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When our children know the lyrics of profanity-laced and sexually explicit Hip-Hop and R&B songs (such as "WAP" by Cardi B.) better than they know songs such as "Jesus Loves Me" or "God Bless America," we are not doing our jobs.
The Black culture, without doubt, has been deteriorating since the 1970s. And, the one area in which it's most evident is in the music. We went from songs like the Drifters' "Up on the Roof" or uplifting songs by Earth, Wind, and Fire, O'Jays, Stevie Wonder, et al. to songs like songs like "F**ck the Police," "WAP", etc.
The question is, did the decline happen with the rise of Hip-Hop? R&B had its sultry songs from the 1970s from artists like Barry White, Teddy Pendergrass, and Marvin Gaye, to name a few, but now the lyrics (along with the videos) are very sexually explicit, and our children are being exposed to it. Part of the problem is the decline of Judeo-Christian values in our homes.
Without having a moral code to live by, we are open to any and everything the world has to offer, and our children are not being protected from the sex, drugs, and violence. But, all is not lost. We will pray and fight for our children, because as long as there is life, there is hope.
My prayer is that black churches (many of which are located in urban America) will step up and help to guide and mentor our at-risk youth. We must teach our children the Ten Commandments, so that they have a moral code to live by.