Quote:
Originally posted by TonyB06
I like Leonard Pitts and generally agree with his commentary -- but who is he really blaming here? After all, to blame everybody is to blame nobody. Is it really up to the civil rights leaders on CNN to explain to my children why 50 cent's CD is not coming into the crib? If we leave it to the "leaders," is it then okay for parents to let it slide when they hear the music because the kids are just "rebelling like we did back in the day?"
Yeah, we can blame the rappers but they're just vendors moving, in this case, mentally poisonous product.
I agree ST that the dominant society's guilt trip is over and has been so for quite a while now. I think that's what gives rise to the wide distribution of the Ward Connerlys, Larry Elders, etc...
ok, Ima put my soap box away now...
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I think what Pitts is saying is that our so called black leaders, because of their postions of authority and their visability in the media should challenge the 50 cents of the world. Their visability brings new light to an old problem and, hopefully, expand the thinking of people. I know there were people who were not, at first glance, offended by Ghettopoly, but when they heard someone reasonably articulate the problems with the game they changed their minds. We need to have the same kinds of dialog around the stuff we do to our selves.
I remember a case in Atlanta recently where 15 - 20 young, AA males from about 16 to over 21 gang raped a young mentally handicapped AA female. The outcry from the "black leaders" of the community was silent. It wasn't until folks begin to call them out that they stepped up to the plate. Sadly, I know it would have been different had the perpatrators been white.
We have to call evil when we see it. I was never a big Tupac fan, but I remember someone (Black national figure--I can't remember who) criticizing him for his lyric choices. Tupac said something like, well teach me differently. Give me some other choices. I am not in a position to influence the 50 cents and Snoop Doggs of the world, outside of not buying their music and encouraging other not to do it as well, but Sharpton, Jackson, et al, are in the position to provide direct influence and they are missing the boat.