NY Post Writer Defends Racist Rant by Blaming Jay-Z: Who Is the Racist? (Phil Mushnick or Jay-Z)
SodaHead Sports
2012/05/05 23:56:08
|
|
|||||
|
161 votes
|
|
41% | |||
|
82 votes
|
|
21% | |||
|
79 votes
|
|
20% | |||
|
69 votes
|
|
18% | |||
Most people seem to like the Brooklyn Nets’ new logos and color scheme, but one New York Post sports columnist is definitely not a fan. Then again, maybe he just can’t stand the team’s part-owner, rapper Jay-Z.
To go along with their move to Brooklyn, the Nets are sporting a new look: a black-and-white color scheme, which pays homage to the old New York subway signage system, and two new primary logos. Jay-Z, who owns 1.5% of the Nets, played an instrumental role in their design—a fact that clearly makes NY Post writer Phil Mushnick uncomfortable.
Mushnick, who has long been a critic of Jay-Z’s role in the franchise, wrote in his “Equal Time” sports column:
“As long as the Nets are allowing Jay-Z to call their marketing shots — what a shock that he chose black and white as the new team colors to stress, as the Nets explained, their new “urban” home — why not have him apply the full Jay-Z treatment? Why the Brooklyn Nets when they can be the New York N------s? The cheerleaders could be the Brooklyn B----hes or Hoes. Team logo? A 9 mm with hollow-tip shell casings strewn beneath. Wanna be Jay-Z hip? Then go all the way!”
And it didn’t stop there. As furor erupted over what many are calling his “racist rant,” Mushnick tried to turn the story around and pin the blame on Jay-Z.
He said, “Such obvious, wishful and ignorant mischaracterizations of what I write are common. I don't call black men the N-word; I don't regard young women as bitches and whores; I don't glorify the use of assault weapons and drugs. Jay-Z, on the other hand . . . Is he the only NBA owner allowed to call black men N---ers? Jay-Z profits from the worst and most sustaining self-enslaving stereotypes of black-American culture and I'M the racist? Some truths, I guess, are just hard to read, let alone think about.”
There are certainly legitimate points that can be made about the messages conveyed in hip hop, as well as situations that just cry out for satire, but we think that Mushnick missed the mark on both accounts.
What do you think SodaHeads? Who is the racist? Phil Mushnik or Jay-Z?
To go along with their move to Brooklyn, the Nets are sporting a new look: a black-and-white color scheme, which pays homage to the old New York subway signage system, and two new primary logos. Jay-Z, who owns 1.5% of the Nets, played an instrumental role in their design—a fact that clearly makes NY Post writer Phil Mushnick uncomfortable.
Mushnick, who has long been a critic of Jay-Z’s role in the franchise, wrote in his “Equal Time” sports column:
“As long as the Nets are allowing Jay-Z to call their marketing shots — what a shock that he chose black and white as the new team colors to stress, as the Nets explained, their new “urban” home — why not have him apply the full Jay-Z treatment? Why the Brooklyn Nets when they can be the New York N------s? The cheerleaders could be the Brooklyn B----hes or Hoes. Team logo? A 9 mm with hollow-tip shell casings strewn beneath. Wanna be Jay-Z hip? Then go all the way!”
And it didn’t stop there. As furor erupted over what many are calling his “racist rant,” Mushnick tried to turn the story around and pin the blame on Jay-Z.
He said, “Such obvious, wishful and ignorant mischaracterizations of what I write are common. I don't call black men the N-word; I don't regard young women as bitches and whores; I don't glorify the use of assault weapons and drugs. Jay-Z, on the other hand . . . Is he the only NBA owner allowed to call black men N---ers? Jay-Z profits from the worst and most sustaining self-enslaving stereotypes of black-American culture and I'M the racist? Some truths, I guess, are just hard to read, let alone think about.”
There are certainly legitimate points that can be made about the messages conveyed in hip hop, as well as situations that just cry out for satire, but we think that Mushnick missed the mark on both accounts.
What do you think SodaHeads? Who is the racist? Phil Mushnik or Jay-Z?
Read More: http://gothamist.com/2012/05/04/ny_post_columnist_...
Top Opinion
-
Feria~THEZombieSlayingB!tch... 2012/05/06 00:03:18
If you can't see it, then I don't know what to tell you.
But, I've come across Mushnick's writings from time to time. I usually walk away with the impression that he's an idiot.
Because I'm black, and I was raised by a black family, my instinct is to side with Jay-Z. Hip-Hop is dominated by the black community, and therefore the singers and rappers can say whatever they want about black people. I'm not saying I approve of it, but it doesn't bother me like it may bother others. In the black community it's all considered the "inside joke" without the joke part. And in no way am I saying every black person uses this logic, but many many many black people do. I'm not trying to be racist, I'm saying that's the truth.
Then again so do most rappers.
The Mushnick take on the logo is off base. As boring of a logo as it is (and I'm a guy that loves simple classy logos) I don't think much racially of it. I think the Mushnick opinion of the logo is based more on who designed it and he's wrong on its intentions.
That said, I think the Mushnick position on Jay Z and rap music in general is a fair opinion and a discussion worth having. I don't completely agree with him, but there is something to be said about music that often throws around violence, mysogyny and harsh racial language in a positive light. This is one of those discussions that a race forward society wouldn't shy away from, a discussion where people wouldn't label the person bringing it up as racist so they could go home for the day. Thats lazy and it doesn't do the issue any service.
Take J.C Penney's rebranding with Ellen Degeneres, people responded to the fact she was gay even though it had nothing to do with JCP's rebranding, it received both positive and negative reviews because of the spokesman NOT the new logo and identity.