The Corruption of America’s Children
Bill O’Reilly, who was recently dubbed “the new king of cable news” by TV Guide, had a special on FOX last night, “The Corruption of the American Child.” The show was described as “a thought-provoking special that examines the effects of the entertainment industry on today’s kids.”
It explored TV, movies, the internet, and music with this disclaimer: “Some may be shocked to see and hear what today’s youth are exposed to on a daily basis: salacious dress, obscene lyrics, violent bullying and sexual promiscuity.”
Of course one of the areas in the spotlight was hip-hop. Russell Simmons and Damon Dash were interviewed briefly to explain the guns, drug and sex references in their artist’s music. It was pretty funny. They couldn’t explain it. Everything on the show was spliced and mixed to accent every point that Bill O’Reilly tried to make.. which you would expect.
Russell Simmons looked slightly embarrassed, knowing that he didn’t have the politically correct answer to the question of rap music’s ability to teach and uplift youth mired in poverty. And Dame Dash was squirming in his seat, twisting his lips up and getting mad heated over the line of questioning. He almost screamed on old Bill when he said that 90% of rap music is filled with negative influences, but held himself under control. Russell and Damon both asked Bill O’Reilly, sitting there in his suit, who probably has never been to the hood in his life, and asked him.. “Are YOU really concerned about kids in poverty?” Basically, questioning his motives.
It’s not easy and in most cases impossible to defend references of drugs and slugs.. but it’s not entertainers responsibility to educate my child. I don’t have kids, but I’m saying. If a child can’t read and they’re in the fifth grade, then guess what?.. music has nothing to do with that. Rap artists aren’t in the classroom giving these kids instruction, they’re not teachers and if they applied for a job, the Board of Education would let them know about their lack of qualifications.
Bill O’Reilly asserted that rap music is responsible for the continued poverty levels in the urban areas. What about the shitty schools in most of those areas? The lack of quality housing and retail developments? Hip-hop grew out of these situations. Like a rose growing in an empty, abandoned lot.. rap music came out of these conditions as a response to the lack of concern or respect for the hood.
The so-called corruption of America’s youth is not a by-product of the entertainment industry, it is a reflection of the condition of the country and the government’s fucked up policies.. which have ZERO aim toward upliftment of anyone, white, black, or pink. Cash Rules Every Thing and determines every policy in the good ol’ USA.
Youth and adults alike are affected more by corruption: Enron (Arthur Andersen style,) outdated and just fucked up education curriculums, and the need for more profits in corporate America no matter what the cost. Those hurt far more than what Beanie Sigel has to say about “cooking up coke proper.” Granted, some people do get gassed up and start thinking they can be Scarface or bust shots out of Acs like Biggie, but out of the millions of listeners.. how many are really thinking about doing it. If anything rap music has given people in a wide variety of fields.. fashion, music, movies, magazines, the internet.. a road to the riches, so to speak.
Instead of pointing out the negative.. if he was so concerned about the youth of America.. he should have highlighted the new wave of artists who are NOT promoting “salacious” lifestyles. The Roots, India.Arie, Outkast, Common, Alicia Keys, the list goes on. But his job is that of a rabble rouser. A guy who likes to stir up controversy and problems, but provides no solutions. If entertainment is that powerful he should direct his energy toward establishing that new moral salve that he believes is the cure for a better America. I can see it now, The Bill O’Reilly Christian Network.. just keep the priests away from the kids and he’ll be fine.
☼ What's Your Opinion? ☼
I saw this on Thursday on the Fox channel, I thought that O’Reilly was completely rude and disrespectful. He tried to slam rap as an industry without taking time to really listen to what Russell Simmons was saying nor Damon Dash. I think it was O’Reilly’s only chance to say the N word that he really cared about! It looked that way to me. _Jamminjosie
Let’s call a spade a spade. You have artists glorifying this so-called street life as if it’s the only way to live. Yeah, I know the school system is f**ked up, condition in public housing are below standards. But it doesn’t give anyone the right to perpetuate the senseless violence that goes on in society. Today’s rapper is doing nothing but conditioning the minds of youth to follow in their footsteps, i.e. see where I came from and look at where I am, if you do the same thing you can do this too. Jay-Z is the perfect example, I love the man’s music but he is directly influencing a whole generation with songs like “1-900-hustler” or the whole blueprint album. Let’s be fair and real at least, what that little white man had to say yesterday is very vital to the existence of “the rap game”, hopefully the foolish will wake up and see it????
Instead of talking about a way of life, or a aspect of life for some people..why don’t the questioners make a statement and provide the urban community with more opportunities, rather than their negative comments and pointing fingers.
Before you put something down, try and build it up.
(Pasha)
For a reporter supposedly exceeding in his craft, he did VERY little research on the topic he was reporting on. What happened to the commons? Black Thoughts? KRS ONE’s? Not to mention the entire Christian hip-hop section? Ignorance reigns if anything in the media.
so why weren’t you invited…dame dash did look like he was on the hot seat tho’, R.O.C.
Didn’t Wu-Tang say: “Teach the truth to the young Black youth.”
It is completely naive to think that rap music doesn’t influence young America. I know its the parents responsibility, but let’s face it: not everybody has good parents.
Okay so he didn’t do his research on India Irie in which she didn’t get enough props for her work and poor promotion, on The Roots who aren’t promoted like these other rappers like they should! and they aren’t making handfuls of videos spreading the good they provide Alicia Keys has nothing to do with rap period.
I’m not hopping completely on O’reilly’s side but he did have them squirming in their seats because half the shit the majority of the shit he was talking about was true. Yeah he doesn’t know a damn thing about being black but he knows what he’s seeing in the rap game we see the shit too I’m not asking the “ENTERTAINERS” to teach shit either but from whats going on between blacks period we need to pull together and think of a plan or if there is one, think of a better one.
We are making ourselves look bad not O’Reilly, O’Reilly’s just pointing shit out we already know, have heard,and seen before we can only prove him wrong with a handful of artists that we know a little something something too and are straightening things out the thing is the big shot artists with the most money
and most of the videos aren’t setting an example to our youth and our youth’s attention is always going to be on the rap artists with the most, the highest, the best,and the competition ain’t nothing.
No matter how much they know, how well they can rhyme,and so on and so on
of course O’Reilly is going to have you runnin’ for your knowledge even if he’s not doing anything for the hood he’s just throwing what these artists are doing in the faces of Rush Simmons and Damon Dash oooh I know Damon Dash wanted to let him have it but he’s not stupid enough to lash out on Bill O’Reilly on national television I’m sure he had alot to say after the show.
I am a huge fan of rap, wu, pac, masta ace, canibus, brotha lynch, brother ali, bone thugs and many more mainstream and underground artists that I could go on naming for hours… but you cannot deny that 90 percent of mainstream rap and hip hop music IS about guns, drugs, sex, and money… to deny that is ignorance or plain denial… The fact is that many rappers choose to make music about those things in part because it is part of their lives growing up, and also because it sells records.. But, there are many artists who are out there trying to get people to realize that you don’t have to live that way, let alone make music about it… kids heart music about guns, drugs, hoes, and money and want to emulate that behavior… the result is a lack of interest in honest hard work, sacrifice, morals, values, and knowledge of ones own history.. the result has been evident everywhere you look, there are kids in elementary school calling their girlfriends hoes and abusing them, kids in high school facing 25 to life, and family bonds destroyed over guns, money, sex and drugs.. I have lived around these things and much worse my entire life, and its plain to see that if you want a positive response, you have to give positive input to today’s youth.. lets face it, they do not get hat from 90 percent of things they hear and see in the entertainment industry.. O’reilly is just trying to get that known, and as any mature somewhat educated adult would understand this, he like myself and many others would put more support behind it if there was a greater positive influence on today’s youth, but sadly that is lacking, and we will continue to see the results in school systems, job markets, growing welfare lines, and jails.. wake up and spread the positive vibrations…
Wow I think when Fox [ claming to holsome family network] can air filth like Family Guy and promote it to children. I realy dont think thay have ANY room to be opening there fat mouths and pointing there fingure at anyone.
Youre the one with the brains here. Im wtchaing for your posts.