Shame on Civil Rights Leader Rev. Al Sharpton

(April 11, 2005) Famed Civil Rights Leader Rev. Al Sharpton held a meeting this weekend in New York City. The purpose of the summit was to develop a solution to end violence in hip hop. Instead, it turned into a personal dirt kicking match, between popular NY radio station hosts and founders of a top hip hop magazine.

Rather than deal with the issues at hand and develop a plan of action, Sharpton?s N.A.N. allowed the forum to become a meeting between industry people, who simply passed the buck. Failing to realize the bigger picture, the panel of extremely powerful and influential people, refused to take responsibility for the violence in hip hop.

The real victims of this music, is the young impressionable teenagers. The summit would have been more effective, by involving teens in the conversation. Sharpton?s meeting required high school students to sit in the front two rows, but refused to acknowledge their raised hands. Part of the problem, develops from not giving the young people a chance to voice their feelings and opinions. Forgetting about the teens is how they became lost from the start.

Another important factor that the summit failed to include were the number one producers of this disgustingly violent music. Not one top charting rapper was present at the town hall meeting. To truly be effective, the artists should have been present to understand the apparent pain and suffering as a result of their music. The rappers are the only people who can stand up and say no to rapping about murder, drugs, guns, gangs, and sex. Whether these artists choose to acknowledge or ignore their power of influence is their decision; but, research proves, that these teens hold these artists in high regard.

Rev. Al Sharpton?s town hall meeting didn?t quite give take home information to stop the violence in hip hop, but here is a solution: EDUCATION. To build a solid foundation, you must first educate yourself, any other way, would be like building on sand. That is the reason why, the empires, that these artists are building are falling to pieces. A challenge to all hip hop artists, radio station hosts, and related industry executives: go to the book store and pick up a book on self improvement. The problem starts from within, change who you are first; then and only then, is when there will be quantum changes in hip hop.

For more solutions, additional information, comments, and interviews contact (973) 277-4977 or email: khalilahwilson@yahoo.com.

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