3/27/11
Roger Porter
Recently I’ve been called a sexist by two of my female friends because I won’t let my 6 year old daughter listen to Rihanna’s latest music on the radio. They say I’m being a hypocrite because I let her listen to the likes of Wacka Flocka, and Gucci Mane. I do beg your pardon but to me these are two completely different issues.
I mean my daughter has been listening to Rihanna for literally her whole life. As a matter of fact we both used to jam to Disturbia. “Dum- dum de-dum dum dum dah-dum dum, dis-tur-bi-a” man those were the days. When Rihanna was still a teenager and her music was so innocent. Even Nickelodeon Kids Bop covered that joint, but now her material is just way too extreme. And I don’t want people to get the wrong idea about me. I mean I’m not one of those ultra-conservative parents when it comes to music, film, and art. I allow my child to be exposed to many different forms of expression, however, there is something about hearing my little one sing; “TAKE IT, TAKE IT, TAKE IT, TAKE IT” in the back seat of my car that I will not tolerate. Every time that song comes on we go straight from KMEL to KBLX with the quickness.
I just can’t believe the nerve of Rihanna and I can’t understand how some women view that as empowering. Personally when I hear a woman singing “Take it, Take it” it sounds like it’s glorifying rape in the same vein that Lil Webbie was glorifying rape when he sang “Girl Gimmie Dat!” (Another song that got no radio play in my car). And to make matters worse on her next single she says “Sticks and stones may break my bones but chains and whips excite me.” OK so more power to Rihanna for liking S & M. I know she’s not the only one but I do find the theme of violent sex in her music to be particularly disturbing considering the fact that she was just involved in a very high profile domestic abuse case two years ago. I for one have not been able to separate her new music from the battered young girl that I saw on that infamous photograph shown on TMZ after Chris Brown put his hands on her. And I know life goes on but for me the whips and chains are just a bit much, and as far as my daughter is concerned you can forget about it.
So yeah maybe I am a little hypocritical for letting songs about females “Dropping it low” and so forth get play in my ride while Rihanna doesn’t. As I’m writing these words I realize that I do need to be more consistent as a parent, therefore, I’m pretty sure Wacka Flocka will be banned next. But as of right now grown up Rihanna gets no love on daddy’s radio. I will not take it.
ghettosun 
Black people need to stop mimicking the sick lifestyle of other’s. It’s not our way. Our African ancestors didn’t know anything about whips and chains until the slave trade and I’m sure they don’t approve of our embracing the whips and chains today. If only Rihanna could go back in time to when her ancestors were hauled off to Barbados in whips and chains. If only she could feel the reality of their bondage, rape, whips and chains, utter brutality. She’s young still. Maybe she doesn’t see the connection. Too bad because she has a responsibility. I commend you for being on top of your game for your daughter’s sake. Thank you.
I will never understand why is it when a woman is in some type of power. especially a black woman, a black man always has to say something negative. Given it a rest! I wish some people would just stop bashing artists, visual and musical and so forth for what their children are about to be or already are. This situation is no different then that incident that occur in Columbine and some people started blaming Marylin Manson for the killers actions. Music doesn’t determine a child’s outcome in life, its is their parents and their environment. You have to put a lot of other ideas in consideration. I think your daughter will see a lot of other things horrid in life so why prevent her from listening to the music. It’s better to expose a child to something then hide it because it can backfire. Just tell her the meaning of the song and what is right and wrong. One way or another she might hear it from somewhere. Turning off the radio isn’t going to prevent it. LOL