12 Opinion February 17, 2004 THE RETRIEVER Eminem Needs to be Called to Account for Racist Language

JOHN ELLIS white never-was rapper accomplishments of great black leaders in the from Boston (Benzino) 60’s who did so much to destroy the blatant Words with racist connotations are proba- depict themselves as racism of our society, we have to realize that bly the most powerful in the English language, the saviors of black Eminem represents the subtle racism of it bet- able to instantly create hate where none existed culture. But as much as ter than anyone alive. before. Just imagine for a minute (and excuse the I think the Source is If you want to see the “Eminem effect” in necessity of example) if a famous white person run by petty, jealous action, go to a high school. You can see kids of today were to refer to a black person as a “porch men, I can’t help but every racial background talking, but watch monkey,” In today’s atmosphere, only a small think that the media them sit down at the lunch table. The majori- minority would ever dare to utter this phrase, has largely given ty of the time they sit with those of a similar even under their breath. Eminem a pass here. I ethnic background. The “Eminem effect” is One member of that small minority hap- had trouble finding the same reason that in a study done about hir- pens to make culturally black music, works for a any stories regarding ing practices, white employers called back black man, and surrounds himself with black this incident in any applicants with “white names” more frequent- music artists. That person is Marshall Mathers, major media outlet. ly than equally qualified potential employees aka Eminem. There were more sto- with “black names.” In a song called “Foolish Pride,” a young ries released by the But instead of just looking at these facts Eminem rails on black as if women their names Associated Press about and seeing pessimism, I see hope for the were Kim Mathers using the term mentioned his mom’s car accident future. I see a man who went from making above, as well as several other racial slurs. than his racist lyrics. racist tapes in an all-white crew to one of hip- Supposedly recorded when Eminem was 20, the Ice Tea had the hop’s greatest disciples. Even though Eminem’s tapes were brought to the public-at-large by President of the success is largely due to his race, he makes no Eminem’s arch-nemesis, the Source magazine. United States after him bones about it and confronts the issue head on Their feud began when the Source’s co-founder for “Cop Killa,” so with songs like “White America.” I also see a and underground rapper Ray Benzino launched a why no outrage here? culture that is becoming mature enough to surprise attack on Eminem with a song entitled Heck, even Ludicrus have these public debates about its biases, and “Pull your skirt up.” Eminem dissed him back, managed to get himself I think that sets us on the right path to humiliated him, and as they say, “the beef was banned from Pepsi addressing them. on.” commercials. That is why I hope with all my heart that Benzino and Dave Mays, the other Source One story I could Eminem is sincere in his apology, because it founder, retooled their attack on Eminem by Courtesy of www.amadeus-award.at find though, regarded gives me hope for the future. But if not, then claiming that he was stealing black culture, and XXL (the Source’s rival hip-hop the fact that Eminem I’m all for the LOX member Styles P.’s plan to they now seem to have their smoking gun with mag) explaining he actually made was the first rapper to “knock his teeth out.” “Foolish Pride.” With the ongoing battle the song when he was 16, following a break up ever be nominated for a songwriter’s Grammy. between these two hip-hop powers, Eminem with a black girl. He claims he was young and Why is Eminem always the “first” in so many John Ellis is unbreakable, what you thought could have denied the recording was him since dumb, and wishes he could take back what he things hip-hop related? Why has this contro- they’d call him Mr. Glass? You can look back on the source was, well, the Source, but immediately said. versy been downplayed when so many of his your life like the ghost of Christmas past and send fessed up to authoring them. He has since issued For some reason, I find it funny that a other problems have been mass media fodder? him one through the wire via two public apologies and given an interview with white Harvard graduate (Mays) and a half- So, this month as we remember the [email protected]