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Fox News pundit Geraldo Rivera made some controversial statements about hip-hop during an interview on HuffPost Live Wednesday (Feb. 18). The veteran journalist, who calls himself a “militant moderate,” says hip-hop has been more damaging to black and brown people than racism over the last decade.
Rivera aimed his vitriol at hip-hop’s elder statesman Russell Simmons for supporting rap music, which he believes is the reason why African-Americans and Latinos are not excelling in the workplace.
“This whole ethos, and I love Russell Simmons — he’s a dear friend of mine, I admire his business acumen — at some point though, those guys need to cop to the fact that by encouraging this distinctive culture that is removed from the mainstream they have encouraged people to be so different from the mainstream that they can’t participate other than the racks in the garment center and those entry level jobs,” he said. “I lament it; I really do. I think it’s been very destructive culturally.”
Interviewer Josh Zepps responded to Rivera’s rant by stating, “I don’t want to go down an entire racial hole because there are a lot of potential explanations for why there is alienation in minority communities [outside of] hip-hop.” To which Rivera answers, “Oh, of course, but I think fashion plays a part.”
Reactions to Rivera’s comments were met with outrage on social media. Almost everyone found his statements ludicrous as there are numerous things that have culturally destroyed black lives beyond the past decade — namely systematic white supremacy.
What do you think of Geraldo Rivera’s remarks about hip-hop? Is he right or wrong? Tell us in the comments below.
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