Foxy Brown Cover? SHAME on You Johnson Publishing

In 1955, Jet magazine sent a team of reporters to rural Mississippi to cover the events and evolving story surrounding the murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till. Till allegedly made the “mistake” of whistling at a White woman and was abducted, beaten, his eye gouged out, shot in the head and thrown into the Tallahatchie River with a 75-pound cotton gin fan tied to his neck with barbed wire.

His body lay in the river for three days before it was retrieved by two fishermen. Such coverage by Jet is credited as the seminal moment in galvanizing the Civil Rights Movement across the nation. The infamous “casket photo” of Till’s disfigured corpse published in Jet served as the flare that helped illuminate the whole of the Jim Crow night sky for all of America to see. It unified us as African-Americans from coast to coast in no uncertain terms; while also serving notice to White America that the country would never be the same.

Jet has always been the pint-sized companion piece and little brother if you will to the more-heralded and lauded Ebony magazine; melding coverage of both Black history and contemporary popular fare. Part political, part pop culture...all proud though in its presentation.

That is to say, Jet magazine (Johnson Publishing) set its own standard to uphold. It was not "Mo'Kelly's" standard, it was not the "White media’s" standard, or even BET’s standard.

It was Johnson Publishing’s standard.

In Johnson Publishing's efforts to record the most poignant moments in the history of Black America, it continually reinforced and reminded everyone why John H. Johnson borrowed $500.00 against his mother’s furniture to start the company, now the largest African-American company of its kind anywhere.

ANYWHERE.

Granted, over the years Jet has been at times “cheesy” while also waxing nostalgic in its presentation. Nevertheless, Jet never dipped below the horizon of African-American respectability. Yes, the magazine did not become full color until 1999 and yes, little has changed in its overall presentation for many decades...likely threatening its continuing relevancy and marketability. And yes, even today the ‘news’ it reports is still 2-weeks late in nature and the last page is still reserved for listing the Black folks appearing on TV in the coming week.

And of course…

“Page 43.”

Every Black man who claims to be “knowledgeable” about Black History knows that “Page 43” is reserved for the Jet "Beauty of the Week." The sun rises in the east, sets in the west, water is wet and Page 43 is reserved for the Jet "Beauty of the Week."

Some things just “are” and will always be.

Yes, Jet is/was all of these things but it never sold its soul. At the minimum it remained true to its original vision and maintained the Johnson Publishing standard.

Until now...

That said, and all jokes aside; I was dumbfounded, awestruck and most importantly saddened to find that rapper Foxy Brown is the cover story for the May 19th issue of Jet.

This is the same Foxy Brown who…

· January 1997 – Received a 30-day suspended sentence, $500 fine and 80 hours of community service after spitting on two hotel workers due to a “clothing iron dispute.”

· March 2000 – Charged with driving without a license

· July 2002 – Arrested for altercation with police in Jamaica

· August 2004 – Arrested for altercation with two manicurists

· December 2005 – Handcuffed to bench for disrespecting judge in hearing regarding manicurists incident

· February 2007 – Arrested for spitting on a store employee and throwing hair glue at him.

· March 2007 – Pleaded guilty for probation violation of leaving state of New York without permission.

· August 2007 – Turned herself into authorities on felony assault charges for allegedly hitting neighbor with a Blackberry PDA.

· September 2007 – Sentenced to one year at Rikers for probation violation.

Even more disturbing and disgusting is the fact that the cover story is pegged around how Brown “survives jail” and asking “what’s next” for the rapper. And oh yeah, (conveniently enough,) Brown “happens” to also be releasing a new CD and developing a reality TV show.

An often-arrested rapper just out of jail, releasing a CD is ”newsworthy?”

No, it is patently offensive, appalling and inexplicable. Shame on you Johnson Publishing.

As African-Americans continue to deal with the painful realities of how the prison mentality has permeated the minds of our children, stealing away more than a generation's worth; Jet magazine has chosen to “feature” Foxy Brown, solely for the purpose of promoting her CD and lauding her emergence from jail.

The editorial decision is patently offensive, appalling and inexplicable.

Shame on you Johnson Publishing.

As we as African-Americans constantly battle with the images and ideas that run counterintuitive to the best of Black America, highlighting the latest jail stint of a rapper and helping her to sell more music of Black self-degradation are simply inexcusable actions.

Although it is the month of May and African-Americans are graduating college throughout the country, making meaningful contributions other than “surviving jail,” Jet magazine has chosen instead to play Pomp and Circumstance in celebration of the "graduation" of Foxy Brown from Rikers.

Shame on you Johnson Publishing.

Conversely, the recent acknowledgment of venerable actor Laurence Fishburne’s critically acclaimed one-man Broadway play as Thurgood Marshall received a one-page write up on page SIXTY-ONE of its May 5th issue.

An Oscar-nominated African-American actor portraying one of the most integral and heralded figures in civil rights history...a page 61 afterthought.

An often-arrested African-American felon rapper pushing another uncivil, disrespectful and derogatory CD...

COVER STORY.

From Emmett Till to Foxy Brown. Who is Mo'Kelly to argue with "progress" like that?

Shame on you Johnson Publishing.

There is no way in the world John H. Johnson borrowed $500.00 against his mother's furniture for the "opportunity" and "privilege" to showcase our people just out of jail with complete and utter contempt for respect and righteous behavior.

In 1955 we enjoyed a community built upon standards and a refusal to accept such foolishness. How we've managed to "progress" to the point of celebrating stupidity while profiting through its promotion is beyond comprehension.

Promoting the release of Foxy Brown from jail and her new record sends the wrong message that "surviving jail," is either noteworthy or admirable in nature.

It is neither.

Such promotion only reinforces the stranglehold that prison has on our communities. Whereas Johnson Publishing can not control how Foxy Brown's record company seeks to promote its product, Johnson Publishing has ample control over how it promotes itself and the inherent social costs incurred.

Shame on you Johnson Publishing. If John H. Johnson (and Emmett Till) could see you now.

(Note: The Mo'Kelly Report requested an interview from Johnson Publishing President, Linda Johnson-Rice and/or any other executive who could further explain the editorial decision of the Foxy Brown cover story. Johnson Publishing was informed in writing of the impending date of The Mo'Kelly Report editorial and the wish to include their official response. Johnson Publishing neither responded to the interview requests nor offered any statement in response. A copy of the official request can be found HERE.)

The Mo'Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published weekly at www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse...as well as entertain. The Mo’Kelly Report is syndicated by Newstex and Blogburst. For more Mo’Kelly, http://www.mokellyreport.blogspot.com.

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Morris W. O'Kelly can be reached at mokellyreport@sbcglobal.net and he welcomes all commentary.