About "Freaknik," When Our Elders Speak

Do you all remember the beautiful woman in this picture? Her name is C. Dolores Tucker. She was a political force in Philadelphia in her day and in her latter days she ran a woman's organization in DC where I volunteered for her one evening and had the pleasure of being hostess to Judge A. Leon Higginbotham on my 34th birthday.  What a gift! 

I'm not sure you all know who Judge Higginbotham was but look him up. He would have succeeded Justice Thurgood Marshall on US Court Justice instead of uncle clarence, if only we had a Democratic POTUS at the time. Both he and C.D. Tucker have become Ancestors. 

I invoke Ms. Tucker this morning because yesterday I was listening to the Joe Madison show. As you all know there are established Black people who are now upset that deeds committed by them as young people at an annual festivity called "Freaknik" are now being made into a documentary and will be shown on air. Some of these people have probably since become judges and lawyers and doctors, college professors, pastors and school teachers and all other such respectable professions and of course parents and grandparents. Unfortunately this documentary is going to show glimpses from their youth of which they will not be proud.

Joe reminded me in his program yesterday that C. Delores Tucker was opposed to the new form of rap that showed Black women dancing provocatively, scantily clothed and being called bitches and hoes and encouraged and glorified our young men to be gangsters or thug-like. This is back in the 80s or 90s y'all, at the start of the denigration of rap specifically, Black music in general. 

Destructive and damaging lyrics replaced anything uplifting, positive or empowering to the Black community. The rhythmic, soulful beats, lyrics and messaging of our music were replaced with loud, harsh angry beats, sounds, lyrics and voices. Positive messaging the Black community was used to hearing in our music was essentially killed. Decent and respectful rappers could not get air time...

Ms. Tucker led   protests and asked for boycotts of this "music". She met with record company executives, appealed to our young rappers, rap producers and such to stop what they were doing to themselves and to our community. Their response was to absolutely disrespect our elder in every vile way. They threatened and verbally attacked her. Young Black BOYS, masquerading as men, cursed her, called her a bitch and worse and threatened her safety. It was horrible to witness. She was a staple and an elder in our community who had earned respect due her.

Fast forward, on yesterday Joe Madison recalled in their protests of this music, he joined C.D. Tucker, telling young people that one day they were going to be parents, have daughters and jobs, and they were going to regret that they behaved in this way, as they would have to explain it mainly to their children. This is pre-internet... Of course they told him what exit to take. They weren't listening to what he, Ms. Tucker and others had to say.

So now when I hear that folks who attended this annual event, got caught up in the moment and did God only knows what, with and to whom, are freaking out that their Freaknik deeds will be released in film, I am glad Joe reminded me of C. Dolores Tucker's valiant efforts,  foresight and love for our community. 

Reportedly attendees are attempting to sue HULU so that they cannot show this documentary. Is this a case of chickens coming home to roost, not for the masters or manipulators of this ongoing mass destruction, but those who succumbed to the[ir] lure? 🤷🏿‍♀️ 

Certainly I feel for my peers who are going to have some splainin' to do with their children, friends, congregations and such, I also see it as a blessing in disguise as we cope with far more distasteful behavior and acts of crudeness and lewdness from our youth today. Such  has almost been normalized.

I remember hearing Cardi B say that she doesn't allow her daughter to watch her videos, her music or whatever it is that she does. I'm not sure how long she thinks that's going to last. Of course her daughter will see what her Mommy does and says and what she, and others like her, promote. Of course she will have to explain to her daughter at some point the "why"...

Or maybe life in America will change such that rap lyrics and reality TV will become our reality, our new normal. Cultural values, self respect and pride, and for Black folks, community pride and morals will permanently become a thing of our past. Our young people accuse that preoccupation with such, is "Respectability Politics", wherein previous generations of Black folks were far too concerned with the opinions and approval of white folks. SMH... I cannot fault them. We, subsequent generations, dropped the ball on instilling tradition, values and knowledge of our history in them. Sadly, we must own it...

As youthful indiscretion sadly finds its way into adulthood, which could happen to any one of us, I am feeling like our Sistah C.D. Tucker is somehow being vindicated. She warned this generation of now respectable adults trying to shut down this documentary, that this day would come. I don't see this situation as much different than Woodstock. Young people from that historic and well documented event were also filmed doing the unspeakable. They also grew up to be parents and professionals, and also had some splainin' to do.

What do you guys think? Are Ms. Tucker and others who led this fight to save our community being vindicated? Will any of this trigger thoughts or corrective behavior in our current or future youth? What say ye? Were you at Freaknik? Are you concerned? Just a little? (smile)

When our elders speak, show some respect AND listen...