>
So, dear Rehabbers, as you recall a few days ago I posted a story about an Essence.com article that basically said if you aren’t on the Beyonce train, then you are an insecure hater. Here was my response:
Its not hatred, its just plain disgust with the state of music and the lack of content that COULD be world-changing. No one said she was not beautiful or talented; but why not use that beauty and talent to TRULY change the world and influence positivity in youth? What good is money, when it is spent on promoting a false persona? What message does she send with her image and stage persona? What does it stand for in relation to who she really IS? Oh, wait, I forgot, it’s “only entertainment”. Is it really smart to “support all successful people”? Hell, some people have made fortunes off of the enslavement and abuse of other human beings, hello Diddy! But, should we turn a blind eye to that? All money isn’t clean and good people. What good is fame and fortune when you sell out an entire generation and group?
Imagine how many young boys and girls (hell and grown folks too!) would put clothes on and respect themselves if SHE or her HUSBAND said so! Imagine how many people would “rap it up” if Jay-Z and Beyonce made a commercial making it cool to have protected sex or to be abstinent? How many young women would benefit from a song about keeping your body sacred and not parading it on tv wearing “Freakum Dresses” like an, ahem… Nasty Girl? But then, she’d have to put some clothes on too. The problem is not Beyonce, its the message that she brings: BLACK WOMEN are loose divas who love to shake their booties. Nevermind being intelligent when you can be rich and sexy.
Imagine how much education (which, aside from faith and determination, is the cornerstone of moving up in this world), saving and investing money (rather than buying cars, clothes, boats, “bling”, purses, mansions, and alcohol), getting married to a RESPECTABLE MAN (who doesn’t call women b’s and h’s, or sell drugs), being a father to your children (instead of hiding them in the Carribbean), and loving G-d rather than clubbing like a “Diva” would be COOL if THEY SAID IT. What if they glorified rebuilding the Black Community rather than selling drugs and ‘having a HUGE “Ego”? Because let’s face it, the REST of the world already sees ALL OF US as thugs, thieves, criminals, loose women, sex objects, and spendthrifts.
But, I guess she has no control over any of this, the world needs to cut her (and countless other inappropriate people like Rihanna, Nikki Minaj, Britney Spears, Lil’ Kim, Kanye West, Jay-Z, etc.) some slack. So, people with values, standards and opinions (like me, and COUNTLESS others), should just shut up and “stop hating” because we are SO terribly wretched, unattractive, overweight, uneducated, chronically single, broke, come from nothing, jealous/envious, and just. plain. worthless.
Interstingly, the entire tone of the forum has changed. I truly believe that what Golden Brown said on the last post was true: If we want to see a change in the music industry in 2011, then lets take it back! I’ve decided to start an officialy campaign to reclaim our rights as consumers:
In 2011, I challenge each of you not to purchase, listen to, support, or condone ANY media that negatively depicts women of color. This includes: magazines, radio, television, buying/downloading music/CD’s, watching YouTube videos, concert tickets and DVD’s,etc.
Use your DOLLARS to voice your opinions about people like Beyonce, Nikki Minaj, Rihanna, Britney Spears, and ANY. OTHER. ARTIST/MUSICIAN/ENTERTAINER. Rehabbers, we have a voice, and its time to use it in a public way! You can be assured that FedUp and I will continue to bring you the latest updates on all of these things, we will post the videos on here for you to see, we will post the articles for you to read, but what we want you to do is to STOP SPENDING YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY ON TRASH.
Rehabbers, who will join our 2011 Consumer Rehab Program?