by Aaron D. Johnson

A few months ago I did an article agreeing with Harry Belafonte’s critique of the selfishness of Jay Z and Beyonce. He was commenting on their unwillingness to use their influential voices in on social issues affecting African Americans. Helping themselves seems to be the only thing that they are concerned with. After that article, I began to think about African Americans with money, fame, reach, and influence. I contemplated which ones really stood up, voiced an opinion, or have taken a stance on any important issues facing African Americans. It has become quite clear that the vast majority of our so-called famous Black men and women are extremely silent when it comes to issues that impact the communities they came from.

As I look at what is going on in this country socially, it is a reminder of how individuals like Jay Z, Beyonce, and many others couldn’t care less. I will acknowledge that Jay Z and Beyonce have lent their support recently to the march for justice in NYC for Trayvon Martin, but it seems to be a response to the critique of their selfishness, rather than a genuine concern for justice for African Americans.

Before I continue, I want to preface the rest of the article with the understanding that they are not required to do anything. People will question why their recent show of support for justice isn’t enough. Many of their fans and supporters as well as opponents of my position will point out that it is not their job to do anything socially redemptive for the African American community or any community. I understand it but can’t comprehend why they wouldn’t want to. It is a truly perplexing concept. Those who support the notion that we do not have a collective responsibility to our communities are a cancer and are just as detrimental as the individuals who create havoc in them.

Years ago when the likes of Harry Belafonte and Sydney Poitier put their careers, money, fame, and futures on the line, it was a totally different time. It was a time where they could get blackballed from ever working again. The mere mention of equality could destroy any African American’s career and life. Today we have come a little ways from then and we have more of an ability to speak freely about inequality. Even though this ability exists, many of today’s entertainers refuse to speak up. They suffer from seems like an illusion of inclusion as the great comedian Paul Mooney would put it. It seems as though once our entertainers get to a certain level of fame, the connection to the communities that were the foundation to their success get forgotten about. The very place where they honed their crafts and were eventually discovered get ignored or treated as if they were places of pestilence.

How much money is enough to buy their silence? How much fame is enough to muzzle what should be an innate desire to affect change in their communities? How many times can they turn a blind eye to their communities’ problems without the weight of guilt and shame seeping into their conscience? Or have they told themselves that it is not their problem? Have they allowed for their entourages, family, friends, fans, and supporters to convince them that their attention towards the social ills of their communities wasn’t needed? Or maybe they just don’t give damn. Maybe money and fame is all they care about.

If all things in this country were equal, there would be no need for our entertainers to stand up and be heard on issues that impact the African American community. The creation and lies about race and race hierarchy coupled with the disease of racism has infected the human spirit globally. These false views still continue to wreak havoc on the consciousness of many which is the precipitous to many of our country’s issues. In other words, equality does not exist in America; therefore all hands need to be on deck to change this paradigm. Our famous individuals have the largest platforms and possibly the loudest voices. Thus, there are no excuses for anyone sitting on the sideline.

With that said, I am aware that our problems are multifaceted and systemic. Our communities are suffering from a host of issues that need to be dealt with on multiple fronts. I’m merely calling attention to the new breed of African American entertainers who choose to stay quiet when their voices are needed most. Let’s do better!!

Aaron D. Johnson

New York Educator of African American Studies/Global Studies