Racial “Views”

I recently read an article on the Milwaukee Journal/Sentinel titled ‘Rap controversy could spark needed debate’ dated 4/20/08, and it peaked my curiosity.  http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=741116  I am learning, as time goes by; to read and listen to opinions and views that might not necessarily “fit” my experiences or background, so I figured this would be a perfect opportunity to test that out.  What I found out was I’m glad I read this article because I realized I was right, AGAIN. 

The basic premise of Mr. Blanks article was not necessarily to report on Alicia Keys’, (a young, respected R&B artist) decision to throw her hat into the political realm in Blender magazine by saying — that she thought that gangsta rap was a ploy of our government “to convince black people to kill each other.”  or that – the U.S. government and media were behind the murders of hip-hop legends Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G., in her words, “to stop another great black leader from existing.” –  No, he wanted to use those opinions to make a larger point(s), that being, and to quote him “sometimes you have to say things that may sound a little “out there” because a love song just won’t do.”.  That and to create dialogue on how black people feel about the government and to “shock the system”. 

He says that Alicia Keys doesn’t believe the government created gangsta rap to kill black people.  Really, she doesn’t?  What makes him think that?  Yes, normal people would look at the statements Ms. Keys made and HAVE to believe that nobody could be that stupid, but the fact remains that she DID say them, and then followed up the original comment with the Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. take.  I don’t give people that much leeway when it comes to inflammatory, STUPID comments, and neither should he. 

By the way, here’s a new flash everyone (black, white, Latino, Asian, whatever); the government screws EVERYONE.  They’re politicians!  They do what’s in their best interest.  If you look to the government for anything sans the military, public transportation, and public education, you’re looking at the wrong entity.  The government did not make gangsta rap (have you seen the House of Representatives & Senate….old white guys that don’t even know WHAT gangsta rap is much less promote it?), or instruct the CIA to funnel drugs into the inner-city, so you can stop with the paranoia and start solving the problems.

My advice to Ms Keys’ and Mr. Blanks, when you open your mouth, or comment on issues such as this, make sense.  Don’t sound like a nut-job.  Don’t use J. Edgar Hoover as part of your racial argument (he’s been dead and politically irrelevant for decades).  Those tactics make you look stupid, petty and crazy; all attributes that will make your opinions worthless, which they are.