Jay-Z and Kanye West’s usage of the term “black excellence” on Watch the Throne should be a term that permeates throughout today’s society with us black people.
Because I can honestly say with a big ass Kool-Aid smile on my face, we’re making some remarkable strides. But sometimes when you move forward, there’s a risk you’ll take a few of those pivotal steps back.
Videos like the 13-year-old kid rapping about guns and going HAM with the expletives, and especially the 6-year-old kid from South Florida named Albert whose “Booty Pop” video has gone so viral, it’s stirred up debate left and right, are definitely examples of the pure ratchetness that’s f*cking with the way black people are perceived by just about everybody else – including how we look at ourselves.
Because 6 years of age is way too young to be talking about misogyny or degrading women.
And when you’re a young black kid too, you’re adding fuel to fire, becoming the catalyst for the hate perpetuated by individuals who think like, dare I say it, George Zimmerman!
But I can’t blame the precocious little Albert for his “Booty Pop” video that has him rapping:
“I can make your booty pop, booty pop, booty pop…” as scantily-clad women shake their derriere all throughout the music video.
Nor can I use rap music as a scapegoat, even though up-and-coming rappers like Chief Keef, who’s only 16 years old, make it hard for me. But again, he’s 16, not 6.
The culprits at fault are the parents! Children are impressionable, and sure, they’re more susceptible to negative imagery and so forth nowadays, but it’s your job as parents to make sure they can differentiate from right and wrong, positive and negative – even if they’re used to hearing the phrase “bad bitch.”
And for little Albert’s parents, not only is that your job, but it is also your obligation as black parents to make sure that the 6-year-old grows up to be a well-adjusted productive member of society.
Just because we have important black people in important places, and black culture is generally being embraced more and more by just about everybody, it doesn’t mean that we’re accepted by all the “cool kids.” In fact, we’re still trying to “fit in” in some facades of life. I know as a black male, I am.
African Americans make up 13.6 percent of the U.S. population, according to census data, but black men reportedly make up 40.2 percent of all prison inmates, and 1 out of 3 black males born are expected to enter the prison system. I say this jokingly, but you know how scared that makes me to be caught in a compromising situation with two of my black homies!
All that said, I’m tired of some people thinking black is short for “black sheep.” Black should be short for “black excellence,” because to reiterate, it should be a term that permeates throughout today’s society with us black people, us black males.
The “Booty Pop” video ain’t helping!
And not to digress from what I’m saying, but if as parents you’re condoning your child’s rapping and want to see their talent flourish, have your kid rap about a topic that they can relate to, and is socially acceptable. There’s a 7-year-old girl named Baby Kaely – a year older than Albert – rapping about bullies, and just straight bashing them with the sort of swag a 7-year-old should have.
You could think that something like that won’t appeal to a larger audience, but a 6-year-old boy rapping about booties popping is even more unappealing, being that he doesn’t even know what it means to be actually transfixed by some booties. I’d rather him rap about cooties!
Don’t dare to be different, when this type of different is simply erroneous;
erroneous on so many levels, and of course, on a black level.
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