shows, mostly white entertainers would smear their faces with burnt cork ashes mixed with water to create what is known as "blackface," which was used to depict Blacks as ignorant, uneducated, happy-go-lucky buffoons.

Minstrelsy, along with its depictions of African American culture and people, played a major role in the spreading and cementing of racist images, ideologies, and attitudes around the world, ones that continue to be appropriated, sold, and consumed by millions. These songs fully embrace minstrelsy in that they play upon the same negative stereotypes of African Americans as ignorant, uneducated, and foolishly entertaining.

The melody for "Chain Hang Low" for example which has sold over a million in ringtones alone, derives from an old American folk song and minstrel tune, "Turkey in the Straw," which derives from a song called "Zip Coon," which was sung to the tune of "Turkey in the Straw."

"Chicken Noodle Soup" simple makes Black youth look like fools, cheerfully shuckin' and jivin' for a bowl of chicken noodle soup with a soda on the side, while "Fried Chicken" takes not only the cake but the grease the wings were fried in with its blatant representation of stereotypical images of Blacks chomping on chicken and lickin' their fingers. They might have as well included a watermelon and a plantation.

On top of this, we have record company execs and radio and media outlets pushing this crap full steam ahead. Record companies like Universal Records who seek to fulfill an appetite for "Chicken Noodle Soup" in their signing of the group to a $1.7 million deal, is a deal of corporate paternalism in blackface, thrusted into the radios and homes of thousands across the country disguised as a humorous, harmless song.

These sad displays of entertainment play a direct role in our own denigration where pride, value, and talent is replaced by humiliation, self hate, and ignorance.

I refuse to sing along to my demise. Of course, its cool to eat chicken noodle soup along with some seasoned southern fried chicken, and if you wish, even dance while doing it, but be sure not to let psychological chains of enslavement hang too low.

Maya Pope-Chappell is a contributing editor for whatchusay.com.

Blogon: Is Mistrel Show Rap really degrading to Black people or is it all just innocent entertainment? When is laughing at ourselves (to keep from crying) finally enough? Whatchusay?