Imagining a Better World: Rap Music Skepticism and the Civic Activism of Young African Americans  Lakeyta M. Bonnette y Georgia State University lbonnette@gsu.edu Ray Block, Jr. z University of Wisconsin-La Crosse rblock@uwlax.edu Harwood K. McClerking x University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee mcclerki@uwm.edu Spring 2016  This is a working paper; please do not cite or circulate without the authors permission. We are thankful to Erin Cassese, Nina Eidsheim, Christina Haynes, Mirya Holman, Jacob Holt, Molly Lindner, Irfan Noorud- din, and Jason Windett for their advice, encouragement, and assistance on early drafts of this manuscript. y Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science. Address: 38 Peachtree Center Avenue, 1028 Lang- dale Hall, Atlanta, GA 30303. z Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and Public Administration. Address: 423B Wim- berly Hall; 1725 State St.; La Crosse, WI 54601. x Assistant Professor, Department of Africology. Address: P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201. 1