Oscar Winner Hits Angry Chord ('Pimp' Song Denounced for Exploiting Negative Stereotypes)

Washington Post ^ | 3/7/2006 | Avis Thomas-Lester

[Pyro7480]

When Christine Smith heard the song "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" announced as the Oscar winner for best original song on Sunday night's telecast, she almost fell off the sofa in her Arlington living room.

Deborah Veney Robinson of Silver Spring had pretty much the same reaction. So did Juaquin Jessup of Northwest Washington.

"It was just like during the time when all the blaxploitation films were coming out with African Americans being portrayed as pimps and hos and gangsters," said Jessup, 51.

"It was another example of how they pick the worst aspects of black life and reward that. There are more important things in our culture that need focus more than the hardships of a pimp," he said. "The only place many people see our culture is through movies and on television, and at the same time, this country is experiencing an influx of people coming over here from all over the world, and the only thing they see of black America through the media is . . . pimps and gangsters and all of that. It's always some low-down brother or some welfare mother."

Particularly offensive to Robinson, 36, was the performance by hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia, featuring men dressed as pimps and women in the hot pants and rabbit furs of streetwalkers. "I have no problem with movies and songs being gritty," she said, "but I have a problem with something that falls just short of a minstrel show."

[Pyro7480]

Three 6 Mafia

[finnman69]

I must be missing something. Most rap sucks, some is interesting to listen too and even could pass for music.

This song just sucked and has no place at the Oscars.

[CondorFlight]

She said it all.

Amen.

[rlmorel]

But...but...but...it was the Liberals who generated this kind of thing! The ideology that is against bigotry and racism!

[goldstategop]

Liberals think of blacks as niggahs. But they'll never tell blacks that to their face even as they stereotype them as pimps, hoes and b*tches.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[sarasota]

Someone has speculated that there was a need to give an Oscar to a Black person or group, and these guys were the only option. Can't say I believe that one.

[dfwgator]

What's next, Tyrone Green (of 'Kill My Landlord' fame) getting the Nobel Prize for Literature?

[CFC__VRWC]

Are you sure you listed the right DC paper? I'd expect this in the Times, but certainly not the Compost.

[CFC__VRWC]

Someone has speculated that there was a need to give an Oscar to a Black person or group, and these guys were the only option. Can't say I believe that one.

I do.

[ClearCase_guy]

If the election were a little closer, Hillary would use this as her "Sister Souljah" moment. But this is too early.

I'm sure she will get another chance.

[trubluolyguy]

"It was just like during the time when all the blaxploitation films were coming out with African Americans being portrayed as pimps and hos and gangsters," said Jessup, 51.

---

It's called rap you dumbass. It's only claim to fame is that it is offensive. There isn't one other redeeming quality to the auditory slime.

[Little_shoe]

I love how some black people look at white people only as some one they can rob since whitey has the money..

[SengirV]

So whitey made them record this music? Interesting.

[MarineBrat]

It was another example of how they pick the worst aspects of black life and reward that.

Chains come in many disguises. :(

[sarasota]

Another option: the song was from "Crash".

[sarasota]

Or were they just using terminology from the hood?

[N. Theknow]

"The only place many people see our culture is through movies and on television, and at the same time, this country is experiencing an influx of people coming over here from all over the world, and the only thing they see of black America through the media is . . . pimps and gangsters and all of that. It's always some low-down brother or some welfare mother."

Unfortunately, that is what is rewarded and encouraged by the media, politicians, the black community and most despicably, black leaders.

Success of Blacks is looked down on by the same people as being an Uncle Tom or an Oreo.

[AmericaUnite]

These moms need to come over to the right. Unfortunately there is an active mooslem force trying to bring black women into their fold for the islamo family values.