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Written by Rev Michael Bresciani
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Thursday, 03 May 2007 |
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Word Count: 906 Imus is Sunk - Hip Hop Sails Away Unscathed
Among the fairest and most balanced offerings on the Imus incident hails from
journalist Ellis Cose in Newsweek for the week of April 23, 2007 in an article
entitled “What Will We Learn.” Another offering well worth the read is “Imus’
Safety Net Failed” penned by the World Net Daily columnist Barbara Simpson,
April 16, 2007.
TV interviews are too numerous to cite even though not much variation is
offered. It seems like a replay of the same interview and it goes like this.
Imus had a right to say what he wants, networks and corporate supporters have
the right to bounce him and why doesn’t somebody call Rap and Hip Hop out on the
carpet.
Naturally when a race card pops up Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are sure to pop
up as well. Jackson is seen marching with a tiny placard about Rainbow Coalition
and Sharpton is filmed as the magnanimous mediator of the Imus apology, just
what we might expect, nothing new in this picture.
Not far behind these familiar scenes another recurring but worn out and highly
questionable outcome is the monotonous drone of the interviewers trying to
assuage Rappers with talk about their connection to art. A lot of sycophantic
gushing can’t hide the fact that untold millions of people believe that calling
Hip Hop “art” is like comparing Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa to Andy Warhol’s
Campbell’s Soup can.
Pop cultures’ fling can produce bling but it takes something a little more
classic to add something significant to a nation’s culture, something that will
endure through the ages.
Others have aptly pointed out something already well known namely, that it is
the big green money machine that drives Hip Hop. Millions of bucks will also be
lost by the networks and sponsors as a result of giving Imus the boot. So that
question serves only to raise yet another question. Why did the networks and
corporations suddenly go moral on such a lopsided scale?
A few voices have been heard that dare to call Hip Hop artists and sponsors to
respond. Among them has been African American poet Maya Anjelou. In her
customary dignified and refined manner Maya gracefully lambasted the rappers in
an interview on CNN. Are there any other voices out there like this one? We are
waiting.
Raising a plethora of new questions seems to be the main product of the entire
controversy. These questions are useful only if we are willing to hunker down
and search for the answers and beyond that we must demand that they be answered.
Here is a list of questions that should be asked of every citizen, network chief
and corporation in America. It may not be a comprehensive list but it should do
for starters.
If profanity has become art, hasn’t art become profaned?
Does America and especially African Americans know the difference between a mere
activist and a real leader?
Are Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton activists or leaders?
Would Jackson and Sharpton be willing to march around network offices, media
outlets and corporate sponsors who gain from Hip Hop?
Do Christians believe that the gospel and gospel music, traditional or
contemporary, can really stand by themselves to produce the desired effect? If
so why have some groups borrowed from the Rap genre to present their message?
Would the networks be willing to tone down the crap in rap just to give it a
slap (no rap intended) in the next Hip Hop presentation? Would they be willing
to cancel the next Hip Hop presentation?
Are African American women any less insulted by the rappers than they have been
by Imus? Would they be willing to let their voices and their “Hell hath no fury
like a woman’s scorn” be heard on the same?
Have parents listened to what is being piped into their children’s brains and
what is bombarding their sight daily by Hip Hopsters and are they willing to
pull the plug if necessary? Do you know the definition of difficult?
Has anyone at all noticed that the Imus incident clearly says that freedom of
speech does have responsibilities connected to it?
Would rappers be willing to ponder the question of why only rap music gets a bad
rap? Why haven’t other music genres that African Americans have contributed to
or wholly created been spoken against? Like Mississippi Delta Blues, Black
Gospel and Choir music, Rhythm and Blues, Jazz, Dixieland, etc. etc. etc? Why
doesn’t anyone question that these genres are actually art?
Would Rappers be willing to ponder this great proverb? In the multitude of words
there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. Proverbs 10:19
Would the rest of us be willing to ponder these important words from the Saviour
of the world? “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak,
they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou
shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37
Rev Bresciani is the author of two books. He also is a columnist for several
online sites and magazines. His articles are read throughout the world. For more
articles and news from around the globe visit "The Website for Insight"
http://www.americanprophet.org
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