"If I knew the serial killer was living next door to me?" Comments like this, to be broadcast on NBC’s 60 Minutes program, are exactly what is wrong with today’s society. The comments were made by Hip-Hop artist Cam’ron whose real name is Cameron Giles in response to a hypothetical question posed by NBC’s Anderson Cooper. "I wouldn't call and tell anybody on him -- but I'd probably move," says Giles. "But I'm not going to call and be like, the serial killer's in 4E.”
Why wouldn’t Giles call the police? Why wouldn’t he perform his civic duty as a citizen of the United States? Why would he allow a rapist, pedophile, or mass-murder get away with their crimes? The pathetic answer is that it would harm his image in the Hip-Hop culture.
“Street cred” is an unseen force which surrounds rappers and increases their record sales exponentially if it is possessed. It is what drives some rapper’s sales figures into the astrosphere while others flounder. Street cred means that you come from the worst neighborhood, you refuse to cooperate with police no matter what the circumstances, and you solve disputes with violence. These are the lessons we are teaching our children.
Where did we go wrong? How can we sit back and allow a man, albeit a detestable man, to be driven from his livelihood for uttering a stupid phrase like, “…nappy-headed, ‘ho…,” and continue to allow this kind of behavior? Urban society has become outrageously out-of-hand. It is time to put our foot down. And don’t you dare cry, “Free speech.” Not after the Don Imus fiasco.
Radio stations should refuse to play music by these anti-society thugs, stores should pull all CDs by them from their shelves, and venues should refuse to book these acts.
I hear the cries now, “Oppression of the black man.” To that I say, you brought this on yourself. Through your ignorance, your refusal to conform to societal norms, and your violent behaviors you have caused the perpetuation of stereotypes, hate, and contributed to the further isolation of your sycophants. I other words, stop your bitching and get a real job. Become a role-model for young people in your community by using your talents to teach younger generations the benefits of societal harmony and community values. Stop pandering to the lowest, basest instincts and start working to raise your people out of the ghettos by advocating education, hard-work, and dedication to family.
Anyone can make something of themselves in this world. It takes a desire to do what is right; it takes courage to stand up to those who would continue to keep you down. Oppression comes from within your own community in the forms of these Hip-Hop thugs; it is the fear of breaking from the norm that keeps so many urban youth in the death spiral of inner-city violence. I challenge you to break free from that oppression and work towards finding solutions instead of perpetuating the decline of your people.
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