"And he said unto all, If any man would come
after me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9:23)
Hollywood
Has Done it Again
Hollywood has
done it again. They have uplifted the most
demeaning depiction of African Americans to reward.
On Sunday, the Three 6 Mafia – as in 666 – won an
Oscar for their song, “It’s Hard Out Here For
Pimp.” In case you haven’t heard it, here’s the
chorus from the song:
You know
it's hard out here for a pimp (you ain't knowin’)
When he tryin’ to get this money for the rent
(you ain't knowin’)
For the Cadillacs and gas money spent (you ain't
knowin’)
[1] Because a whole lot of bitches talkin’ shit
(you ain't knowin’)
[2] Will have a whole lot of bitches talkin’
shit (you ain't knowin’)
The Oscar's
show also featured the Three 6 Mafia performing this
song with their grillz (diamond teeth blinging) and
men dressed as pimps, and women in hot pants and
rabbit furs. The group and their performance were
widely celebrated at the Oscars with many in the
audience singing along.
This is
troubling because the images that Hollywood
manufactures are powerful. Our young people often
want to imitate these images and here’s the message:
Just act like a pimp, or a thug, and you’ll be
rewarded, accepted, even celebrated by the Oscars.
Furthermore, for many across the world, the only
thing that they know about African Americans is what
they see is in the movies.
Unfortunately, this has been a pattern. Hollywood
seems to have an intentional knack for giving awards
to African Americans in the most demeaning
characterizations.
Denzel
Washington, is a superb actor. But he didn’t win
for his outstanding depiction of Hurricane Carter.
Instead, he won for playing a street thug. Halle
Berry is an okay actor, but of course she received
an Oscar when she bared her body and got busy on the
big screen.