Continued from Part 1
And what of the performers that use terms that equate to the most offensive term in the English language. They proliferate this term, not to draw attention to the inequalities around them, but in acceptance that the term correctly identifies their expectations and attitude. Even more telling is the fact that many of these same performers will not allow the use of these terms in their own homes, nor tolerate their children (those that have children they acknowledge and support) hearing these terms in the private schools they go to. Is that two-faced? Is that not a slap in the face of the fans? Why does this not elicit the same outrage and reaction that the selling of BET caused?
I agree that “People marched and were hit in the face with rocks to get an education, and now we've got these knuckleheads walking around. ... The lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal. These people are not parenting.” I agree that in allowing entertainers and celebrities to influence our children with these actions and failures is abominable. To fail to instill values that were the norm for my generation (I am 38) is to fail the entire Black community. How it can have failed so widely and badly in such little time is amazing. I do not see this as the chicken or the egg philosophical debate, entertainment has pushed the envelope and the Black culture has moved lock-step to make those moves to the edge the mainstream.
These observations are not made lightly. They are not false either, I believe. Direct connections exist, as I see them. I do not believe a valid objective argument can be made against my views, but if there is one I request it, post it for me and others. This is bigger than rap, or the entertainers in whatever form of medium. There has been a pervasive and persistent degradation of the Black community, and entertainment has helped to accelerate the problem. Dreams of there being only one avenue of success have moved from a professional athlete to a rap star. Professional athletes have been accepted at younger ages with less discipline and knowledge, promoting the hope of success without effort. The core is that there is more effort to attain a dream, a 1 in 100,000 chance, than to build a supportive and solid life. Part of that dream is the concept of living fast and dying young. That there is no need to regard consequences in living that dream as there is neither time nor hope. I feel that only the most uneducated could accept that way of seeing things.
I am not Mr. Bill Cosby, Mr. Harper Hill, nor any other entertainer. But like several of them I did grow up with little. I am proud of the sacrifices made by my mother, and the difficulties that my father endured. Like others I recognize that education is an alternative to imprisonment or death. I accept that a Black African Puerto Rican American male can live 38 years or more without an addiction, incarceration or multiple children from multiple women. That there is no disrespect in speaking my native tongue in an articulate manner, nor in taking pride in my success at working very hard everyday and reaping the rewards of that work. Like this blog. And I feel that any form of entertainment, or any individual, that attempts to lessen my life and lifestyle or presumes that I am less of a man because of my choices is worthless.
This is what I think, what do you think?
No comments:
Post a Comment