Three Word Ban: It's About Time

Three Word Ban: It’s About Time

Russell Simmons in all of his hip hop mogul glory has issued a statement on Monday calling for recording and broadcasting industries to ban the three words “bitch,” nigga” and “ho.” I have three words of my own for Russell Simmons, “It’s About Time!”

For rappers this means you have to find other words to rhyme with snitches, figgas, and dough. For radio personalities who don’t have a sufficient grasp of the English language, this means you will need to have a thesaurus on the radio console at work.

I was impressed with the educational value of the press release issued from Simmon’s Hip Hop Action Network, no doubt timed in the wake of the Don Imus public outrage. Here’s an excerpt from the press release:
“Going forward, these three words should be considered with the same objections to obscenity as "extreme curse words." The words "bitch" and "ho" are utterly derogatory and disrespectful of the painful, hurtful, misogyny that, in particular, African American women have experienced in the United States as part of the history of oppression, inequality, and suffering of women. The word "nigger" is a racially derogatory term that disrespects the pain, suffering, history of racial oppression, and multiple forms of racism against African Americans and other people of color.”
Hallelujah.
Unfortunately, there are already critics of banning these words from recording and broadcast. The critics are saying that it could be violating free speech. But, my feeling is if so-called artists want to defame women, come up with some new words to do it with. “Bitch” and “Ho” have absolutely gathered too much steam over the years. Or better yet, create some songs that don’t defame women. (I sound totally female here!)
People who still use the term “nigger” sound like buffoons. You cannot take a totally disempowering, oppressive word and make it cool just because you like the way the g’s roll off of your tongue. It’s completely ignorant to think that you can. Accept it. “Nigger” is so outta here. “Nigger” is so 1700’s. Let’s move on.
I know that banning the three words is not going to change the way women or African Americans are treated within hip hop culture or the world, at large. But, I think it’s a huge step in the right direction in educating young people, especially African Americans that they should think twice before defaming themselves or dishonoring the memory of their ancestors.

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