Professor Marc Lamont Hill Responds to Slim Thug’s “Opinion” On Black Women…Talib Kweli Weighs In Too
» by tffhthewriter June 8, 2010, 18:04pm
It seems that Slim Thug rubbed more than Black women the wrong way with the controversial statements that he made in a recent interview with VIBE magazine.
As previously reported, Slim Thug was quoted stating that Black women needed to lower their standard in an effort to become more “down” for their men. It seems that Professor Marc Lamont Hill decided to respond and defend the seeming attack on Black women, by penning a letter to Slim Thug.
In the letter, which is posted on Professor Hill’s blog, Hill breaks down the misconception of Black women not being down by writing:
“Even more disturbing was your comment that “Black women gotta start being down for their man more.” Since slavery, Black women have had to withstand rape, torture, and humiliation (from both white and Black men) in order to sustain their families. Now, in 2010, 1 in 3 Black men between 20 and 29 years old are incarcerated or otherwise under criminal supervision. Every day, Black women are raising children without men in the house, working multiple jobs (for less pay!), and supporting brothers as they finish their prison bids.
With Black male unemployment as high as 50 percent in some cities, sisters are often holding down households without child support or other financial assistance. Black female incarceration rates are skyrocketing, partly because Black women are “riding” for their men, hiding guns and drugs, operating as mules, and refusing to snitch to authorities.
In addition, Black women are the group most likely to be victims of domestic violence and the least likely to be married. Still, in spite of all this bad news, Black women are less likely to date outside their race than Black men.
How much more “down” do you want Black women to be?”
Slim Thug, who at first seemed to gloat off of the fact he was “keeping it real,” quickly turned the agenda and focus of the interview stating that the comments he made regarding Black women were said in jest.
On his Twitter page, Slim Thug decided to combat the letter that was written in response to the interview stating:
“First for the record I did NOT write that blog I was being interviewed on the phone by Vibe so they didn’t put all I said In the blog. 2nd we started out doing a interview about a skit I did on comedy central so I was in a joking mood.”
Thugga also states that many people are not getting the idea of the whole interview:
“They not putting my whole blog on these other sites. The reason I said Black women have to lower their standards is because while Black successful woman or a majority Black successful men are a minority so if u want a Black successful man u have to work harder to find one and keep one. I’m not a professor, I’m a rapper so the women I meet and the women u meet are different. “
Slim Thug also insists that the views he had on interracial dating merely come from his brother teasing him. He states that he prefers to only date Black women and that is all he has ever dated.
“It’s my blog so I gave ya’ll my story of my life and the women I meet. I NEVER been in a relationship with a white woman, If u go back and read my blog, [it says] my BROTHER dates a white woman and teases me about the drama I go thru with my Black women. So [if that is what I said, then] how did I put white women over Black women? I said this is what he jokes with me and says.”
Although many are accusing Slim Thug of being irresponsible with his comments, he states that he never signed up to be a role model. Although that comes with fame as Professor Hill points out in his letter.
“As an artist who is respected by millions of fans, particularly young ones, I found your comments to be hurtful and irresponsible. For good or for bad, our children follow the lead of you and other artists for everything from fashion and slang to self-esteem, body image and relationships.
Imagine how a young Back girl feels to hear from you, her role model, that her “standards are too high” and that she should “bow down” and “settle for less.” Consider the pain that our beautiful brown skinned babies feel when Yung Berg says he doesn’t date “dark butts.” Think about the self-esteem of our community when Nelly refers to our mothers, sisters, and daughters as “Tip Drills.”
As celebrities, your public comments are not just your own. Instead they influence the choices, beliefs, and lives of an entire generation of young people who look to you for direction.”
Slim Thug responded stating that he never asked to be a role model nor is he willing to take on the responsibility of being one to kids.
“I never signed up to be nobody role model and u can’t make me be one and if kids listen to me over their parents that’s A sign of bad parenting. Ya’ll can’t blame me or Nelly for what yo kids do. I never told no girl to be a stripper But however I do enjoy them so what I think everybody needs to do is stay in they lane I rep for the streets u rep.
For the more positive crowd once again I NEVER been in relationship with nothing but Black women. And while I respect where u[are] com[ing] from and your opinion, u must respect mine. If u and your followers don’t like it don’t buy my CDs dont read my blog I not tryna tell yall how to live yall life.”
Talib Kweli also got into the discussion and kind of defended Slim Thug’s point of view. Talib tweeted,
“We all generalize in convos its human nature. But when u generalize in print the ppl u generalizing about are coming for you. He made some valid points but he was generalizing too much for his points to come across.
I know what he was tryin to say. every black man can relate to what he was saying. His justifications, reasons were off, but not his feelings. he’s a rapper who was asked to blog for vibe. He’s never done it he’s out of his element and it showed. He was blindsided.”
