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Darren
Associate Opinions Editor
darrenmartin884@gmail.com
Two weeks ago Beyonce, the curvaceous business woman/multiplatinum en
tertainer who is famous for attempting to empower women through independence and
sensuality, released a song that was the polar opposite of her long-built brand of hu
mility.
The song “bow down/I been on” is an ode to her Houston roots with a chopped and
screwed vibe but is also a message to those who believe that she is “just [Jay Z’s] little
wife. More interestingly is that Beyonce, the presumed humble and sweet singer, is
telling women to “bow down b******.”
Airwaves and the Internet alike stormed to the song and offered their critiques on this
“new Beyonce” and while it is evident that she is still loved by many, her reputation
has taken a hit with feminists and fellow artists.
The critiques have really been two-sided with little room for gray area and it is impor
tant to point out these broad critiques prior to assessing if this song is really going to
hurt the famed singer or not.
The Opposition:
Many people in this category feel betrayed by Beyonce as they believe that her song
has undermined her attempts to empower women throughout the world. They cite pre
vious songs such as “Independent Women” and “Run the World (Girls)” as a testament
to Beyonce s moral brand. Although they have always had the problem with identify
ing Beyonce as a true feminist or just a strong woman, they did believe that Beyonce
was able to rally the base of women and inspire them to be more than a man’s arm
piece.
The critics may have been surprised when she named her upcoming tour “The Mrs.
Carter Tour” because it may bring an image of submission, but they still held on to
their hopes for Beyonce. When “Bow Down/I Been On” was released at the moment
of the mentioning of “b******” and “who gone take me off?”, this group finally
believed that Beyonce was using her humility as a way to appeal to millions, just to
become the arrogant woman that belittles other women.
The Supporters:
Many people in this category love the song. Falling in this category are those
ranging from stans to those who actually support the words of her song (of course
that’s why they are called “the supporters”). Many in this category believe that this is
exactly what they were waiting for Beyonce to do. They believe that while Beyonce’s
humility is impressive, she has worked to be the confident woman deemed “King
Bey.”
The Supporters embrace the bow down” concept because in their mind, and
in reality, she has the accolades to respond to the ongoing criticism that she endures
without any reply. They, too, believe that Beyonce is an inspiration, but they think that
this song helps boost confidence in those who have “haters” and the song is made for
those who will embrace the confidence in their own lives.
Beyonce, to them, has grown into the woman who deserves what she preaches. From
dating, to married, to conceiving and delivering a child - she has followed her tradi
tional American family style and now it is time for her to live.
There are, of course, gray areas where people support the song but do feel disturbed.
However, it is difficult to see if this song will ruin her career. This was not her single,
but a buzz track and it definitely started the buzz of the Bey Hive and its counterparts.
Directly after her song release, she announced her clothing partnership with H&M and
her new animated movie starring - herself.
The differing opinions have really created a buzz about the comeback of Mrs. Carter,
and I believe that it was one of the smartest moves for Beyonce so far. We’ll see if
Beyonce will still reign supreme or if she is going to take herself “off’ of the map with
her increased confidence.
TAKE SURVEY ON NEXT PAGE....
A DYING GENERATION l THE bleaching of a network
Neah Morton
Opinions Editor
neahmorton@aol.com
The Cardon High School Shooter.
The Steubenville rape trial. Can someone
please help me explain the state of white
male youth in America?
Yes, I am aware that Ma’Lik Rich
mond, one of the high school students found
guilty in the Steubenville case, is African
American, but it is obvious that the majority
of recent violent crimes have occurred at the
hands of young white men.
Of course, none of this should come
as a surprise. Despite the archetype of the
aggressive Black man, white males have
historically exhibited violent behavior.
For hundreds of years, they have been vile
overseers, predatory masters, crooked po
licemen, racist politicians, and bloodthirsty
white supremacists with nothing more than
hatred coursing through their veins.
Earlier this month, 18-year-old T.J.
Lane was sentenced to life in prison after
he was convicted of fatally shooting three
students at Cardon High School near Cleve
land, Ohio. As Lane took his seat in the
courtroom preparing to be sentenced, he
unbuttoned his blue oxford to reveal a white
T-shirt with the word “killer” inked across
the front in black marker. When the judge
allowed him the opportunity to speak before
the court, the young sociopath smirked as
he turned to the families of the victims and
gave a chilling statement that ended with a
despicable curse.
Heavier on the public’s mind is
the Steubenville, Ohio, rape case. Earlier
this month the trial of Trent Mays, 17, and
Ma’lik Richmond, 16, rocked the small
steel town. Although both were convicted
of sexually assaulting an intoxicated high
school girl, Mays received a heavier sen
tence for disseminating nude photos of a
minor. The case received national attention
when video footage of the assault and crude
text messages sent from Mays to his class
mates became public.
The messages revealed an utter dis
regard for the crime and the victim’s well
being. The texts are beyond disturbing. His
discussion of how the victim could “barely
move” were followed by numerous “lols.”
Continually referring to her as a “dead
body,” Mays texted one friend “I shoulda
raped her since everyone thinks I did.” He
sent a variety of nude photos of the girl to
his teammates, laughing the entire time.
Most appalling however, was the text
message Mays sent to the victim’s father.
“Sir, this is Trent Mays. This is all a misun
derstanding. I just took care of your daugh
ter when she was drunk and made sure she
was safe.” Mays’ insincerity is unconsciona
ble. As the assault became more publicized
he messaged a friend, “She’s actin’ like I
killed her or something.”
We’d like to think that Mays genu
inely didn’t realize the error of his ways,
but that degree of naivete would be an insult
to our intelligence and far too much char
ity than the young man deserves. Like TJ
Lane and the West Hazleton rapists, Mays
possesses a legitimate disregard for human
ity. The lives of others, especially women,
continue to be a joke to violent white males.
The way that the media has deemed
Black men savage is incredible considering
the historical and current evidence support
ing violent behavior of white males. Rather
than assign a color to societal fears, we need
to address the disregard for human life that
continues to plague our youth - regardless
of race.
Neah Morton
Opinions Editor
neahmorton @aol.com
News that Soledad O’Brien no lon
ger will be a regular contributor to CNN
spread rapidly last month. Although the
biracial anchorwoman of Afro-Cuban and
I Australian descent appears racially am
biguous, she identifies as a Black woman.
| The host of the popular and insightful
‘Black in America” series was released
from the network after reports surfaced
that the network’s new president, Jeff
Zucker, stated that O’Brien did not fit his
vision for the future of CNN.
Instead, O’Brien has started her
[ own production company, Starfish Me
dia Group, and CNN will air some of its
[ documentaries.
Roland Martin, the charismatic and
often controversial correspondent who
often made appearances on O’Brien’s
morning news program “Starting Point,”
| has also been released from the network,
which did not renew his contract. Despite
| the fact that it does not expire until April
6 Martin, who has been noted for his ded
ication to Black journalism, was excluded
from CNN’s coverage of the inauguration
and has been denied a final appearance on
O'Brien’s morning show “Starting Point,”
according to Richard Prince’s “Journal
isms” column about minority journalists.
With O’Brien gone, her former
| Harvard classmate Suzanne Malveaux of
‘CNN Newsroom” will be the network’s
I only Black weekday news anchor. Five
African Americans - Victor Blackwell,
Fredricka Whitfield, Don Lemon, Isha
Sesay and Lisa Sylvester - have weekend
and recurring slots, none of which are as
notable as O’Brien’s position at the net
work.
Not a single member of Zucker’s
additions to the network are people of col
or, nor are the anchors who have become
more influential since his arrival at CNN,
specifically Erin Burnett. When examined
side by side with O’Brien, the former
financial analyst’s journalistic resume
pales in comparison and personifies white
privilege.
When questioned about the lack of
diversity in the new CNN lineup, Zucker
made an incredibly vague but ultimately
discouraging statement and is no longer
giving interviews on this particular sub
ject. When you think about it, there was
really no need for him to directly address
the issue. His desires for the future of the
network are blatantly apparent.
Recent events in the growth of
Zucker’s increasingly Caucasian agenda
follow TJ Holmes’ 2011 departure from
CNN. The host of BET’s “Don’t Sleep”
and former anchor of “CNN Saturday
Morning” and “CNN Sunday Morn
ing” left the network after concerns were
raised about his potential to advance.
Emmy Award-winning Black journalist
Tony Harris was released from CNN in
2011.
It’s ironic how a network head
quartered in one of nation’s most influen
tial, predominantly Black cities continues
to reject African American journalists,
regardless of their talent and time in
the industry. Despite existing in an area
that exemplifies what it is to be Black in
America, Zucker’s corporation is no lon
ger concerned with “Black in America,”
or Black in CNN for that matter.
WWW.THEMAROONTIGER.COM
Recycle The Maroon Tiger
MARCH 29-APRIL 3, 2013