Week
of
03/23/98:		 Dr. C. Delores Tucker has been named "Newsmaker of the Year" by the Black Press. She is leading the battle against corporate America's promotion of "gangsta rap."
Is this an important battle for the African-American Community; and if so, what should members of the community do to help?



Name: Tiffiney Ridley
Email: tiffiney_r@hotmail.com
Response: I am a listerner to "gansta rap". I am also in college andhave never been in trouble with the law. Gansta rap is not the evil in our society today. It is just a way for many people to make money.Parents have to take responsibility for what their children listen too.I do not agree what is said in all rap music but it is their right to say it.Just because I hear about selling drugs or sleeping around to get money fromguys does not mean I will do it or I think it is right. That is why parents mustplay a part in their children's lives. Parents have to be their childrenrole model instead of the sports figures and the rap stars. There is too muchwrong in our society for Ms. Tucker to work so hard to try to banned somethingthat is our right.


Name: bonitapplebaum
Email: wanderingstar23@hotmail.com
Response: We live in a cultural that is based on consumerism and Aframs like most Americans are not critical enough of the types of things(such as TommyWear/$150 sneakers/rap) we are being told to consume. If the content of rap music is inappropriate for one's child don't let them listen to it, but the things being discussed can be seen just about anywhere. Look at the behavior of any political figure. Dr. Tucker's "mission" is terribly misguided. You cannot censor the realities of blackfolk even if they do not represent the reality that most of us see. Her alliance with right-winger William Bennett is appauling. Why isn't she fighting to get more funding for computers in schools, or more funds to get young people into college? Talk about a distracting people from the real issues...


Name: Jason
Email: jlush@rogers.wave.ca
Response: I think that the United States of America should have better gun control. Is that not a good place to start?


Name: Randall
Email: B1More1@aol.com
Response: 20 years or more ago my Uncle came home from the war a heroin addict. Marvin Gaye's asked "What's Goin On". A few years later, Curtis Mayfield answered in the Movie Superfly. Remember, "I'm your momma, I'm your Daddy, I'm that #igger in the alley...wants some coke, wants some speed, I can give you want you need, I'm your pusherman." Most of today's so called gansta rappers was childern watching their older sibling party to Curtis Blow, you remember they play it around christmas "Don't you give me all that jive about things that was before I was alive, this ain't eighteen hundred and three ain't even 1970 ..." At the same time many adults in our community thought they could join Weezy and George Jefferson, you know "Move on up". By the time they figured out that you can not run away, move away or marry away from your skin color, that reeason America choose us as her slaves. China White (pure heroin) epidemic had progressed to don't care about your job, your status or your nieghborhood. Mr. Crack Cocaine was and is on the loose. Crack Cocaine is a Chemistry Laboratory manufactured drug just like methadone. No uneducated, underfunded people could introduce such a menace. And by now you are saying, but what does this have to do with the question. You should not argue against the truth. "Gansta" is the American way. The US Government used Gansta's to help them in Italy and on the Docks of New York. JFK's mafia hit on Castro turned sour and he lost his life. At least that's what the History channel is insiuated as they talk of Pop Kennedy's connections with the mob. Congress Women, Maxine Waters, has highlighted, a US government connection between, Drugs, Guns our community and Contra Rebels. At some point it becomes neccessary to talk with the very people that we are talking about I recall Minister Farrakhan's response about something being right or not. He said something like If you think a glass is dirty and someone disagrees, place a clean glass beside it for all to see and decide which it is. Todays youth gravitate towards the truth. You can not tell a teenager that Drug dealers don't get money. In one conversation a boy of 15 told me Making money selling drugs was easier then going to the NBA. Even though I responded by telling him today it is the easiest way to go to prison. His nickel comeback was no matter what I said money is important. My last story, A thirteen year old boy shared this observation with me. "Randall did you see the movie "Panther"? I replied yes. Did you see how the movie ended? I said yes. He said they are doing it. The it, flood our community with drugs. To this thirteen year old, The police kill Black men for helping to build communities just as easy as they arrest, beat and kill Black men for crimes. Next statement from the 13 year old "it don't make a difference what you do." Wrong conclusion and I stated that to him. Then I quickly change the subject to talk more about the movie Panther. Put gangsta raps right to drugs, guns and welfare. Symtoms and some times solutions for problems. With the cold war ending what would all the Military men due. Fast forward, the prison system staff and population doubled in preparation for the Military men to have room on the streets. I'd like to see high profile NAACP or CD Tucker fight to get the history books straight. Baltmore was the place of the 1st blood shed of the Civil War, when the Mayor of the time and the Police force tried to stop the federal troops from marching though Baltimore. With this victory our children may find school a little more interesting and the rap may change again.


Name: Sister/Brother Love
Email: SBL223@aol.com
Response: As a mother trying to raise children, I find it disgusting that the dregs of the African-American community has become what our young people are striving to be like, what the media chooses to portray. These dregs have a voice on the airways and televisions in America that no other part of the African-American community has. Explain to me how is it that the low life who sells drugs to our children, robs us (and I mean us, we are the victims of these crimes), shoot our children down in the streets as if they were nothing more than dogs playing on the sidewalk, walking around with automatic weapons as if at war, but the only people dying are our young brothers and sisters. Our young men trying so desparately to look hard, and be hard, emulating the dregs of our community and then finding themselves in a position where they make a decision that will certainly destroy their entire lives. Jail birds, convicts, these are the people set before our youth for emulation. Young sisters are walking around trying to be like Little Kim, whose lyrics are disgusting as she teaches young sisters the words of prostitutes and harlots. Any mother who has heard this garbage should be appalled that her daughter might disrespect herself by listening to it, or allow young boys to play this trash around her. I say Dr. Tucker is right. And every parent who sits and prays as I do, that their teenage son or daughter arives home safely every day should be behind this woman. Children walking around with guns, and using them to solve silly arguments. Our children rushed to emergency rooms all day long, every day all over the nation. If we really care to have this sickness removed from our community, we need to start with radio stations in our area. She is working on the record companies. This woman can't do it all by herself. We can find the radio stations in our areas that are pushing this garbage, note who the advertisers are, and start calling the station and the advertisers. The new game is to release a just for radio version of a record, and then put the real trash on the CD. Or release one clean radio song, and then kids by the CD and are bombarded with these sick messages. These radio stations, record companies, and the rappers themselves are in it for the dollar, they don't care that our children are the ones suffering and dying. People who have no respect for human life, their own or anybody elses, is influencing our children, our community, our lifestyles. WE HAVE GOT TO PUT A STOP TO THIS!


Name: K. Copeland
Email: kyc_56@hotmail.com
Response: Why is it necessary to blast Dr. Tucker for taking a stand for something she believes to be right? I have more respect for people that DO something than those who sit around and gripe about things gone awry. JAZZ was OUR pure art form. We were given credit for creating it and it is something we can be proud to claim. However, gangsta rap has aspects that do NOT make me proud. As a black person living outside the US, what bothers me the most is now some other cultures identify American Blacks with the total gangsta rap package; not as a diverse group of people with civility, education, and other interests. Maybe corporate America does have an agenda to manipulate those who would sell us out for any amount of money, or possessions. Seems like we did that a long time ago, when we sold our own people, for capital gain. Those of us, who are students of history KNOW what I'm talking about. Umoja


Name: Monte Pratt
Email: sanderdl@co.forsyth.nc.us
Response: Good for her. She has an issue that she believes is important (and I happen to think she has a point). "Gangsta Rap" is music. But it very explicitly glorifies violence, marijuana, and women as objects of twisted sexual mores. Will African-Americans say and do anything for a dollar? Instead of "Gangsta Rap" why don't we go back to performing in "black face." We all have things we would like to say to various people at various times that we keep within us. That's because we have some sense of dignity and respect for others-- even those with whom we may disagree. However, Gangsta Rap promotes a "say anything to anybody," "Do anything To Anyone," "Who Cares" attitude. I don't know about the other visitors to this site and their family situations, but out of respect for my parents I can hardly listen to the radio in their presence because of the vulgarity, explicity insinuations about sex, and violence depicted in many of these songs. I think these artists have the right (but not the obligation) to spew verbal sewage, and people like C. Delores Tucker have the right (and some would say an obligation) to speak out against it. For those who said that C. Delores Tucker needs to "get a life," I dare say she has a life. What are you living for other than yourself? Are there any causes you feel passionate about that you think can make your community better? If so, are you doing anything about it? If not, I would think you wouldn't want to tell C. Delores Tucker to get a life, but you might ask her how you can get one of your own.


Name: Mellow e
Email: dixonear@shnbpmo.schinnen.army.mil
Response: well as far as gangsta rap goes , the gang *** has been around for years i grewup in it living in compton ca , I think there is less violence now then , before gangsta rap hit the scene i might be wroug on that but everybody has the right to speak, just like everybody has the right to choose not to buy gangsta rap. Tucker's focus should be on a larger issue like the no good police dpt's in the black neigbhoods.


Name: Rashidra Scott
Email: genecamp@pilot.infi.net
Response: Coming from a youths perspective: yes, I feel gangsta rap can be dangerous to society IF and only if the young person listening to it is not mature enough to differentiate between what is morally right and wrong within the lyrics. However, if the child has the maturity to know that everything in gangsta rap is not to be followed, there is no problem.


Name: abdul malik
Email: ameer@earthlink.net
Response: I THINK DELORES TUCKER NEEDS TO GET A LIFE


Name: Falaq Abdurraqib
Email: Angron@webtv.net
Response: I think that gangsta rap is very dangerous for our youth. It promotes violence on our neighborhood and enters in the minds of the youth a lack of respect for life. This mentality is harmful to the youth and the community as awhole. Most importantly I think that it helps to keep us divided.The mentality that gangsta rap promotes is not needed in our community.We need music that wiil promote love and unity not violence.


Name: William Blickley
Email: Blickley@Juno.com
Response: I'm thankful that someone from our community, with national visibility, is speaking out about this negative influence upon our children. We should complain and oppose any person or organization who oppresses or negatively influences our community and makes it more difficult for our children to achieve their greatest potential. We should support and encourage anyone that fights against those negative influences, especially if that person is from our community. If that Person or organization, oppressing or negatively influencing our community, is one of us we should be even quicker to respond. We are more effective in setting our children's standards for the communities' future than anyone. We are their role models! If we defend anyone, because they are black, who promotes evil in our community we are telling our children that because they are black they can follow a different standard than we expect from the white community. Dr. C. Delores Tucker, thank you for publicly joining a good fight. If we continue to look the other way when the problem is one of us we will never achieve the community standards that we admire and say we strive for.


Name:
Email: PITTBUL@webtv.net
Response: The Power Of The Tongue:....Death and life are in the Power of the Tongue! Words carry Power; Words Create; Words Destroy! Perverted words bring death and/or destruction. The tongue that uttered potential destruction for the "Rap Industry," belongs to Dr. C. Delores Tucker. That tongue anticipated dominion over "Rap." Her bad-mouth...turned sweet-mouth...when she attempted to lure the CEO himself (of Death Row Records) to work for her...this "Newsmaker"...turned "Rap-Faker"...should... become "Female-Baker." Cogitate that!...


Name: Prophet
Email: kgary@sunset.olemiss.edu
Response: Rap music reflects some of the many problems we face in society. But Rap is not the cause of these problems. Rap is simply an easy target. It simular to how many whites blame welfare on blacks eventhough more white use welfare. It we are serious about bettering our communities we must attack the root of the problem. The truth is if rap music did not exsist there still would be drugs, violence, crime, unemployment,ect...The reason why gangster rap is so successfull is because many of us have ignored the problem in society which Rap reflects. Many of us are now able to "move up" in society, and we forget that many of our brothers and sisters live under harsh conditions. We should not blame rap for a problem which is far bigger than rap. Peace Out!!!!!


Name: khne3mu
Email: khne3mu@aol
Response: Mrs Tucker efforts are noble, but if we don't have the mechanism to get to the people that is buying those records, then our action might not be effective. I hope there is some way that we as a people can take control of this destiny.


Name:
Email: PITTBUL@webtv.net
Response: Leave "Rap" alone!! Hound the "Fat-Cats" who get rich because they ignore the deplorable conditions our A-A people must endure every day of our lives. This Racist society gets what it deserves. We have all heard the expressions; garbage in garbage out? What goes around comes around? (I know some of you will need some time to think about that; go ahead, take all the time you need.....) It has been reported: that, Dr. Tucker, attempted to'woo' Suge (short for sugar) knight, (the C.E.O. of Death Row Records 'Gansta Rap's most powerful Label) to come work for her at 'Time Warners', if he would tone down Death Row's lyrics to meet her unspecified standards. A sum of $80 million was to be involved for Suge Knight!! Why, then, did she join this sad duo for months of public criticism for Rap by Senate majority leader Bob Dole, former Bush administration drug czar William Bennett, and C. Delores Tucker (ousted Pennsylvania Secretary of State-reborn as a Rap music critic). What does Delores Tucker, know about 'Rap Music?' What can she positively contribute? Why was she 'Dismissed' as Secretary-ofState? What is her "Story?" Does she give credibility, or dishonor to "Legitimate African-American Entrepreneurism?" Delores and Dionne Warick, a member of Tucker's "National Political Congress of Black Women", waited five hours at the Beverly Hills home of Dionne, for Suge Knight. He never showed. The crusading Dr. C. Tucker was sued for interfering with contractual relationships for unspecified damages. Tucker admits discussing a deal, she insists she never talked about any money with Knight...."The controversy and all the other stuff can't stop what we are doing," says Death Row co-founder Dr. Dre. "Our business is making music, and that won't change." If Dr. Tucker and her criticizing friends want to change Rap, they should change what the living conditions forces them to be. This is where the problem exists! destroy the strangle hold over the cities, the corrupted, and the police brutalities, that the cops (gleefully) force upon the 'captured-unfortunates,' the oppressed! And if Dr. Tucker really want to do society and America a great service, there are over two hundred White Racists groups, organizations in America; _G E T R I D of T h e m_ We must question the motives of the ones who asks our participation. Stop voting for politicians who seek to destroy every African-American venture for success in life.....Freedom of Speech, the right to express one's thoughts without governmental restrictions on the contents thereof, as (is) guaranteed by the First Amendment. If you want to curb someone's speech watch what "you" say. Think about it....And when you force intolerance on a race of people, this race of people may give back their intolerance, for you!!!


Name:
Email: PITTBUL@webtv.net
Response: PART TWO: Another Classic case of Woman trying to be Man! When will they learn.....?


Name: Chuck
Email: none
Response: Yo Pittbul and Prophet. I agree wit yall 110% on yalls posts!!!! C. Delores Tucker should let hip hop alone!!!! All the thing she's trying to do to hip hop is suspect. I don't see how the NNPA can name Mrs. Tucker "Newsmaker of the Year." I was surprised. The NNPA must have flipped a coin to decide!!!! I admit that some of the rhymes are dirty but I don't believe in censorship. I feel that the award should have gone to Min Conrad Muhammad of New York because he held the Hip Hop Day of Atonement after Tupac was murdered. Also Min Farrakhan for inviting hip hoppers over to his crib, to talk about problems plaguing the hip hop nation, right after Notorious B.I.G. was murdered. These brothas should have receive the newsmaker for trying to help the hip hop nation. Sure these men called hip hop on it about the lyrics concerning death, guns, etc. in their speeches, but they try to help hip hop by talking to the brothas and sistas that's in hip hop. They didn't run to da government trying ban so called gangsta rap, (A mainstream media term for so call "bang bang" shoot'em up hip hop). Miz Tucker and her "crew"did. Well enough for now, gotta jet on outta here!!!!