[PhrozenGenius]

Ok, time for another voice *sigh* where do I begin?

There have been numerous efforts to stymie the use of derogatory language within rap music. (Simply one element of hip-hop culture) From the late C. Dolores Tucker, to Tipper Gore, to Luther Campbell being locked up for lewdness, to more recent events such as Spelman College students protesting a Nelly appearance on their campus, Essence's "Take Back The Music" Campaign, and more subtle attacks from within the hip-hop community on it's own level of "self hatred" (see: Nas' "Hip Hop is Dead, Mos Def's "Tru3 Magic", and for my own personal throw-in Dead Prez's "Turn Off The Radio")

As many in the conservative sector speak of this perceived hypocrisy about Imus' comments vs. Black Music (read: Hip-Hop) I find it amazing that no one speaks of the fact that the people who buy the majority of rap music and fuel the industry are surburban white kids. I find it even more amazing that since these artists and boutique record label CEO's don't own the methods of production and distribution that anyone would think that the black community has any sort of control over what music is released and what propaganda is displayed.

The black vox populi time and again has stated that we want more intelligent music as opposed to b****es, blunts, and 40's however the owners of the record labels hold the keys and the checkbooks. Thus, they take the "artists" who offer the most salacious elements of what some would consider "black life" and make it a multimillion dollar investment. To bring it back to the middle, to suggest that Imus' comments plus black reaction equals hypocrisy is to buy into the MTV/BET/ClearChannel/RadioOne/Cox Communications lie that black life in and of itself is monolithic. Which is obviously wrong and if taken to the extreme could be considered racist.

THE JESSE JACKSON and AL SHARPTON Connection

Truth be told, Jesse makes Al look bad. That is not the point.

Black America has not chosen Jackson and Sharpton as the President and V.P. of Black America. Truth be told, I (and I'm sure MANY others will agree with me) would rather have Michael Eric Dyson, Cornel West, Tavis Smiley, Dick Gregory, Barack Obama, or even Judge Joe Brown speak on behalf of Black America. As stated before, the old conservative guard, neocons, moderate liberals, and liberal extremists (along with a few other groups) lend credence to the "race-baiting" that many think Sharpton and Jackson do. Jackson maybe, Sharpton....not so much.

MANY within Black America don't really care what Jackson or Sharpton say at times. We do care about the National Association of Black Journalists (the people who began the Imus firestorm, and rightfully so.), The National Urban League, and a plethora of other community oriented organizations.

I hope that cleared up some things for you Bock without repeating too much of the same sentiments as my lovely sisters of ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA and a few divas of DELTA SIGMA THETA.