Because one of the major news stories mirrors ancient Greek civilization, let’s begin with a quote from a Greek philosopher, Thrasymachus: “Justice is nothing other than the advantage of the stronger.”
It is a hard lesson that you begrudgingly learn to accept and live with—that is until a tipping point is reached. The who, what, where, when and how are incidental, but the fact that things will come to a head is inevitable. In relation to the aforementioned quote, indeed the mere premise is disturbing. When the assertion is proved to be correct more times than not, those being on the wrong side of the strength equation can get real antsy, real fast.
Remember last week on these very pages we made mention of a brewing firestorm within the Black community. (To quote Dead Prez, “It’s bigger than hip-hop.”) Who knew that the day we went to press, a press conference was announced in support of the victims of the alleged crime and for the accused to face the media representatives of the community he supposedly serves? For those familiar with the inner workings of how the music industry operates, mainstream media is the ultimate validation. Placement in an outlet capable of reaching millions at a time is indicative of strength.
Now that some background has been laid, here are the specifics thus far: Amid accusations of molestation of multiple children hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa addressed the charges with a statement to Rolling Stone magazine that said, “I, Afrika Bambaataa, want to take this opportunity at the advice of my legal counsel to personally deny any and all allegations of any type of sexual molestation of anyone. These allegations are baseless and are a cowardly attempt to tarnish my reputation and legacy in hip-hop at this time.”
Bambaataa continued, “This negligent attack on my character will not stop me from continuing my battle and standing up against the violence in our communities, the violence in the nation and the violence worldwide.”
This statement was soon followed by a radio interview on the “Ed Lover Show,” a program that has national syndication. “It could be me today and you tomorrow. You need to ask the question, ‘Why now, and what is the hidden agenda behind this?’” Bambaataa said. “Is it because I’m still being relevant today, trying do things that help people all across the world, trying to start a hip-hop museum, fighting in Colombia to bring people back safely in the streets, stopping the crime of killing each other, they’re hating each other, trying to stop all violence in hip-hop?” The deeper statement was the claim not to know one of the accusers.
Saturday May 7, however, the veils were peeled back. Standing on 125th Street were two of the men who suffered, Hassan “Poppy” Campbell and Ronald Savage. Not words and photos from printed stories, not moving images on websites, but voice-cracking, tear-shedding human beings standing there funky fresh in the flesh, surrounded by people with compassion, anger, wisdom, courage and strength—seekers of justice.
It’s about to get so much more real. Stayed tuned. I’m gone. Holla next week. Til then, enjoy the nightlife.