Ignorance is one thing when you remain quiet — at least then, people don’t know you’re limited in your thinking.
However, ignorance is a completely other thing when you’re loud and obnoxious. That form of ignorance is just, well, silly and unfortunate.
Recently, rapper Snoop Dogg, who gained notoriety in the early 1990s from albums “The Chronic” and “Doggystyle,” publically criticized the new adaptation of “Roots,” the 1977 miniseries that details the history of slavery and is based off Alex Haley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same title.
While everyone, including Snoop Dogg, is entitled to their opinion, I find irony in the manner Snoop Dogg expressed his views. In a video post to social media outlets, Snoop shared his sentiments on the remake, which debuted on Memorial Day.
“They going to just keep beating that s#*t into our heads about how they did us, huh? I ain’t watching that s#*t, and I advise you motherf#*ers as real nig#*s like myself; f#*k them television shows.”
What’s ironic about Snoop Dogg’s rant is that he refers to himself as a real nig#*, a variation of the word that Roots the book and both miniseries clearly demonstrate as a derogatory reference whites used against Blacks during slavery and still today.
Will Packer, the producer behind the remake of “Roots,” said of Snoop’s use of the n-word, “I couldn’t help but think there’s a ghost of some horrendous slave owner that is smiling and smirking as he watches this Black man say and call himself that. I think that slave owner probably said, ‘Preach. I agree.’”
Packer is spot on with his perspective.
I understand freedom of expression and, as a journalist, I especially respect when anyone expresses themselves — even if I disagree with their thoughts. However, I am tired of people like Snoop Dogg making blanket statements when, in actuality, they are part of the problem.
As the world grapples with the death of the great Muhammad Ali, I can’t help put compare the iconic boxer and humanitarian to Snoop Dogg. When I reflect on how Ali used his celebrity platform to promote love and peace amongst all people, and later in life advocated for Parkinson’s disease — an effort that has generated hundreds of millions of dollars for individuals affected by the disease as well as research — I can’t help but see how Snoop has missed opportunity after opportunity to be more impactful in the lives of his fans. Outside of his music — which some feel is genius realism, while others believe is misogynistic and promotes violence — Snoop has not used his platform to advance his people, this country or the world.
But he is not the only celebrity who has ignored such opportunities and responsibilities; there are many like him, which is what makes people like Muhammad Ali, Kareem Abdul Jamar, Sidney Poitier, Alicia Keys, Bono and others so important.
Snoop’s lack of “doing” rather than “talking” is also why it is imperative we continuously educate and remind ourselves of our past — even if that past is horrid and ugly. We need books, movies and television shows like “Roots” to remind us where we’ve come from and how we’ve risen past such inequities. However, such methods of education must also remind us of how far we still have to go. We must not get complacent now that slavery is over, because the reality is, we are still being enslaved — just in different ways, such as in prisons as the result of a severely flawed and discriminatory criminal justice system. Women are enslaved every day as we fight to earn the same pay as our male counterparts. Children and families are enslaved when they don’t have access to quality education. African-Americans, Hispanics and other ethnic minorities are enslaved when we have to pay higher interest rates, not because of our credit score, but because of our race. We are still enslaved, because people remain in poverty, we continue to be discriminated against, and we are even enslaving ourselves by killing each other. Indeed, we are still enslaved, and the ways in which that slavery is paramount are vast. The physical chains are gone, but the confinement remains. That is why we must never forget the wrongs that were done to us, because if we forget those ills, we may not be able to recognize the ones that are prevalent today.
In all fairness to Snoop Dogg, in his post, he acknowledged we are still “taking abuse.” He went on to say, “When are y’all going to make a motherf*#*ing series about the success that Black folks is having? Let’s create our own s#*t based on today — how we are living and how we inspiring people today.”
It would be nice if he and other celebrities took more of a lead in such an effort.
I watched the new “Roots,” and I encouraged others to do the same. As difficult as it was to watch select scenes that were especially graphic, my discomfort was nothing compared to the actual experiences of my ancestors. We have a responsibility to honor them by acknowledging their sacrifice and pain. And in turn, we must not get complacent in the present, for yesteryear really isn’t that long ago, and tomorrow is not promised. We must continuously sacrifice, educate and advocate for ourselves to further advance our efforts.
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Congratulations to Hillary Clinton, who became the first woman in the history of the United States to earn the nomination of a major political party. This is a tremendous moment for America and it signifies the progression we’ve made in the 96 years women have had the right to vote. I am proud of Clinton and look forward to the months ahead as she works toward securing the presidency.
