Some of you may remember our mass email and post to the People's Review back on April 23, 2001 called "An Open Letter to Lovers of Children and Music." Well, now that Chuck D has helped to publicized what has been going in the music industry with the "Turn Off The Radio" campaign, Auntie and I would like to share with you an email we sent to Kweisi Mfume of the NAACP. We sent this email back in 2001 when Rachelle was nominated for an Image Award.

...

Dear Kweisi

I extend heartfelt greetings from family -- to family. I hope this note finds you in good health and in good spirits. Unfortunately I will not be able to give you these tidings in person because my brothers and I will not be attending the upcoming NAACP Image Awards. We initially planned to attend, despite the fact we usually steer clear of the normal channels of accolades within the music industry-- because we support the core NAACP agenda to the bone. However, we cannot lend our support to the current presentation of the Image Awards as planned.

Our central concerns involve the messages that we in the industry are sending to our young people through our music. In almost every other genre of music (i.e. rock, metal, jazz, pop, alternative and country) there are a wide variety of messages addressing a gamut of issues in the sociopolitical spectrum. Some of these messages are positive and some are not. Some we agree with, some we don’t. What’s important is that there is variety, creating a balance in the genre as a whole. However, the choices narrow dramatically when discussing R&B music. While artists in every other genre enjoy the freedom to discuss any sociopolitical element they choose, we are relegated to the status of industry bottom feeders, forced to sing songs consisting mainly of baby-momma-drama, and sexist, gender bashing lyrics with a hint of insecurity and the exploitation of women. Contrast that with the wide variety of positive messages available in R&B music 25 years ago, and it becomes apparent that something is seriously wrong.

There was a time when this music was used as an assault upon injustice and inequality. It was a beacon of light giving people hope, and our young people flocked to it by the millions. It now appears that the music is being used as an assault upon our young people, who still flock to it by the millions. Many of them are unaware of the danger of the constant bombardment of these types of messages and images. It is no coincidence that most music containing positive content and substance is routed out of the R&B category, often given the label “jazz” or the new "neo-soul." History suggests that given any label other than R&B, most African American music will fail to reach the mass audience or young people of color. As a result, this music is rendered useless in helping them redefine their lives and reinforce the positive values of African American life when they need it most.

This brings us to question the choices of nominees, presenters, and performers made by the NAACP Image Awards. In light of Ms Toni Braxton's choice in award show attire, how does one choose to elect such an artist as a presenter for a show labeled the Image Awards? Similarly, Destiny's Child, who gained popularity with a song that involved asking someone to pay their bills, raises the same issue. These are beautiful artists with wonderful careers, yet how can we ask for accountability in others without first holding ourselves accountable for the images we expose to our children? And how can we ask our children to be morally accountable to standards of decency, truth, and artistic expression without first holding ourselves accountable to those same ideals?

Are we showcasing the quid pro quo and lowering the bar in terms of how we meet the needs of our young people’s developing tastes? Have we also lowered the artistic bar and the entertainment value of the music as well? We raise these concerns not on our own behalf, but on behalf of our children who we know are deeply affected by our work as artists. With one breath we ask adults to become more involved with their children and their children's interests; with another we tell them that if they don't approve of their children’s music, don't listen to it.

We are proud of what you and the NAACP have done on our behalf. We support the organization with heart and soul – and inherently through our music. When you face the behemoth networks and movie companies you have our unconditional support. We are grateful and honored that you have brought such credibility and awareness back to the organization. We speak not out of disrespect to you or the organization, but out of love for the music to which we’ve given our lives, and to the children whose dreams for which we have the highest hopes.


Patiently and respectfully awaiting your reply,

Rachelle Ferrell & Russ Barnes

She's wonderful isnt she?

It's heartwarming to see that someone as gifted as Rachelle is also willing to speak out (respectfully) about the issue. My respect for her just went up signficantly.

SO true, ESPECIALLY in light of this R. Kelly nomination shit



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[This message was edited Sat Feb 14 17:33:07 PST 2004 by CalhounSq]

so on hit!! and the matter gets worse with the acting awards...

halle berry won last year for James Bond? Steve Harvey wins like every year? Eve's Bayou (one of the best films ever made period..let alone by a strong african american sister) looses to Soul Food? All the wonderful acting and history behind something like Beloved was completly ignored...

i think its time the naacp scraps the whole idea of honoring "images"...if they want to reward artistic talent regardless of its social relevance, well thats fine... but you cant ignore talent because its not socially proper and then hand all the awards to crap fluff entertainment... oh wow, the hypocracy...they award destiny child yet ignore a groundbreaking performance like Whoopi's in The Color Purple or Halle's Monster's Ball cause its not black-pc..

Whatever...I'm sure Rachelle has some questionable songs in her record collection from past artists.

I think is such bullshit to shit on music today for lyrical content and my momma has music from the 50's, 60's and 70's talkin' about drugs, violence and sex.


I don't necessarily disagree but I think the musical elitism is a bit much.

Rachelle Ferrell was RIGHT ON!!!!!

I'm sure Rachelle does indeed have a couple of old albums from people that said things that were "questionable", but the key to her point was the fact that there was VARIETY in main stream black entertainment. That, as a whole, is no more. The affect that music and television images has had on the black community is a DIRE situation and there are those of us that recognize that and are willing to do something about it.

Also, whether it's elitism or not, there is a vast difference in music from the past and present and how it is affecting us, and if the recognition of that comes across as elitism to some, so be it.

Bravo to Rachelle Rarrell for speaking the truth!

Much of today's R&B music is a joke.It's all just a bunch of oversexed,heavily-sampled,poorly written garbage.There's no message anymore.

The best female vocalist of the last 10 years...YA'LL!!!

Not only is the woman super-talented..but she has such a beautiful spirit and personality as well. I think I'm gonna print this out and keep it. My respect for her just gone up a couple of notches.

She has a website where she issued a mission statement about her music....which she says will be to heal, uplift and direct(in a positive way). I have to find the link for it as I have forgotten it. In other words, not too much of a deviation from what she has already done.

I think she is trying to go independent as she is unsatisfied with the majors and some of the things she has had to endure.

BRO915 said:

Yeah, here it goes:

Our promise to you…

You will experience new music that is...

• Socially responsible in a non-preachy way
• Spiritually uplifting
• Extremely tangible
• A celebration of human existence
• Authentic
• Revealing
• Supportive and empowering

You have given us the opportunity to serve with dignity and respect, for which we are exceedingly grateful. In return, we have tried to place in this new music, all the things that one would expect from a relationship with a lifelong friend. There will be times when you may confidently rely on it, and there will be times when it will depend on you. It is extremely trusting, as you are unquestionably trustworthy. The music is unconditional and was written to both honor and serve you. It is essentially a reflection of all the good that is you.

Harlepolis said:

That's it.....Rachelle is my girl....!!!!!

That was incredible.

VelvetJ said:

I feel you.

There are more issues that have caused the major problems in the black community than Nelly's hot in Herre or whatever. My point is Donna Summer talking about shakin' ya ass in the 70's and Beyonce saying it today shows that there isn't a difference so music isn't the issue. The issue is the break down of the family and other community issues that have caused the major problems in our communities. I think its unfocused and it is musical elitism. I don't want Lil John talking about important issues...I would be concerned if we started hearing The Roots or KRS1 talkin' about shake it like a salt shaker. That's when the trouble begins.

I didn't disgree with what Rachelle was saying but I think too many dog music today and pin point it as the "fall of the community". Music today just mirrors what is going on and may reinforce values and images that are uncomfortable and over-sexed but there is so much more going on. A friend of mine said to me that too many people are lazy in the musical taste because they don't look for good music because its there to be found. And the fact that there is Rachelle and a Ashanti says the variety is there.

Listening to Prince sing "Head" wasn't uplifting, didn't provide dignity or respect but damn, it was good music.

am I making any sense. I'm rambling.....

Ok, so I had a book all typed out and it didn't go through and I lost it. Maybe I will try later.
[This message was edited Tue Feb 17 11:55:13 2004 by VelvetJ]

I totally dug everything she said.