Norment explains African Americans' influence on culture and commerce

In Berks County, many businesses — such as Villa on Penn Street in downtown Reading — have succeeded by selling clothes inspired by hip-hop culture. "Historically our culture was viewed as primitive, a subculture, and one big thing I think is once you can market it and it become a commodity, I think it becomes popular," said Nathaniel Norment, chair of African American Studies at Temple. "That's the nature of capitalism. Whether it's fair or not, it does effect change."
Feb. 17, 2011 | WFMZ-TV (Allentown)