RACE AS GENRE

Thought Question:

In literature, works by writers of certain ethnic/cultural groups are essentially treated as a "genre" (Asian American Lit, Chicano Lit, etc). Does the same hold true for popular music?


Possible answers:

1. If you're talking about a simple black/white dichotomy (which is how we tend to look at race in this country), on the surface this seems to be true. I believe that people tend make the following broad distinctions:
White = Rock, Black = Rap (and/or "Urban," a truly heinous euphemism.)
Which, if we take it further, immediately leads us to the racist conclusions of yesteryear (or today!) :
White = melodies, Black = beats
or if you will:
White = intellectual, Black = sensual
2. Then again, if this is true for white/black "genres," and to a certain extent the "Latin" genres, why does it seem to be less true of Asian Americans? What does an Asian American pop artist sound like/look like? Further subquestion -- what are we to make of the fact that we can easily categorize Black artists, but have no way to do the same with Asian ones?

I don't have an answer, but it's worth pondering, I think. Perhaps the always thoughtful Oliver Wang would venture a response? (I heard him on NPR this morning.) Or anybody, really. The comments section has been seeing naught but tumbleweeds lately.