The Image of God in Hip-Hop Culture

Theology professor Anthony Bradley writes an interesting blog post addressing how "ghetto" culture reflects the image of God, as all cultures do. He makes a few compelling points I've never considered before about how God has created us in His image, and the implications that has on how we view cultures that seem so foreign and often wrong to us.

Bradley clearly does not condone the parts of Hip-Hop culture that glorify misogyny, pride, materialism, and immorality, but he does imply that spiritual redemption doesn't necessarily elicit a rejection of culture.

Thugs and hoochies don't need to be "fixed" culturally. Because of the dignity inherent to their creation and membership into the human family what is needed is have fall-affected dignity redeemed to a life of virtue by following Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Are there social and professional trade-offs in a culture of white privilege for cats with grills and tattooed necks and hands. Absolutely! That's a separate issue. In America, you have to know when to turn ghetto "off." Style and cultural norms are issues of prudence not an issue of dignity. As is, ghetto fabulous sisters and brothers are beautiful image bearers of God because they belong to humanity. We are in solidarity with them. They belong. The goal is not make them human (which in some cases means adopting the social customs of those not living in the barrio) the goal is unlock their human potential so that it can fully glorify God in ways unique to them and become truly human.