By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
Who knew that two weeks after Don Imus's ouster and Oprah Winfrey's big "Town Hall" meeting, the saga demonizing hip-hop culture would continue.
Last week "Hip-Hop CEO" Russell Simmons asked the industry to ban "The N-Word," "The B-Word" and "The H-Word."
This week, Reverend Al Sharpton is staging a "March of Decency."
On May 3, the former presidential candidate and formidable civil rights activist will co-lead a march from Sony Music's United States headquarters on Madison Avenue and continue to Time Warner's Columbus Circle headquarters.
Universal Music Group's Broadway offices are also a part of the marching trail.
"I think it is important that we make a strong appeal as consumers to demand standards that will not offend us or dehumanize us based on race, gender or any other category," Sharpton said. "This march will be lead by Tamika Mallory, Councilwoman Darlene Mealy and other women, but we encourage that it be attended and supported by all and I am proud to be a part of it."
According to Sharpton's longtime spokeswoman Rachel Noerdlinger, the children of late "Godfather of Soul" James Brown will also march. May 3 would've been the music pioneer's 74th birthday.
Through its new Decency Initiative, the Sharpton-helmed National Action Network will call for record companies implement a code of conduct for artist in their lyrics. The primary focus of the march is to protest sexism, racism, and homophobia in music and the image that is perpetuated in the recording industry that glamorizes misogyny, Noerdlinger explained.
Comments: (49)
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By: tmsine on 4/30/2007 1:16PM
I had just talked about that this needs to be done on one of the threads. Now that Al Sharpton has helped to bring Don Imus to his knees, this will be even more effective to stop all of this garbage and filth that these record companies are promoting so that they can keep lining their pockets. They could care less what those gansta rappers are saying in their lyrics, as long as the money keeps coming in. And I wish this gansta rapper garbage was stopped altogether, but at least this will make these thugs clean up their act with their ghetto mentality. And hopefully, from all of this, these record companies will start promoting people with some real talent and decency. I applaud Al Sharpton for all that he is doing to try to clean up this mess!
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By: Ikalean on 5/07/2007 12:01PM
Al Sharpton is and for years has been a front runner for civil and equal rights. He has tried for years to get the major music companies to stop publishing this music, but to no avail. Now that this mess has a larger platform, Mr. Sharpton is sticking with the case and holding all the players' feet to the fire until justice has been paid.
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By: allie lark on 4/30/2007 6:09PM
I concur with the above comment. I applaud Rev Sharpton for his efforts. Enough is enough with this dispictable language these so called rap artists are feeding the African American community. As adults, we all should be supportive is getting rid of this trash. Just think about our young children, they already have an uphill struggle just being black. Let us irradicate this language from our community, starting with the music companies then artists such as Snoop Dog, radion stations, record stores and others in this category. Keep the heat on Rev Sharpton, we want positive examples for our children.
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By: boomer on 4/30/2007 6:51PM
Al is a racial opportunist.
1) In 2005, he did TV commercials for LoanMax, a company accused of predatory lending.
2) 1991 Crown Heights riots -- Al was an incendiary factor. recall the murder of Yankel Rosenbaum.
3) 1995 Freddy's fashion mart -- Al came up with the term "white interloper.
4) Rush to judgement on the Duke lacrosse players.
5) Al does NOT have a regular congregation. If he is "ministering", who is he "ministering" to ?
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Eliminating vile language from rap is important. The cause needs a better spokesman than Al --- how about Carol Moseley Brown, or Andrew Young, or Harold Ford. >
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By: laurie on 4/30/2007 7:20PM
al-sharpton is no rev. he is the biggest racist of all the black ppl. always sticking his nose in someones business, think he been hitting the crack pipe, lost lots of weight all of a sudden, wouldnt put it past him smoking crack. he is no role model for the black ppl. just a hater. he is suppossed to be a rev, he is not supposed to act like the way he does, he is not doing it the god way.
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By: nia on 5/01/2007 1:58PM
Al need to sit his behind down somewhere. He is absolutely an opportunist. Anything to keep his name in the media. What happened to freedom of speech. These rappers should be able to say whatever they want to say. If you don't like it then don't buy it and don't listen to it. If you talk about the children listening to it then that is on the parents. Its is not the rappers responsibilty to be your childs parent, thats your job. Monitor what they listen to. I love a lot of rap music and no matter who marches and how long they march, the rappers will still continue to do what they do and make their music.
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By: Cecil Jones on 5/01/2007 6:40PM
Rev. Al, I'm calling you out! You've got a Radio Show and you know the truth. You don't answer your e-mail and you try to hog all the credit for yourself. It's time to share the spotlight with the person responsible for all this controversy. You've got my e-mail address, you've heard my shows, and you've seen the power! Give some damn credit were credit is due. Leave Imus alone! How about a syndication deal that will keep it real? How about introducing the world to the "Black Rush?"
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By: shila on 5/02/2007 7:13AM
I APPLAUD!!! Al Sharpton, for all his work...We need more people like him in this world...He gets thinks done....
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By: Darryl Miller on 5/05/2007 12:16PM
Al does not speak for me, but its about time someone corrected our young brothers on the negativity they put on the air waves. If people want to hear that type of music they should pay for it!
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By: Jason on 5/02/2007 11:44AM
Boomer what does what you are saying have anything to do with the conversation? Did he know that company was involved with predatory lending? Did he murder Mr. Rosenbaum or tell anyone to do that? You are comparing interloper with the N-word, B-Word and H-word? The whole country rushed to judgment about the players and there still is no proof to say that they did no wrong, they are just unable to prove anything.
The Bottom line is none of us are perfect and I am sure there are amongst us persons who regret things we have done in the past. AL Sharpton is stepping to the plate against something that negatively affects our people derogatory and offensive language towards us and no matter Mr. Sharpton's background, that is a good thing on his part, Mr. Sharpton I salute you! I also salute the rappers that use their music for the betterment of their people and there are many!
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