BET to Kids: "Read a Mother F'n Book"
Black Entertainment Television's answer to Bill Cosby is a bit frightening. In this video played on BET show The 5ive and then repeatedly on the station, poet/rapper Bomani D'Mite Armah encourages an auditorium of bored children at Raphael De La Ghetto High School to read by telling them to "Read a mother****ing book, N***er."
I'm not sure this is what Al Sharpton had in mind when he demanded the music industry clean up rap.
Some have called the video a public service announcement, others a satire. Exactly how Armah meant it is unclear. But I should warn you that the video contains foul language, is highly offensive, and if it appeared anywhere other than on BET or black radio, it would be considered racist enough to make Don Imus blush.
Here's a sample of the lyrics, which are sung by a gangster-looking cartoon character to the tune of Beethoven's Fifth on a piano:
Read a book, read a book, read a motherf***in' book
r-e-a-d-a-b-o-o-kNot a sports page, not a magazine, but a book ni**er, a f**kin' book ni**er
Read a book, read a book, read a motherf***in' book
r-e-a-d-a-b-o-o-k
Raise yo kids, raise yo kids, raise yo ***damn kids
Yo body needs water, so drink that s**t
Buy some land, buy some land, what, f**k spinning rims
Brush yo teeth, brush yo teeth, brush yo ***damn teeth
Wear deodorant ni**er, wear deodorant ni**er
It's called Speedstick, it's not expensive
Read a book, read a book, read a motherf***in' book
r-e-a-d-a-b-o-o-k
That is *hilarious*. And it has got to be a parody.
I guess the good thing is that it's exposing people to Beethoven, and that's always a good thing... although Ludwig Van is probably spinning at several thousand RPM in his grave right now.
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the name of the "school" in this animation is a reference to "The Fresh Prince of Bel Aire"
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Unfortunately, this does not shock me a single bit. What will shock me is that the video will be forgotten very soon if it ever hits the mainstream at all. I have given the race thing much thought and I have come to this personal conclusion. Only the black community can fix the issues that plague their ranks and this video proves this. The message I received from watching this sad video is the writer wants to look cool and feels that education, hygiene, health are being shoved down the throat of the younger generation. As long as the black community embraces non educational heroes, the problem will never be fixed.
If I see things right, the majority of black youth heroes are as follows.
1. Sports figures
2. Rap
Neither requires a single bit of education. I’m sure someone can produce some youth that have different iconic figures they like best, but I am sure I can find ten to every one brought forward that fit the PROFILE I have brought up.
WHERE IS AL SHARPTON ??????????????
WHERE IS JESSE JACKSON ????????????
If this was done by a person of a lighter color, they would be on it like white on rice.
Having seen this video and not heard an outcry from the black community, I think, in the future, I will use my brain power to ponder more important issues.
Psylent Revolution
By Neal Stapel
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blacks can say anything and get away with it. Because if a white person questions it they are raceist or its a black thing (double standard )
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I think you have bigger problems if you need to be told by a rap video to brush your teeth and use deodorant.
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i guess it is just a cultural thing, evidently the N word is a good thing and not that offensive, i can only say Dr. King would be so proud. ha ha
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I just heard "read a book..." and i laughed out loud. it has to be a parody ....just shows how low the black culture has sunk when this is a psa and entertainment combo. glad u could dig this up...share this with Keith, Jeff and John please. They will split their sides.
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Did U see crimeincharlotte today.. re pizza delivery robberies??? Maybe these young black youths shld've read a book! an educational book.. so they can get a bleeping job!
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Shocking but funny. will not let my kids see but i can laugh almost like the movie "I'm Gonna Get You Suka"
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****This entry was edited by the blog editor for obscenity.
White people are racists, especially conservatives. As an educated black youth, let me be one of the first (I'm sure) to tell you that:
1-We are not reading this (or Charlotteconservative.com, or crimeincharlotte), so your views are only shared amongst those with similar feelings (cowards), and
2- We don't give a flying f*** what you think.
Obviously we have some issues to work out. You don't think we know that? Either help us, or shut the **** up and let us sort them out ourselves, but don't sit behind you little 15" screen and berate and belittle.
Did any of you ever think that maybe *just maybe* this video might reach a segment of the population that doesn't pay attention in class? Jesus Christ, its not like it was on ABC, it was on friggin' BET. What the hell are you all doing watching BET anyways?
I don't know how people are going to respond to this post, and I don't really care, because while you're sitting in your office/suite/home/etc., I'm worried about my grandmother going home on Beatties Ford after dark, and thats a real problem. Enjoy your cushy lives.
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Hey Brain,If your grandmother was carring a 44 Long and a pit bull there be no problem, and for as for the naacp they need first apologize to the children of Israel for 400 years of slavery.
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Yeah, good job in sounding like an educated black man. You are reading this or you wouldn't be here.
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Is this the future we have to look forward to? This reminds me so much of the 60 Minutes piece about how the rappers are now spinning the propaganda of Don't Be A Snitch. It goes pretty much like this...If you see someone getting gang raped,murdered,robbed,whatever, don't tell.That's their problem.You Don't Want To Be Known As A Snitch Do Y ah?!What class! What Style! How Stupid!These folks are definitely candidates for the Darwin Award.
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When people say "where is the outrage from the black community?" Where is Sharpton, Where is Jackson?
LOTS of people in the black community are angry about this stuff...its just that the white media only pays attention to these two men.
Pry the lid, people. Look a little deeper, and you'll see that there are folks working to make a difference every day.
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Anonymous,
We're ALL tired of Sharpton and Jackson.
Please educate us about those that are "prying the lid".
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Poor Brian. He's obviously an angry young man. It's not an option to "shut the **** up and let us sort them out ourselves". You're incapable of it because the problem is only getting worse. Spanky's right, Darwin Awards all around.
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This smells of product placement by the deodorant industry (Big Armpit, John Edwards sneeringly refers to them) and the real estate industry.
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I actually thought the video and the song was very funny.
However, it would be very interesting to see the frenzy if a white artist tried the same thing. Racist or not.
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