In this past week, rappers “Lil Wayne” and “Future” of Epic Records released what is being called by the label an “unauthorized remix” version of a song called “Karate Chop”, where “Lil Wayne” contributes a line stating, “beat that
p—y up like Emmett Till” referring to the Chicago teen who was brutally murdered in Mississippi in 1955. This hate crime against Till, committed on the grounds that he whistled at a white woman, provided major spark for the already explosive Civil Rights Movement. This horrible, unconscionable reference to the teen’s murder and death caused a public outcry to have Till’s name removed from the song, and for an apology to be issued by the record label and artists. Although Epic Records’ exec, L.A. Reid did issue an apology on behalf of the record company and artists, the artists themselves have remained silent on the issue.
With this generation of young people, artists in particular, there seems to be a huge level of disregard and disrespect of history. There seems to be a widespread sense of entitlement to so many things — as if no rules apply. While we have become accustomed to (but not at all tolerant of) the misogynistic nature of much of today’s music, this disrespectful, egregious, deprecating reference to African-American history is not only disturbing, but is in my opinion a form of “lynching our own legacy”.
Remixing ‘massa’ who now looks like us. WE have in many ways become our own “slave masters.” However, society disguises these ill acts under the First Amendment Right to Freedom of Speech or with the slapping on of labels marked “explicit lyrics”, or “parental advisory”. These terms do not at all justify, indemnify or exculpate the foul use of this reference to one of our ancestors be it by name, or erroneous placement and misuse of our beautiful images. This is not art! This is not clever! This is not “dope!” Nor, is it “fly!” This is a form of “New Millennium Willie Lynchism” that needs to be called out and I am doing it here. I am doing it now!
The “William Lynch Letter”, noted by some African scholars as a false document and urban legend, is an address purportedly delivered by a William (Willie) Lynch to an audience on the bank of the James River in Virginia in 1712 regarding control of slaves within the colony. The letter is said to be a verbatim account of a short speech given by the slave owner, in which he tells other slave masters that he has discovered the “secret” to controlling black slaves by “setting them against one another.”
According to a book by Manfred and Wendt (2011), Globalizing Lynching History: Vigilantism and Extralegal Punishment from an International Perspective lynching is defined as, an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people. It is related to other means of social control that arise in communities. Bottom line, lynching is murder, plain and simple.
The majority of us in 2013 would not consider what these rappers did as “lynch mob” behavior. Nor, by today’s uninformed and fragmented definition would we call it murder. After all, lynching is a felony in all states of the United States, defined by some codes of law as, “any act of violence inflicted by a mob upon the body of another person which results in the death of the person,” with a “mob” being defined as “the assemblage of two or more persons, without color or authority of law, for the premeditated purpose and with the premeditated intent of committing an act of violence upon the person of another.” Lynching in the second degree is defined as “any act of violence inflicted by a mob upon the body of another person and from which death does not result.” However, I submit that what these rappers did was a verbally violent, premeditated, form of social control, intimidation and MANipulation! No disrespect to my brothers. I celebrate you. Nevertheless, even if only theoretically, debatably spiritually and emotionally, a form of killing and slaying has (re)occurred here.
Although, no hands were laid on anyone in this latest situation against Brother Emmett or his living family members, “words” were. In the black community, we all know these words to be more powerful than those “sticks and stones” from days of old. Words can lead to fights and death. After all, look at what an alleged “whistle” from a 14 year old boy led to. While we have already lain to rest our beloved Brother Emmett, his cousin, Airicka Gordon-Taylor, founding director of the Mamie Till Mobley Memorial Foundation continues to give voice to his legacy. It must be revered, protected, honored and respected. Never abused, misused or altered.
What has and is happening in the “new” hip-hop generation and let me include all reality television featuring “us”, is at the core an ongoing assault on black America. A media assassination where we are handing main stream media the rope and in many cases helping them pull the trigger.
We have and are in essence contributing to own demise by preying on our own legacy. It is a form of unconscious, and perhaps subconscious (internal) social intimidation, social control and social manipulation OF us, ON us, BY us. If we are not careful, if we are not more tolerating of self, more self-celebratory this will continue, not only in the music we make, but in the lives that we live and this generation’s legacies will never be lived or remembered as honorable, but lost and never realized.
Thank you for calling this out! So much flys as acceptable in music these days that it’s nice that for once artists are being taken to task for what they say. You can’t always go for the witty or clever line when it may do more harm than inspiration.
Thank you Dr.DCG for your efforts to educate the masses. A collaborative group of like minded individuals are sponsoring our 1st Race Matters Summit November, 2013 Omaha, NE. We must now include Race & Music as one of our breakout sessions.
Honestly, I believe the miseducation or lack of truth regarding Black History has created a generation of people operating in a very dense fog grasping for light and air. Perhaps Mr. Lil never really knew the “truth” of Mr. Till’s death and in a weak attempt to provide “some” inclusion of Black History, to the best of his knowledge, he wrote such lyrics. It would be nice to get his innermost thoughts on what he really intended by these lyrics.
s.
Holly:
It sounds like a great Summit to be held in November. I would like to give Lil Wayne the benefit of any doubt here regarding this matter. However, he has referenced Till before if I am not mistaken. So, he has some idea of the level of response such references can generate. Perhaps there is some level of mis-education. Or perhaps, MISSEDeducation and lack of concern to obtain some. I appreciate you chiming in. Keep is posted on the Summit!
Best,
DrDeborah
Sandria:
Indeed there are many layers to this lyrical assault and his misconduct. And while we should be concerned about his ill referenced remarks to our past and of course to women, the other concern of the matter is of LANGUAGE ARTS and the message that this sends to our young people about being responsible with their creativity; but further with language in general. More often, we ring bells with our words that cannot be un-rung then calamity happens. So fallout is inevitable in many cases. Words are like bullets in the chambers of our mouths. We must be careful not to misfire. Because words of “Im sorry” or “I apologize” do not make good bandages or offer comfort when our words hurt and slay. They simply are not equal to the task of healing pr comforting if we were to just remain silent and THINK before we speak.
Re: “Lil Wayne” matter. Indeed there are many layers to this lyrical assault and misconduct. And while we should be concerned about his ill referenced remarks to our past and of course to women, the other concern of that is a matter of LANGUAGE ARTS and the message that this sends to our young people about being responsible with their creativity; but further with language in general. More often, we ring bells with our words that cannot be unrung then calamity happens. Some fallout is inevitable in many cases. Words are like bullets in the chambers of our mouths. We must be careful not to misfire. Because words of “Im sorry” or “I apologize” do not make good bandages or offer comfort when our words hurt and slay. They simply are not equal to the task of healing or comforting. If we were to just remain silent and THINK before we speak.
So THAT’S what he said? I can’t stand him so I try to ignore all things “L’il” and “Wayne” and didn’t even bother to listen to/read news bites about the controversy. After all, I know he’s an ignorant, egotistical, self-defined “clever” rapper with a degree, which is even more infuriating. He knows better and doesn’t do better. Maybe it’s because he knows he’s slowly losing that faddish and fleeting teen audience and figured the pseudo-defunct marketing strategy that some publicity, good or bad, is good publicity. Not anymore, not in this socially networked age. I pray that his latest bout of ignorance sends him into much needed, much prayed for and awaited retirement, along with any and all Amex commercials in which he might have appeared. Maybe then he can go and kiss his “daddy” on the lips as much as he wants in obscurity without the media ever questioning his sexual orientation or lyrical idiocy.
Vrble1:
Thank you for your reply. In the end, whether one is degree’d or no, it does not make them socially responsible, nor inclined to give a d-mn about others. After all, we have some very bright, highly educated, multiply degree’d fools. If you have no apparent filter, then anything is possible to fly out of your mouth. In that case words are like bullets and the mouth is the chamber. Once the trigger is pulled, people can be hurt by our words including the one firing.
I appreciate you for bringing this matter up. I find it funny how so much was made of Quentin Tarentino’s excessive use of the n-word (which I think was appropriate for the time period), yet I don’t hear the masses in an uproar about this. Yes this new hip hop generation has remixed Massa indeed. Dr. Grison, you hit it right on the nose! Obviously this bit of history was skipped and/or Lil Wayne was not shown that horrible picture of Emmett Till (a picture forever etched in my memory everytime I hear this young man’s name. That image alone should have made him rethink this. The fact that neither artists’ camp has come forth swifly with a statement makes me think that they don’t care. Ignorance isn’t that darn bliss!
Chrystal:
L.A. Reid did issue an apology to the family and I believe by default he was speaking on behalf of the rapper “Future.” However, neither of them have publicly or personally responded to the family or acknowledged anything. And while they are both on different labels, they both are held liable and accountable for mutual participation in and of such a release. The Record Label and the industry as a whole are just as at fault for the lack of accountability of there artists.
Instead of us growing accustomed to misogyny and degradation targeted toward black women in rap music can we vocalize our outrage the same way we are doing toward the vile reference to Emmitt Till?
Lisa:
I agree we should be outraged at any level of disrespect. My statement was not one that lessened that sentiment. Only one that notes what we have become desensitized when it comes to so many things re: us as women, as Africans living in America and just in general. The debate can go for so many years and blog posts, and as well it should. This post was specifically about our history as a whole and about this incident of disrespect.
Lil Wayne just happened to be the catalyst in a much larger issue that spans across a plethora of concerns, issues and matters that we face. However, and let me say in this case, Lil Wayne, wrapped the noose around his own neck and his rapping co-hort ‘Future’ pulled the switch and is letting him fall and hang…alone.
Greetings and thank you for this posting.
Sis. Airicka Gordon-Taylor, director of the Mamie Till-Mobley Foundation and Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. Chairman of POCC and son of the slain Black Panther (Fred Hampton) were featured on “NU Day Resurrection and Liberation” radio program hosted by Sis. Empress Phile’ Chionesu, (EMPRESS CHI), founder and President General of the historic Million Woman March and Universal Movements, on Sat. Feb. 16, 2013 where they discussed this matter of Lil Wayne and other offensive so called artist and also the proposed “actions” that will now commence to deal with them. Such actions include: Community Town Meetings, nationwide, to bring greater attention and mobilization against the Exploitation of the Music/Entertainment Industry and the present and future/potential effects on Black/African females, in particular,and the Black/African community as a whole. AND, Can anyone say, “It’s TIME TO BOYCOTT” !!! We can and WILL !!
You can hear this “NU Day” radio dialog/discussion at any time by just going to the “on demand” section of “NU Day” website at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/empresschi
Nu Day Resurrection & Liberation/International Million Woman Movement Online Radio by Empress Chi
http://www.blogtalkradio.com
Greetings Nu Day Resurrection:
Thank you for posting here and offering insigth and discourse on the matter. I spoke directly with Sis Gordon-Taylor and felt as much of her pain that I could. I say it that way, b/c I am not her or a direct,immediate descendant, but I too felt and still feel something behind the fact of the matter. It clearly is an ongoing dicussion, that will last into perpetuity. However, we must press on and continue to chip away at such “moutains of despair” and out it there will be “Stones of Hope!”in the manifestation of our young people and the generations to come. I would love to be apart of this ongoing conversation with Nu Day Resurrection & Liberation/International Million Woman Movement Online Radio. Please keep me posted. Thank you again.
Best,
DrDeborah
well said my sister we as a race has lost our self respect and our dignity. Our children future is in danger point blank. It took us 400 years to get out of chains and we are still in mental and political chains. So why would you want to call your self two chains. Know What I mean. Hip Hop need a mix down and mastering.
D.C. White:
Thank you for your reply. I appreciate more importantly your reference to one calling themselves “two chains” as we have battled to get free for so may years. Words are Power! Both Positive & Negative ones.
When a people lack a knowledge of self it manifests in many self destructive ways. Considering everything else I knew about this particular artist this lyric aligns with everything else. Thanks for your thought provoking analysis. This is precisely the kind of conversation that needs to take place. Is Black History, History?
This conversation will continue for as long as their are words written and lyrics sung.
Great article. Unfortunately we are beginning to live in a history-less generation.
K.L. Rushing:
Thank you for your reply. Indeed we have gravitated away from the fundamentals of our heritage by disallowing our young people the benefit of being taught it. We have replaced such discourse with our youth with things that matter not and that are not at all long lasting (such as, social media, tools of instant gratification, video games, music videos, fashion trends and the like). These will be what fades to black over time along with the memories of our Beautiful Black History; becoming black memories.
We have iconized the wrong things in the eyes of our children and perhaps as adults have even begun so many ways, demonized out own history by way of not telling the stories that need to be told so our history can live on. WE must teach out children or they will not know. Who can we blame then? Lil Wayne is only a small portion of the larger problem. Thanks again.
DrDeborah
K.L. Rushing:
Thank you for your reply. It is indeed coming to a time where history is (HISTORY). It is a thing of the past and not at all something we pass along or instill in this generation of young people. The question then turns to us as parents, adults, community leaders and those of us who are the story tellers of OUR generation. If we do not tell our stories to our children, we too are helping to Lynch Our Own Legacy, by being negligent by our not teaching our children the very history that holds and molds us. Thank you again.
First of all, on behalf of all the African brothers who respect their women, I would like to thank Dr. Deborah for bringing this crucial topic into readers attention. Media dominant hip hop has been converted into a destructive tool that is fucking up the new generation’s mind. This is not the first track where Lil Wayne justified misogyny, but Karate Chop contains the worst punch line I’ve ever heard in my life. For christ sake, how can you compare making love to a girl with Emmett Till’s brutal murder?? I can’t say dum…but how fucken ignorant can you be?? what’s next? is he gonna make a track that says ” kill a bitch and fuck her dead body like ted bundy?” ..How can one get an erection from imagining a bleeding 14 year old African American teen? It’s a shame what people say just to make money..and yet we dance to our own degradation….
Brother Akil:
Thank you for your reply. You make valid and vivid points. We must curtail stupidity as much as and when possible.
Lil Wayne has been dropped from Mountaindew/Pepesi Co. in the wake of his use of offensive language abot Emmett Till.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/07/business/media/mountain-dew-drops-lil-wayne-over-emmett-till-lyric.html?_r=0