I'm willing to bet that we all have had the two big conversations.
The first one was when the issue with Don Imus first hit the news, about how ridiculous and insulting his "humor" was. The second one was a few days later, when we started wondering how we might have caused it... or prevented it.
We've all had the conversations. Where did yours take place? Hanging out with your friends? In the barber shop or hair salon? Standing around your cube with your coworkers?
Regardless of how it happened, the content was pretty much the same. The reason I am so confident about this, is because we're going back to a similar pattern. We've been here before, and we'll probably be here again. See if this sounds familiar:
Something takes place in the news that upsets the Black community. Maybe it's something that involves the police. Maybe it's something that involves a celebrity, or children. Then, your best friend calls you up, and says "did you hear about (insert scenario here)"?
What follows is predictable. Angry members of the community will appear on TV. Then, there will be debates on the major news networks. Some "guilty" party will offer a token apology, and someone's head will roll. Afterwards, there will be armchair discussion for about three or four weeks.
Then... we forget.
Rinse and repeat, three months later.
This whole formula is so routine that we can even predict what's going to happen. So hasn't it occured to anyone that there is something very important missing from the equation?
There is never any action. No follow-up whatsoever.
Or even worse, the action is just symbolic. It usually involves someone hosting a press conference talking about how we need to change. That's usually enough to shut everyone up.
Are we taking these lessons to heart? Are we as individuals changing our lives and our actions, or simply speculating about how we could? Can we use our influence to change things? Are we really supporting artists whose message we approve of, or just saying we should?
Are we criticizing BET while 106th & Park is playing in the background? Are we criticizing hip hop artists whose CDs are in rotation in our homes? Are we condemning vulgar music, and making plans to go to the club and dance to it in the same conversation?
I unfortunately can assure you of this: The N-word, as well as the other words that have been on our minds for past few weeks, will continue to spew from our radios and TVs. The bank accounts of Viacom, Sony, Universal, and the others will keep growing. The gritty images of us that we claim to hate will continue to be broadcast around the world in interactive, hi-definition, surround sound perfection. Our children will continue to present themselves as thugs, and we'll continue to stand by and watch them do it.
Until we learn the lesson.
We cannot say one thing and practice another.
We, who ignore history, are doomed to repeat it. Again, and again, and again.
Sadly, I'll keep these words in a safe place for a few months, until it's time to pull it out again.
Posted By: Jon C.
Saturday, May 12th 2007 at 4:52PM
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