by Joe C. Hopkins, Journal Publisher

In my book, "I Will Not Apologize", one article entitled "The Trojan Horses In Our Communities" compares the mythical Trojan Horse of Greek Mythology that brought their enemies into their gates, such as we in our communities are doing, to the beat of Gangster Rap music. I call it "Gangster Crap" music, being brought into our Black commuinties. If the Greeks had investigated the Trojan horse they would have found their enemies and destroyed them before they themselves were destroyed by the enemies which they themselves had brought into their midst. Likewise, the message behind the beat of today’s crap music is successful but detrimental to the Black communities.

For those who say that the brothers are just making money with their crap music, then the same logic applies to those who pimp our girls or sell drugs in our communities, they too are making money. But the problem is that they are not "JUST" making money, they are destroying our community in the process.

Bolstered by their economic success the Rap industry has become bolder and now are less subtle in their music. The ‘Crapper’ 50 Cent whose recent recording, called "Pimp", is quoted in one British magazine (Woman 2 Woman) saying, "Man bitches come and go, every Ni*g*a pimping know." The essence of the song’s message is that women are useful in the pimp business, but for little else. And the beat is there, like the Trojan Horse, the message behind the beat holds danger for Black folks everywhere. And now we have Janet Jackson showing the world her breast as part of the music. Why is that necessary, or have we allowed so much that people don’t know the difference between good taste and bad taste and right and wrong? Anything goes I guess. Is this what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah? Are we next?

What I see is a generation that will accept pay to demean Black people in as many ways as possible. They're ignorant to the design to keep them out of competition with the rest of America. Black women fill two thirds of all seats in Black Colleges while brothers are seemingly trying to figure out new ways to pimp them. In California Black men are convincing Black women with jobs to take care of them often getting them to steal from their jobs to support them. This is a new brand of pimping, and T- shirts are popping up with the insignia NPA (National Pimping Association) on them.

The question is, "Where is the opposition from our so-called leaders and churches to the fast moving influence of this demonic music? Well The NAACP has nominated R. Kelly for an Image Award, in spite of being prosecuted for his sexual antics with teen aged girls. A few years ago they nominated the foul mouthed Jay-Z for an Image Award. Ebony glorified Russell Simmons in a recent front page article with an article showing how he spends money on Beverly Hills mansions outside the ghettoes where he sells his sisters demeaning music.

At a recent Awards event where Simmons was honored at a Black tie dinner he snubbed the crowd and by inference to the pioneers of Black music by saying that the Hip Hop generation was better than any who had gone before. He also snubbed the producers of the Awards event by showing up in a cap and jogging suit while the instructions said Black Tie (Formal only). Maybe that is part of the generation of hip hoppers who when they see the word FRONT (on a cap) they wear it to the BACK. Black Colleges are bringing the crappers onto campus to perform and further indoctrinate the most talented of our people.

At a recent Martin Luther King parade in Los Angeles foul language crap music was blaring from one of the floats just before the gunshots started. At a recent Black College Expo in Los Angeles fights broke out and the police were called in to stop the fighting after the crappers were brought in to perform.

Our leaders are either so mesmerizzed by the shiny trinkets the crappers call "bling bling", or are so honored by just being close to the money and power of a Russell Simmons and the crappers, or they have taken on the theory of not airing our dirty laundry too far, or they have simply outlived their usefulness and are just taking up space while they fill their pockets with crap money, as we all await the arrival of a new breed of leaders who have their integrity and love for our people intact. If the spectacle of seeing our young girls pimped by tennis shoe pimps does not energize us to take up the banner of C. Dolores Tucker and form new organizations to meet the challenge of the Trojan Horse crappers in our community, what will? If you have ideas contact me at the Journal. (Address listed below).

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An Apology To Black Women

My love, I look back at our history and I apologize because

I am your disobedient son, your betraying Man, your abusing

father.

Over the years your love has sustained me from slavery to

freedom.

Before my birth you nurtured me and your body protected me

You endured pain and gave me birth. I called you out of your

name and gave you pain.

You fed me as a child, now I am a man and still you feed me,

when it is I who should be feeding you.

You were my teacher and I have not kept or honored your

lessons.

I pushed back from the table filled with lessons and shattered

the plate you set before me.

Lessons of loving others, especially you, and in return I taught

you  anger.

Lessons of Respecting others and especially you, In return I

showed you disrespect.

You taught me Lessons of protecting you. In return I betrayed

you and gave you stress

You placed me first and so did I, leaving second place for you.

You professed your love. I gave you silence.

I am so sorry my Black Love...

Joe C. Hopkins