For Myself & Others: An Embarrassing Moment in Black History
By Bomani Jones, AOL BlackVoices columnist
Discussing Rosa Parks during Black History Month is nothing new. In previous years, this space would be taken to remember her role in beginning the Montgomery Bus Boycott and its significance. This year, her name is in the middle of an embarrassing lawsuit against the greatest group hip-hop has seen, and everyone is losing badly. This is about much more than the title of one song. This battle is generational, economical and historical. But above all, it's sad, a discouraging illustration of what some will do to get paid and the lengths some take to make sure they keep what they have.
In 1999, Parks sued OutKast for using her name as the title of the lead single of the previous year's 'Aquemini,' claiming using her name could lead some to believe she endorsed the song (her personal umbrage with the song supposedly stemmed from its use of profanity). The group claimed that using her name as the song's title -- which stemmed from the line, "Everybody move to the back of the bus" -- was a show of respect and surely was not meant to be disrespectful. They fought the suit, initially having it thrown out. When the suit was first launched, it seemed unnecessary, but it was benign. That suit resembled the one Chuck D launched against Bad Boy Records and the estate of the Notorious B.I.G. for using his voice on 'Ten Crack Commandments,' one in which Chuck did not seek anything from the suit other than to recoup legal costs. But after an appeal reinstated the suit, the action was amended to include a claim of damages of $5 million. So, as the stakes have risen, so has the zealousness of the defense. OutKast and its label, Arista Records, have moved to have Parks' medical records released, hoping to find Parks' dementia makes her incapable of launching this suit, a fact that would likely result in the suit being thrown out again. So what we've got are two cats from Atlanta, the city washed in the blood of the movement like no other, hoping to prove -- and show the world -- that Rosa Parks is out of her mind.
The merits of the suit seem suspect. First, anyone that would think that Parks had something to do with that record is dumb as a sack of hammers. Parks may have been upset that her name was used on the song, but it seems unlikely she heard it while flipping stations in the car. So if she didn't hear it, then someone in her camp either assumed that she would be offended or saw this as a great way to come up. And according to SOHH.com, some members of her family do not believe that Parks would want this suit to be pushed forward.
When the suit was first filed, Parks' camp may have elicited some measure of sympathy. But now that this is over a sum that trumps most kings' ransoms, a very special old lady's request seems like a money grab. Whoever's behind things on that end, whether it's just members of her family or high-profile advisors like former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer, should reconsider what they've gotten into.
OutKast and its camp come out looking no better. While it seems unlikely that they meant any disrespect by naming the song after Parks and it's even less likely they were using her name for profit -- were Parks' name that bankable, she wouldn't still be living in Detroit, I promise -- they have not handled things with grace, either. Maybe it's just the situation that's forcing them to prove that Parks is mentally incapacitated, but there's something nauseating about having to read those words for any reason. While that may be the case, the world shouldn't know that. Unfortunately, Parks' privacy is not worth as much as $5 million. Just as sad is the fact that, if put in the same situation, most of us would do the same thing.
But how did this lawsuit start? Did it start because Parks' name was on that rap song? Or is it because her name was used on any rap song? My bet's on the latter; there is nothing on that record that seems worthy of litigation. And considering that it's not likely that Parks has actually heard the record, it seems like 'Rosa Parks' is being lumped into older folks' preconceived notions about hip-hop. Should Big Boi and Dre have asked before naming the song after her? It wouldn't have been a bad idea, but that should not have been required.
And how will this lawsuit end? With 'Kast and Parks making black history in the worst way.
Feb. 25, 2005