Right off the top, allow me to start by saying that while I encourage other black owned media outlets to follow my example, the following is not a judgment against them. I am simply doing what I feel is best for me and I can no longer feature music videos that in my opinion blatantly advocate criminal behavior.
Let me be clear in what that means to me. It means that if a video promotes, encourages, or glorifies drug dealing or gang culture, it will not be published on the media outlet I own. Feel free to launch your own.
Despite the negative imagery found in the media, most people of color are law abiding tax paying citizens and while the aforementioned negative elements exist, they should not be introduced to the masses as acceptable as they are clearly not. They do not reflect the values of the vast majority. For example, the percentage of the African American community that have actually committed murder is 0.0009 percent. Unfortunately, this information is rarely presented.
Does that mean that we won’t feature media that reflect those realities? Because those elements do exist, we will publish narratives that reflect truthful and honest perspectives on those aspects of the human condition. Where I draw the line is if I find the content irresponsibly suggests that those behaviors are right and just.
There’s a difference between the kid who hustles drugs because he has nothing and one who does it because it’s “cool.” While both are doing wrong, the former is driven by desperation and the latter is led by greed. I believe that I can only respect the latter’s story as a cautionary tale so that the former knows when to stop.
That’s the story I believe should be told.
BE’N ORIGINAL
