do you guys remember tha crazy rumor about Lauryn Hill? Supposedly,she was in a restaurant and a White waitress was preparing to take her order.Lauryn got pissed and demanded a Black waitress


I pray that this is only a bad rumor.

badujunkie said:

I guess I'm just shocked at the nasty turn that this thread is taking,with Orgers now calling each other racists.

badujunkie said:

Yep...that's it. Like Bk has said, Erykah has always had this "fight the power" mentality.....and who holds the power....SOME would say white people (collectively). As much as white people in the US HATE to admit it, when some of ppl think of the establishment, the straight, white male is the poster child. It is what it is.....

Erykah sometimes gets caught up in her own rhetoric as much as I love her music she maybe tries too hard to be "revolutionary". She not a part of NOI that's why she made the comment about the mothership in On and On but she is a part of the Five Percenters.....I think some of ya'll just never reallllly listen to the words but just vibed to the music.

This is a case of she coulda said or she couldn't have. Unlike the Michael Jackson situation, it seems Erykah says she didn't say this so.....

and like someone say...she was probably high.


and Badujunkie...why not go on Okayplayer or erykah-badu.com and ask this very question....she posts at both of those sites so get the answer you want...cut and paste the very things you've said here..and see was she says.



with the Axl Rose thing....even Slash was surprised since his momma is black....


I almost find it interesting whenever a black person says something deemed racists about a white person if some think ppl haven't been as pissed off as they would like, they say, "if this happen the other way around, the thread would be in an uproar" and yet all throughout this thread ppl have denounced e. badu, called her a few names, threatened to throw her music out the window etc....what else needs to be done....lynch her maybe...


if she said it..sucks....and she needs to lay off the dro....

Rhondab said:

Please note, Rhonda, that I said IF it's true I'll toss her records out in a second, BUT as she has vehemently denied it, I think it's another of these rumours spread about supremely talented black female singers, like the one where Lauryn Hill said she didn't want to see white people at Fugees shows. Turned out to be bullshit.

Rhondab said:

ok you're right.

DavidEye said:

Why the hell you shocked at that? It's only happened 2939585686 times before.

Shapeshifter said:

point taken.....

Rhondab said:

oh how cute everyone's all nicey nice now.

Rhondab said:

oh god I want to believe that ...is it really true neither of them have said anything bad against "white people"? I sure hope so...Lauryn was very much the diva onstage in London last week but that's no reason to think it's true... I just hope it isn't coz I really like them both

laurarichardson said:

why don't you go and show us some of sassierbritches' comments so we can see what you're talking about. and start with this one...

you've got a big mouth and a little brain; the two together never make a good match.

No offense but some of the posts that followed exemplify exactly what I meant about Americans being a bunch of spoiled, whiny bitches. Since when do we need to agree with everything artists say or do to enjoy them? I know some of the rock artists I listen to probably hate "my kind" and are probably straight up racist f*cks but if I like an artist, I like them for what they are expressing and their personal politics, views, religion, etc. aren't important to me. If you've come to a point in life where an artists' lifestyle or anything else other than their art is a factor in whether or not you like them then you are an arrogant judgemental asshole and you need to check yourself. For real. Who do you think you are? Life doesn't revolve around you and we all have to share this planet. Our different life experiences bring us to be who we are and NONE OF US have the right to place judgement on each other as people because we are all the same, good and bad.
Erykah is who she is and either you like her or you don't. If her music changes and she starts to suck; that's different. Of course it would make sense to say "F*ck Erykah; she's singing showtunes now. I like her old stuff. To say f*ck Erykah's MUSIC because I don't like her views is just plain stupid. She's not "your" artist; she's AN artist and like all artists, she is entitled to express herself. Many people today have this "I'm the customer" mentality when it comes to music. Artists sell art. They don't make art for you (well, true artists don't); They make art because they are called to do so. Either you like it or you don't but just because you bought a ticket to a show that doesn't entitle you to a custom experience. If you don't like the artist, don't buy a ticket but don't come to the show expecting to only hear what YOU want. Americans have too many choices. We are spoiled as hell.


disclaimer: This post is random a expression of view and is not targeted towards anyone specific but rather everyone who reads it.

BlaqueKnight said:

that's nice.

personally, though, if i'm supporting an artist (read: giving my money to an artist) and they make some sort of flat out racist comment, i'm going to stop giving that artist my money. period. i'm not talking about a difference in religious beliefs or politics; i'm talking about publicly vocalizing racist beliefs.

yes, americans have a lot of choices. so many, in fact, that we need not support any artist who speaks up for racism. there are plenty of artists who don't have hate in their hearts and i'd much prefer to support them.

BlaqueKnight said:

and one of my choices is to say fuck erykah badu if that's how im feeling.

SassierBritches said:

Good for you. Do what you want with your money. You are an example of exactly what I was speaking of. You see it as "giving your money to someone who supports racism" instead of seeing the artist as a whole person. You've singled out one thing that you don't even know for sure to be true and using it as a basis for your entire opinion of a person and citing it as a reason not to spend money on them. Over a rumor? Yeah, that's real bright. Very George Bush of you. Maybe Erykah's a terrorist, too?

BlaqueKnight said:

actually, i never said i thought it was true. in fact, i think it is probably a rumor. your comment and not "erykah's" is what prompted me to make a post on this thread.

i do, by the way, see artists as whole people. a racist artist has other facets but they do have racist beliefs which i don't support. one can see a whole person AND disagree strongly with individual personality traits. its not a difficult concept and one that i'm sure you've had experience with as well. so when you're coming off your high horse, be sure to watch your step.

BlaqueKnight said:

i see what you're saying, to me it isn't about money at all.

but sassierbritches' intentions are to be ANTI racist and that is never a bad thing.

badujunkie said:

True. If that's how you're feeling. Its your right. If you truly are a "BaduJunkie" you know how much of a revolutionary she TRIES to be and you know how her musical moods jump and you also know that Erykah loves to try to shock people. You'd also know that she's not infallible and may have said something like that while in one of her "Erykah moments". She's dissed brothas before in her "Erykah moments" but I don't believe she hates black men and I should therefore stop buying her music because she's a man-hater. Sometimes brothas make her sick, I guess. That's true for everybody. Sometimes you don't like something; sometimes you love it/him/her/whatever. My point was that we as a society seemed to have made it commonplace to reduce people (especially celebrities) to one dimensional figures of perception via compartmentalization and labeling. People aren't allowed to be people anymore. Today, you say "Fuck Erykah. Next week you may love her again. Like I said, if you know Erykah the artist, you know she has moments. Taken out of context, a lot of what she says and does could be interpeted as destructive. On the whole, don't you think she's far more positive than negative? If so, then why throw out a lot of the good with a little of the bad?

Does anyone really give two shits what Erykah has to say about anything? I know I don't. She probably has a new cd coming out and wants the publicity.

meow85 said:

When you become a black person, let me know

DavidEye said:

First of all, I don't have the economic or political power to be a racist. Secondly, don't get made at me for saying what they won't say to your face. Just listen to the lyrics. The lyrics are geared towards a black audience. You can't deny it. If somoene writes a song called "brotha" for example, who do you think they're talking to?

acire said:

Yeah I really liked her albums but I couldn't follow that Okayplayer stuff either. Still, we don't even know if it's true.

BlaqueKnight said:

-----
Co-Sign. Typical of SassierBritches but, of course I have to go out and point that out to everyone. NOT !!!! (LOL)>

SassierBritches said:

-----
You supported Alan Keys. I don't need to say anything else. Now go finish your ham sandwich.

laurarichardson said:

exactly. you've got nothing.

and it's keyes.

.
[Edited 12/19/05 10:55am]

i agree with the person who said "if any white person would have would have said "fuck black people", their career would have been over by the time "people came out".
As a African American person being born and raised in the northwest and living near the border of Idaho state, I can say I have experienced overt racism and bigotry. Even today, I occasionally run into hurtful situations from people of other racial backgrounds. Yet, to play the race card can back fire and become a pathological habit to gain unwarranted attention and sympathy.
I also have faced kindness and friendship from people of all many racial and ethnic backgrounds. My offspring's God Mother is of European descent. I love her dearly. She and I have discussed our racial fears of the past, but we live a lifestyle that displays hopes for a better future.
A lot of people today do not know "historically," that many white people shared their property, homes and stood outside the (then) laws to aide black people to freedom before the end of slavery. Yes,(in the past) I have felt frustrations and (at times) I have wanted to express what I have felt as hatred towards whites. What good would it do. White is not a race...the people of European descent come from many areas of the globe. Just like any other racial group, one person's statement and beliefs do not represent the voice of all.
For Erika B. to make such a statement was totally irresponsible. It's like, tell a friend, who will tell and friend and so on and so on. Then the results are hurt feelings, mistrust, fear and a major set backs that trekles down to the innocent. Many young people will look to their parents for an answer to her "stupid" statement. These parents can either reinforce their (maybe racial) fears to their children and program them for racism. Or they can say, "she just made a stupid choice in words", she does not speak for the masses of African Americans.
Does she realize many "white" people actually buy her recordings and go to her concerts. There is no "reading between the lines" and no excuses for insults of that level, especially in these sensitive times. She should apologize.

"erika, "*uck what you said".(if it is really true)




[Edited 12/19/05 15:59pm]

tamaranow said:

well said. i dont think she should apologize tho (if this really went down) cuz if thats how she feels then thats how she feels and she can say it, but i dont agree. generalizations are a bitch

tamaranow said:

Lets say this whole entire story is how it went...

There is NO excuse to say anything about a specific race... Thats as pure of racism as you can get... and I also feel that way about people who defend that nature.. Cause i'm pretty sure if bono stood up and reversed the colors in that argument, or any white person for that matter, it would cause massive anger in the black community.. and one can understand that.. its basing your opinion on someone based on skin color.. thats the lowest form of stupidity there is...

Sdldawn said:

Artists aren't politicians. They don't have to be politically correct and they don't have to apologize for expressing what they are feeling. You don't like it? Stop spending your money on her. I don't think Erykah is all that worried about it.

Janfriend said:

whatever planet you live on i hope it's a nice one.

badujunkie said:

Janfriend raises an interesting issue: Badu is clear about her target demographic: urban-identifying/"down" black people. For the sake of argument's sake, let's say Badu said the quote attributed to her. Knowing her as an artist and the tone of her work, the comment most likely would be uttered not from a place of universal disdain for all white people, but for whites in power. She's made clear, over the years, that she sees herself as someone representing poorer, disenfranchised black people. Such people lack the luxury of debating lofty platitudes at Prince.org -- often, they're just trying to survive day by day.

Now, either way, I'm not defending the comment -- Badu's or no. But, I think there's a sentiment to the statement and an over-arching context that are being disregarded in the preceding debate.

I'm not trying to put one people's suffering over another's, but I think recent events (i.e., Katrina) did much to show the plight of people most often ignored. Why, a few months after Katrina, Congress is in the process of cutting aid to the poor while pondering ways to lighten the tax burden of the wealthy.

Let's be clear: The bulk of the legislators have a some characteristics in common with the bulk of the people likely to benefit from such legislation. They are middle-aged, wealthy white men whose privileged white children will receive the best educations at the finest private schools and universities; go on to have wonderful, wealth-amassing careers; and perpetuate lifestyles of power and influence.

No, not all whites are wealthy -- goodness. Most aren't. But part of the context in which we exist (and, yes, I see it every day here in the American South -- just as I've seen it in the North and the West) involves tensions based on skin color and how we of differing hues interact with one another.

Part of that interaction involves expression of dissatisfaction with the status quo. Because the status quo stinks. So, when I see the death penalty meted out most often to blacks who've killed whites while Sprint ads wink at racial inequity and little blonde girls sing white-supremacist songs, I get the subtext of that quote, regardless of its origin:

Yes, f___ the system, because some stuff needs to change. There needs to be some justice! There needs to be some equality! Some real fraternity!

And, please, don't let it stop at racial parity. Let there be gender equity, too. Universal health care. An end to corporate greed that runs amok and results in raided pensions and layoffs amid corpulent profit margins that still run afoul of Wall Street expectations.

Divert more money to developing nations, battle HIV/AIDS in spirit and in truth, stop cutting aid to the homeless and the un- and under-insured!

There is a larger context that informs that statement. And, if Badu uttered it, I hope it was an impassioned, clumsy expression of an outrage that is narrower than it seems as it seeks a broader equality.

But, that just might be me misplacing my optimism.