Activists Criticize New Hip-Hop Book Series

A publishing venture aimed at fans of hip-hop music made its debut Tuesday and quickly became the object of criticism from some community activists.

The Los Angeles-based Syndicate Media Group launched sales of a pulp-fiction book series that will include CDs of previously unreleased hip-hop music. The books will be available at Tower Records and some other retail outlets, said Marc Gerald, president of the publishing company.

“We are making reading material available to an audience [that] for a long time has been left out,” he said. “I think the books are great and will speak to young urban readers, encouraging them to read.”

However, Najee Ali, of Project Islamic Hope, decried the novels’ violent and sexist content, which he said targets urban black males. “The last thing we need is for young people to be influenced by these types of images and products,” Ali said at a press conference. “It is our job as concerned citizens to protect young people from violence that is overwhelming our society.”

Sandra Moore, vice chairwoman of the Los Angeles chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality, agreed with Ali, saying: “This material is not necessary. We have enough violence.”

Joe R. Hicks, executive director of the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission, said he understood the sentiment of those who want to boycott the new product. But he cautioned against censorship. “There are no easy answers to this,” Hicks said.