Hilburn’s Defense of Rap--Fans and Foes React : Anti-Semitism Issue

Was Public Enemy’s former “minister of information” merely being exuberant when he delivered himself of the intelligence that Jews were responsible for “the majority of wickedness” around the world? Were his remarks merely some light badinage in which he customarily engaged when pondering world developments? Did we all fail to appreciate the “creative energy” involved when Professor Griff charged that Jews were involved in the slave trade; that Jews “set up” South Africa, and that the Jews were involved in experiments “leading to the creation of the AIDS virus”?

What is disturbing to me is not that Professor Griff was so dazzlingly and appallingly ignorant; not even that smoke shoots out of his ears when he engages in deep thought on important subjects. What disturbs me greatly, Mr. Hilburn, is the thundering silence from the black community and its leaders when bigoted and ignorant remarks by blacks are directed against other groups.

What disturbs me even more, Mr. Hilburn, is when a critic of the rap music scene can only bring himself to write that Professor Griff’s statements “made the rap outfit seem possibly dangerous and irresponsible” (italics mine). Surely much more than that is involved. Your failure to appreciate the absolute danger and sheer irresponsibility behind these remarks is, in the final analysis, most unforgivable.

HENRY J. SHAMES

Santa Barbara