REV. AL SHARPTON: Taking it To the Streets

1. I had just talked about that this needs to be done on one of the threads. Now that Al Sharpton has helped to bring Don Imus to his knees, this will be even more effective to stop all of this garbage and filth that these record companies are promoting so that they can keep lining their pockets. They could care less what those gansta rappers are saying in their lyrics, as long as the money keeps coming in. And I wish this gansta rapper garbage was stopped altogether, but at least this will make these thugs clean up their act with their ghetto mentality. And hopefully, from all of this, these record companies will start promoting people with some real talent and decency. I applaud Al Sharpton for all that he is doing to try to clean up this mess!

tmsine at 1:16PM on Apr 30th 2007

2. I concur with the above comment. I applaud Rev Sharpton for his efforts. Enough is enough with this dispictable language these so called rap artists are feeding the African American community. As adults, we all should be supportive is getting rid of this trash. Just think about our young children, they already have an uphill struggle just being black. Let us irradicate this language from our community, starting with the music companies then artists such as Snoop Dog, radion stations, record stores and others in this category. Keep the heat on Rev Sharpton, we want positive examples for our children.

allie lark at 6:09PM on Apr 30th 2007

3.



Al is a racial opportunist.

1) In 2005, he did TV commercials for LoanMax, a company accused of predatory lending.
2) 1991 Crown Heights riots -- Al was an incendiary factor. recall the murder of Yankel Rosenbaum.
3) 1995 Freddy's fashion mart -- Al came up with the term "white interloper.
4) Rush to judgement on the Duke lacrosse players.

5) Al does NOT have a regular congregation. If he is "ministering", who is he "ministering" to ?

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Eliminating vile language from rap is important. The cause needs a better spokesman than Al --- how about Carol Moseley Brown, or Andrew Young, or Harold Ford. >

boomer at 6:51PM on Apr 30th 2007

4. al-sharpton is no rev. he is the biggest racist of all the black ppl. always sticking his nose in someones business, think he been hitting the crack pipe, lost lots of weight all of a sudden, wouldnt put it past him smoking crack. he is no role model for the black ppl. just a hater. he is suppossed to be a rev, he is not supposed to act like the way he does, he is not doing it the god way.

laurie at 7:20PM on Apr 30th 2007

5. Al need to sit his behind down somewhere. He is absolutely an opportunist. Anything to keep his name in the media. What happened to freedom of speech. These rappers should be able to say whatever they want to say. If you don't like it then don't buy it and don't listen to it. If you talk about the children listening to it then that is on the parents. Its is not the rappers responsibilty to be your childs parent, thats your job. Monitor what they listen to. I love a lot of rap music and no matter who marches and how long they march, the rappers will still continue to do what they do and make their music.

nia at 1:58PM on May 1st 2007

6. Rev. Al, I'm calling you out! You've got a Radio Show and you know the truth. You don't answer your e-mail and you try to hog all the credit for yourself. It's time to share the spotlight with the person responsible for all this controversy. You've got my e-mail address, you've heard my shows, and you've seen the power! Give some damn credit were credit is due. Leave Imus alone! How about a syndication deal that will keep it real? How about introducing the world to the "Black Rush?"

Cecil Jones at 6:40PM on May 1st 2007

7. I APPLAUD!!! Al Sharpton, for all his work...We need more people like him in this world...He gets thinks done....

shila at 7:13AM on May 2nd 2007

8. Boomer what does what you are saying have anything to do with the conversation? Did he know that company was involved with predatory lending? Did he murder Mr. Rosenbaum or tell anyone to do that? You are comparing interloper with the N-word, B-Word and H-word? The whole country rushed to judgment about the players and there still is no proof to say that they did no wrong, they are just unable to prove anything.

The Bottom line is none of us are perfect and I am sure there are amongst us persons who regret things we have done in the past. AL Sharpton is stepping to the plate against something that negatively affects our people derogatory and offensive language towards us and no matter Mr. Sharpton's background, that is a good thing on his part, Mr. Sharpton I salute you! I also salute the rappers that use their music for the betterment of their people and there are many!

Jason at 11:44AM on May 2nd 2007

9. Whether you agree or disagree with the man or consider him an opportunist is not the point. It is the issue of decency in music which affects young minds. And Time Warners Universal Music Group and Sony are just the corporations responsible. I certainly applaud the effort.

Chris C at 1:56PM on May 2nd 2007

10. Let's not lose the point. Hip hop lyrics have a devastating effect on our youth. Let's change that by holding the people responsible i.e., record companies writers,rappers, radio stations, MTV, BET, etc. Protesting and boycotting their sponsors will help them see the light.

Ty at 8:41AM on May 3rd 2007

11. Thank God for Rev. Al Sharpton for finally echoing what the average American says daily, but doesn't have the national platform to say, "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH." If we don't stop this now, how much lower can we go? We are one of the most disrespected community of people on earth-- not because of anyone else, but because of ourselves. We have painted this picture of “gangism” and “thuggism” ourselves. We have called each other out of “our names” for so long until we had become desensitized to it. But thank God the alarm did ring, and we heard it when Mr. Imus began to say about us what we have been saying about us and to us all along. This is a wake up call, if we don't stand up now for decency, we will continue to sink and slide down the slippery slope of despair (not just financially, but morally). Lets not just begin with the rappers and music industry, but begin with ourselves, our homes and community where the overwhelmed mother begins to use these words again her children and her community; where men use it against women who show them no interest after their “cat calls”; where fathers are not present to teach sons or daughters what it means to be a human being with pride for oneself and work ethic. Lets start there, then we will have a platform to say “STOP THE MADNESS!” However, while we are waiting for these changes to occur, lets support the ones who are using their voice to make a change TODAY.

T.P. at 9:37AM on May 3rd 2007

12. If Rev. Al is a racial opportunist then you'll have to include the right reverend Jesse Jackson. These so-called preachers have become millionaires riding the racial whirlwind. It boggles my mind how we, african americans, will elevate anyone to icon status who just say the word "racism" in connection to african americans.We idolizes Malcolm X and what did he DO? He talked and that's about all. He never led a march, he never involved himself in a black struggle. He never went to jail for the black struggle, he never confronted the black establishment such as police dogs, police or billy clubs. He just talked. signed: Shukyduky

Chuck Pennie at 9:41AM on May 3rd 2007

13. Sharpton is a disgrace to intelligent black people all over the world. He, along with other prominent racists such as Jesse Jackson and Lewis Farrakan are what helps keep racism alive and profitable for them and losers like them. Instead of praising these hate-mongers, we, as intelligent Amercicans, should ignore, and even distance ourselves from them. Every time a stupid white person makes a retarded remark, they are there to jump on the band wagon and furthur instigate racial discord. You never hear them call for dismissals and appologies when blacks use disrespectful language and racial slurs to denigrate others. If they were truely against racism, they'd be just as down on the everyone else that uses the "B" and "N" word. Instead, they zero in on the profit that can be made , instead of the fight to wipe out ignorance. Sharpton, Jackson, nad Farrakan all make their living keeping the hate alive. So stop praising them, and joiun the REAL anti-racists by not dignifying their ignorance with any response at all. to react is to play into the racist's game. to ignore them is to defeat them.

ed at 10:15AM on May 3rd 2007

14. Man this is crazy, yeah the language is not the best but the sticker on the outside of the CD is there for a reason. Ppl, there is a racist, economic, and a media problem in america not just hip hop. I know of n-words and i see, live, and went to school with plenty of h-words and b-words (both women and plenty men). Freedom of speech, if it is getting on your nerves turn off the radio, don't buy the cd for your child not even the edited version. the moral fabric of America is being torn to pieces and the bad seamstress is not hip hop

Invisible man at 10:48AM on May 3rd 2007

15. This is rediculous! Come on People, Let's be real We need More Love, Peace and understanding, Our message is in the music, Listen to Lionel Richie, Jesus is Love, The OJay's Put your hands together, Kirk Franklin, any of his Records, GOD is speaking to US, he is using The entertainment people as a conduit to get us to hear him. Satan has once again stuck his hand in to stir the pot. Now that he has everyones attention you all will lose focus on the real problems We have People dying, Children Crying, What are we going to do about all these Murder Suicides? Come on People Wake Up! Rap/Hip-Hop words are not our Problems they are just a distraction from the real Problem. We have People Breaking into peoples homes Demanding Money, we have Bigger Problems other than Words people saying on the Radio or in a song! SATAN has you BLIND! WAKE UP! let's Focus on what is really happening. Let's find a solution to fix that or Get President Bush to Bring our Prople home that are Getting Killed for no reason at all. We as a people can make a difference. Those words can wait to be fixed but we are not going to be around much longer if we don't fix the immediate problem! Or Let's take a look at what the government(FEMA)IS DOING TO FIX OR PEOPLE IN N.O. LOUISIANA OK $185 MILLION + TO FIX SUPERDOME BUT CUT EVERYONE ELSE OFF AND LET'S PLAY FOOTALL! COME ON LET'S GET OUR PRIORTY'S STRAIGHT! I USE TO WORK IN NEW ORLEANS, FOR YEARS, BUT ALL THAT WENT AWAY WHEN KATRINA STROLED THROUGH, LET US FOCUS OUR ENERGY ON THINGS LIKE THAT SHOW SATAN HE IS GOING TO LOSE THIS WAR! WAKE UP! TEDDY PENDERGRASS SANG THAT WHEN HE WAS WITH HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES, GET YOUR KIDS INVOLVED GO OUT GET SOME OLD SCHOOL MUSIC FROM COMMODORES, TEDDY P, AREATHA FRANKLIN, LOINEL RICHIE, JAMES BROWN, OJAY'S TEMPTATIONS, EARTH,WIND & FIRE. LISTEN WITH YOUR KIDS AND MEDITATE. THAT YOU WILL FIGURE OUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND STOP ALL THIS NON-SENSE!

EUGENE THIGPEN (SURVIOR OF HURRICANE KATRINA)

Eugene at 11:06AM on May 3rd 2007