Those Three Words: Commentary
Russell Simmons, founder of Def Jam Records, has an idea about irradicating three offensive words from rap songs- which currently are not on the list of vulgarities that are removed from "clean versions". Read more about the topic in this article By Marcus Franklin, AP Writer Russell Simmons: Ban 3 epithets consistently in clean music
(best part of the article, in my opinion, is the last part) The announcement cautioned against violating free-speech rights but said that freedom of expression comes with responsibility.
"Our discussions are about the corporate social responsibility of the industry to voluntarily show respect to African-Americans and other people of color, African-American women and to all women in lyrics and images," read a joint statement from Simmons and Benjamin Chavis, the network's executive director.
Is it a positive step in the right direction, or "too little, too late"?
Still stunned by what Don Imus said on the airwaves, as a mother and as a woman I am disgusted by the misogynistic, sexist and racist language that our culture embraces; when you hear even young girls call each other "ho's", there is a problem. It is never okay to throw words around that degrade woman, or someone of another skin color or ethnicity. Children raised hearing this type of language in a culture where no one ever says it is wrong think it must be alright.
I applaud Russell Simmons for this move, but will it really make a difference? Until more women speak up about offensive language about our gender, the words will continue. Until more people from different ethnicities speak up about offensive language against their culture, the words will continue.
The most brave person in this recent "war on words" was one of the young women on the Rutgers team. Her simple words should be celebrated and embraced by all of us:
"I'm not a ho, I'm a woman. I'm someone's child. It hurts a lot.' - Center Kia Vaughn
Metro News Article, NY Times
IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO RIGHT A WRONG ...
IMHO, it WILL make a difference when all we adults make it clear to our youth that it is "NEVER okay to throw words around that degrade women, or someone of another skin color or ethnicity", as Jana declares.
Maya Angelou expressed it this way on an episode of the Tavis Smiley show that first aired on November 18, 2005:
http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/archive/200511/20051118_angelou.html
"Well, I don't mean -- when I say peace, I don't just mean the absence of war. I mean real peace, a sense of security, a comfort of courtesies. I mean kind words spoken to strangers. That to me is peace. When we take for granted road rage, then we have no peace. When you get into your car in the morning and start off and know that any nit whose patience may have been tried too much might pull out an illegal or legal gun and shoot you if you go too fast or too slowly, if you turn too fast against the light, that to me is a condition where peace does not exist.
I know that the Judeo Christian bible encourages us to be peacemakers. I agree with that. I believe, however, that what we should be is peace-bringers. We have to bring it with us, bring it in our hearts, bring it in our composure, bring it in our way we enter a workplace, when we enter our homes, when we talk to the children, when we talk to our beloveds. Bring it. Don't wait until you get there to make it."
As usual, Dr. Angelou got right to the point. If we all work at becoming peace-bringers we can get at the roots of this absence of courtesies that is so prevalent in our society. Simply, "BRING IT"!
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