The fact that many do try to use that argument, which fails, brings up the question why hasn’t anything ever been done if such language is so bad. The media has been a huge proponent of highlighting the apparent blasé attitude among Black Americans on the language and imagery used in rap hip hop. I have watched literally dozens of news programs where pundits and talking heads pose the question, “So why hasn’t anything ever been done?” I’ve seen multiple African American interviewees get this question presented to them almost everyday since the firing. I have to ask in response, “Why did it take so long for you to open your eyes?”
I ask that question to the news media. They act today as if there has never been a single person speaking out against the gansta rap genre. They present statements by Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson against modern rap as if they are making a sudden noise to grandstand and serve their own interests. The Media poses questions to entertainers and celebrities as if the fault for inaction laid upon them. That is a horrible lie, and a misrepresentation of enormous, perhaps epic, proportions.
Reverends Jackson and Sharpton may be placed in the public spotlight by the media on various issues, but only those the media wants to cover. There is no question on the fact that both have rallied against the language in rap music for quite some time now. And they were far from the first. The battle against gansta rap has been ongoing for over a decade now. There have been dozens, perhaps hundreds of articles that have been written, seminars and lectures made, and blog posts against gansta rap since 1992. I’ll say that timeframe again, 15 years. Yet the news media and various pundits seem to be shocked that there has been no action made. They should say there has been no action they chose to hear.
For whatever the reason the media has chosen to ignore the growing number of voices demanding change. The corporations have ignored the consumers asking for diversity in a music genre that started off with multiple sub-genres; each one basically killed off to make room for only one style. Let me make a couple of examples.
The national media focused on the Mr. Don Imus story on April 9th. On March 22nd Blackplanet.com had a poll I commented on, which dealt with negative stereotypes in the media.
“The Internet and Film both hit the bottom of the list at 3%, followed in order by Newspapers at 8%, Movies at 9%, TV 25% and the big leader is Music at 53%. I have no doubt that Music leads this group due to music videos, especially those of rappers that feature the ladies barely clothed and gyrating. Of course those with the ridiculous (my opinion) stuff on their teeth, or those incapable of speaking their native language are no less unattractive.”
On March 8th New York City banned the use of one word in particular. It was an empty act and I criticised it,
“Obviously the City Council of NYC agrees with the view held by me, as does Mr. Michael Richards [doesn’t that prove the point right there?]. Their ban on this word was passed, and you may wonder why less time was spent reporting this than Ms. Rosie O’Donnell’s depression. Because it was a bunch of hot air. The usefulness of the ban rates on par with releasing known illegal immigrant child molesters on bail and expecting them to show up to court (as happened in Vermont not long ago).”
Concluded in Part 3...
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