I like thousands of other people find Paula Deen’s words deplorable. One would
think that someone who has made a living much less an empire on the culinary
skills created by African-American’s would be at least slightly socially conscious
when it comes to the words that come out of their mouth. However, the impact of her need I say social
faux pas is much less impactful to me for several reasons than Dr. Dre.
First, I never have not nor do I plan on visiting her
restaurant. Not because I don’t
care for the food, but because I am a vegetarian. And the one thing I do know is southern cuisine is not built
for those of us who find delectable delight in tofu and vegetables. There is something unappealing to me
about items drizzled in bacon.
Secondly and probably more important to me is the line that
has been a continuous part of the Paula Deen culinary experience since her
sudden celebrity status. I never
understood nor appreciated the patience people show to stand in lines sometimes
for hours to spend their money.
Call me impatient, but if I have to wait longer than 45 minutes to eat
at a restaurant then it is time for Plan B.
That being said the actions of Dr. Dre are far more
impactful to me and I find much more egregious simply for their social
impact. For those who are reading
this and unaware Dr. Dre recently gifted the University of Southern California
$35,000,000.00.
My issue is this Dre made millions on the backs of young
African-American and Hispanic kids who purchased his records long before it was
fashionable for young suburban white kids to own hip hop records. It was those same kids who espoused to
live the often times fictions gangster life that is talked about in Dre’s work. Furthermore, it those very same kids
that when they can’t get into USC (19% African-American and Hispanic
enrollment) or any other SC for that matter they find themselves at the doors
of HBCU’s or other minority serving institutions. Who subsequently mold them into being real doctors and
lawyers, etc.
This is not to say Dr. Dre can’t spend HIS money as he sees
fit, I simply find his actions more harmful to the outcomes of
African-Americans than Paula Deen’s words. Dre’s lyrics have consequences that have had a lasting
impact on the collective consciousness of millions of young African-Americans
and Hispanics and have thus created a culture that finds value in their prison
experience, their over sexualized behavior and their out of control drug
use.
Finally, while Paula Deen words may hurt Dre’s actions hurt
worse because not only does he call African-American’s the N word, but he also
spends his money to make other communities better in the process.
Therefore, no Paula Deen for me and no Beats by Dre for my
nephews.
That’s my Truth and I AM sticking to it…
I AM
Dr. Irvin PeDro Cohen
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