Thanks to modern technology, I've been listening to Langston Hughes himself on my morning commute reciting two of his poems, "Dream Variations" and the "Weary Blues." I got it from the CD that accompanies the book Harlem Speaks by Cary Wintz. I find listening to the actual voices of iconic historical figures refreshing because it humanizes them. The "Weary Blues", in part:
I heard that Negro sing, that old piano moan -
"Ain't got nobody in all this world,
Ain't got nobody but ma self
I's gwine to quit ma frownin'
And put ma troubles on the shelf."
Coincidentally, the song that plays after the poem is Amel Larrieux's "Weary": This woman is growing weary
Of having to be so strong
Of having to pretend I'm made of stone
So I won't end up with no broken bones
I can't fight every battle alone
I want someone to lift me
Heal my wounds and give me
Kisses on my head
Say words that should be said
Fear is not the matter
I would so much rather
Open up my heart
And lay down my guard
If I could trust someone
To have my back and never do me wrong
Then I would give my love up
Just like that stop singing this soldier song
That's me folks. I've definitely got the weary blues.
Oh boy, where do I begin? How about two quick predictions: Imus will turn up in two places very soon - rap lyrics and satellite radio.
I really wish the same righteous indignation and fire and energy used against Don Imus were used to refute degrading lyrics and images broadcast all over the world that call black women "hoes," "tricks" and of course, "bitches."
That's it in the nutshell. Do I really need to explain that, yes, Imus' remarks were stupid and insulting, yada yada yada. I never liked Imus and I never bothered to listen to him. And, to tell you the truth, I didn't get all worked up when I heard about what he said. Another day, another insult on a black woman. I've heard and read much worse comments about Serena and Venus Williams, who are also routinely attacked over their looks and femininity by black people. Imus had a few choice words for them a few years ago too. Have any "leaders" defended the Williams sisters yet?
I like what Debra Dickerson had to say about the mess:
I wonder how the Rutgers players feel to be so personally, brutally, suddenly attacked for being black (and, by definition, masculine and criminal). Even on the court, women's looks are the most important thing about them. Unfair as that is, black women don't even make the looks cut-off. That he could look at those strong, graceful women and see crack ho's scamming the welfare system is all the proof we need that blacks remain walking receptacles for white loathing. Halle Berry could have been on that team, but as long as there was one dark sister in braids -- jigaboos and hos.
Some of the work I did yesterday was an interview for German TV. I was doing my whole post-race, 'can't we all just get along' thing when they asked me if I felt more black than American or vice versa. Unprovoked assaults like this one make me feel more black than American. You never see the racism coming. You're minding your own business, say, playing basketball or buying groceries or eating at Krispy Kreme when an Imus comes along and forces you to be 'black' so he can be 'white'.
In my experience, I am not hearing 65-year-old white men call me a "ho" "trick" or bitch" on a regular basis. The teenagers I see on the train or rapping lyrics as they walk down the street aren't listening to Imus or Stern or any of those guys.
But, apparently when these insults (and much worse) come from a black rapper, I'm supposed to just be okay with it. It's "just entertainment." It's "art." They are "expressing themselves." They are "just talking about their life and what they see everyday".
And I am not one of these women that subscribe to the "Well, they're not talking about me, they're talking about those women" school of thought. Like Chaka said, "I'm Every Woman, It's All In Me. If those rappers are supposed to be my brothers, then those women are my sisters.
I remember very well the protest (complete with steamroller) staged by Rev. Calvin Butts when gangsta rap really came to the fore. I also remember that he was largely criticized and accused of censorship - and not too many other black leaders joined him. (See Harlem Protest of Rap Lyrics Draws Debate and Steamroller.
Registration required.)
And, of course everyone remembers how C. Delores Tucker was vilified when she denounced rap lyrics as "pornographic filth" and "demeaning and offensive to black women."
Talk about a voice crying out in the wilderness!
She was figuratively "thrown under the bus." According to her obituary in the Washington Post, Mrs. Tucker passed out leaflets with lyrics from gangsta rap and urged people to read them aloud. She picketed stores that sold the music, handed out petitions and demanded congressional hearings. She also bought stock in Sony, Time Warner and other companies so she could protest at shareholders meetings. She was also sued by two record companies (including Interscope) and rappers called her "narrow-minded" and some ridiculed her in their lyrics. Here's Eminem in "Rap Game" ("Tell that C. Delores Tucker slut to suck a d*ck) and Tupac in "How Do You Want It ("Delores Tucker you's a motherf*cker / Instead of trying to help a n*gga you destroy your brother".)
Funny, but I don't recall hearing about any protests for the names and insults to Mrs. Tucker in these songs. But, I guess it's supposed to be okay. After all, she teamed with Bill Bennett in her protests so apparently she was fair game.
The first thing people need to realize (or admit) is that criticizing degrading rap lyrics and videos is akin to "tearing the black man down" for many people. Tearing us down is far less problematic - unless it's a white person. When we speak up, we are suddenly transformed into ballbusters (who probably don't have a man and/or are fat, ugly, jealous or "hating.")
It's interesting because I am one of the people that avoids rap like the plague to avoid vulgar lyrics. I remember a friend lending me a few CDs to download into my iPod. I don't know why I bothered, but I actually went through and listened to some of the rap CDs - because I like the beat to many of the songs. I was hoping for something that I could listen to minus any references to bitches, hoes, tricks or golddiggers. No dice.
Of course, if you complain, you hear things like, "Well, if you don't like it, don't listen to it." And if you do listen to it - even involuntarily via a booming car speaker or some random dude loudly spouting the lyrics on a train or walking down the street - and you dare complain about it - then it's "Well, they're not talking about you. If you're not a ho, then you have nothing to worry about."
There is also the ever popular "the-white-man-is-behind-all-of-this" argument that says that the white man and corporate America are making the bucks off of hip hop. Well, duh! I didn't know said white men were also invading the 'hood and forcing young black folks to make offensive songs and videos.
Here's another good one: the "You-don't-know-what-you're-talking-about-because-there- is-a-lot-of-good-rap-out-there" argument. This person expects you to ignore the bulk of the rap you are exposed to and only note the Commons and Talib Kwelis of the rap world.
Love Common and Talib Kweli. Unfortunately, they are not being bumped from loud car speakers, their videos aren't getting played on MTV or BET and they get no radio play. They do not have the influence - in America or the rest of the world - that rappers like 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg and others have.
And, there is my favorite, the "But-there-are-women-who-are-bitches-and-hos! And they call-themselves-and-their-friends-"bitch"-and-"ho!" argument.
Yep, that's true - but they are in the minority. The vast majority of black women are not having it and we say so all the time! Only we are called "mean" or "bitter" - that is, when we are not being ignored completely. Whatever layer of "protection" we have vanishes in the hozone layer.
I do not want to hear that excuse about the women who accept the "ho" label just like you don't want me to stereotype all black men as irresponsible, thugs or "baby daddies."
Snoop Dogg, in his infinite wisdom, weighed in on the controversy:
"It's a completely different scenario. [Rappers] are not talking about no collegiate basketball girls who have made it to the next level in education and sports. We're talking about ho's that's in the 'hood that ain't doing sh--, that's trying to get a n---a for his money. These are two separate things. First of all, we ain't no old-ass white men that sit up on MSNBC [which announced Wednesday it would drop its simulcast of Imus' radio show] going hard on black girls. We are rappers that have these songs coming from our minds and our souls that are relevant to what we feel. I will not let them mutha----as say we in the same league as him.
He went on to say:
"Kick him off the air forever. Ban him like they did [Adam] 'Pacman' Jones. They kicked him out the [National Football] League for the whole season [for numerous violations of the NFL's personal-conduct policy, including multiple arrests], but this punk gets to get on the air and call black women 'nappy-headed ho's.'"
I love how you feel the need to defend 'Pacman' Jones, but what have you been getting on the air and calling black women for years Snoop? I guess I'll just have to be a "good" sister and "give a brother a break" on this one because it's "coming from your mind and soul and relevant to what you feel." Um, okay!
But You Don't Hear Me Though
4/17/07 - Okay, last update. Really!
T. Denean Sharpley-Whiting,
author of "Pimps Up, Ho's Down: Hip Hop's Hold on Young Black Women" and a professor at Vanderbilt University, said many black women resist rap music and hip-hop culture, but their efforts are largely ignored by mainstream media. As an example, the professor pointed to "Rap Sessions," the 10-city tour in which she's participating. She said the tour and its central question -- does hip-hop hate women? -- have gotten very little mainstream media coverage. "It's only when we interface with a powerful white media personality like Imus that the issue is raised and the question turns to 'Why aren't you as vociferous in your critique of hip-hop?' We have been! You've been listening to the music but you haven't been listening to the protests from us."
Thank you Professor! I'll be picking up your book!
You Can't Control Your Ho? (She Hardheaded, She Just Won't Obey.)
Jill Nelson - Imus Protest! Unruly Hair Hater - The truth is that as a woman, a woman of color, and specifically an African American woman, the insults come so fast and furious that there’s always the danger of becoming overwhelmed and de-sensitized. Sad to say, but I’m used to hearing black and brown women being call “bitch” “ho” “skank” “skeazer” “gold digger” or some variation of all of the above in popular songs and music videos.
Jill Nelson - Black Women: First Dissed, Now Disappeared - It's the same old "race trumps gender" game that we've played too long in black America, a spin that surely doesn't work for those of us who are black, brown and have vaginas. I appreciate the concern for Black women on the part of Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and other Black men, but I'd feel a lot better if they gave up some of the face time and didn't suck up all the air in the green room. Last night on ABC it was Spike Lee and WVON radio host Roland Martin. Earlier in the day, CNN featured NOW president Kim Gandy, Michael Eric Dyson, and again, Roland Martin. You'd think NOW's Gandy could've suggested a Black woman feminist to address the issue, and it was disturbing that Martin pointed out the issue was sexism more than racism, challenged white feminists to speak up, which they are, but apparently felt no contradiction in speaking for black women. Don't these people know any feminists of color whom they could suggest might be better suited to speak to the topic than themselves?
William Jelani Cobb - The Hoodrat Theory.
This is the Spelman professor that got into hot water with the brothers for writing that article about black men going to Brazil for sex vacations.
Esther Iverem via BET.com - Imus Suspended, But Damage Is Done. Boy! Am I tired of writing about ignorant people saying ignorant crap. The recent exchange on the Don Imus show, in which the host referred to the Black members of Rutgers' basketball team as "nappy-headed hos" was, and of course, just the most recent racial epithet hurled at Blacks from Whites in big money, mainstream media. Even though Imus has apologized and the Rev. Al Sharpton has called for Imus to be fired, the damage is done - a further ratcheting up in permissible hate speech - particularly about Black women.
An Open Letter to Hip Hop - Via my buddy Afrobella: Rappers, pick an image and stick with it. If 95% of your album is all about bitches, hoes, and how trill you are, how much money you're making, and how good you are in bed, don't come at me with that one "Dear Mama" track at the end of the album. I'm not feeling that.
When Chickenheads Come Home To Roost
* The opening art is Mask by Wangechi Mutu.
* Lemlem by Liya Kebede - Model Liya Kebede debuts her line of children's clothing Lemlem ("in bloom" in Amharic). 
