Dearest white, Christian lady,

I truly mean not to poke fun at you in writing this, but seek to address a number of statements made in your recent 11 minute rant video. I have italicized things you said, then I comment below in non-italicized text. To preface, you look like an incredibly loving and caring mother, who has nothing but the best intentions for your children. I simply wish that the anguish and publicity that your rant received could be reallocated to something that is truly distressing and worthy of national coverage. With that being said, here we go.

“This is what our youth is being subjected to.”

I’m sorry the youth in your middle-class neighborhood may stumble upon a song by Vince Staples while scanning the radio. But, have you considered the fact that many of the scenarios Staples brings up in this very song are scenarios where youth are subjected to much worse?

“Lets just encourage kids to run from the police, because that’s ok, right? We wonder why this society is so messed up, listen to the music.”

Unfortunately, in some urban areas of this very country, black kids are having to be taught, in school, how to behave during interactions with the police. Not kids in your local area most likely, but black kids whose teachers know that there have been an unprecedented number of police killings of black men recently, and therefore need to do anything they can to help their kids when, not if, they come in contact with a racially biased police officer.

“This is on our music, this is on our radio station that our kids are listening to.”

Again, I understand that most parents do not want their kids to listen to bad music. But, if your daughter likes this music, maybe have a dialogue with her about what Staples is addressing, in a jargon that he feels is accurate and appropriate, making it clear not he nor you are condoning those activities.

“I tell you right now, music has a strong influence on our children.”

I’m sure that music does have a strong influence on people, especially children, but, I do not believe Vince wrote this specifically for an audience of sheltered suburban 11 year olds. Staples is using rap as an art form to expose and amplify the injustice and terrors he faced daily, growing up in Northside, Long Beach, CA. The fact that it is on the radio is the radio’s DJ’s choice, and this song isn’t the only radio-played song to talk about these things or use similar language. If you do not want any bad messages to enter your children’s brains, then you are going to have to shelter them from more than rap music.

I’m sorry you were offended by these lyrics, and you have every right to be offended. As Staples tweeted, “No person needs to be attacked for their opinion on what they see to be appropriate for their children. They have a right to it.” I’m sorry your daughter listened to Vince Staples.

However, I wish you would be upset about issues that can’t be solved by simply switching the radio station. Staples tweeted, “This misunderstanding of our community leads to miscommunication which we should convert into a progressive dialogue.” I’m with him. Can we foster progress? Can we have dialogue between different people, working towards unity and positive change in areas of our world that need it most?

I believe we can.

God bless,

Phil