Seems this post started with concerns of race, which really doesn't matter to me, except for the fact I'm a yankee cracker who thinks black musical artists RULE!
At every turn in Amercian musical history, black artists have paved the way to new sounds and new horizons...(Janet Jackson not included.)
With that out of the way, do I think a disliking to rap/hip-hop would steer me in the direction of country? Nope.
Only good country music would lead me to appreciate country music. Currently, country music suffers from the same ills as all popular forms of music presented by the mainstream media empires... it's out of touch with itself, desparate, and hanging upon shock value and/or commercialism as the key to its success.

Music should indeed be a blind concern.
When the homely and down-trodden begin receiving trophies at the Grammy Awards, it should be a sign that things are improving. When every fan wearing a cowboy hat and pointed boots can tell you the reasons for the original design of said garments, the hype will have ended, and the music begun. [Linked Image]

-gary