As we all know, Justin Bieber has been no stranger to Black people and Urban/Black music. With Usher as his mentor, collaborations with everyone from Mariah Carey to Future to R. Kelly to Chance the Rapper to Lil’ Wayne… the list goes on & on.
Recently, this footage leaked of a younger Bieber making a racist joke regarding Black people and chainsaws..
http://cdnapi.kaltura.com/index.php/kwidget/wid/1_dugxmlw4/uiconf_id/6740162/st_cache/22840?&
Similarly, today a new video has leaked of 14-year old Bieber singing a racially charged remix version of his song “One Less Lonely Girl” except this time, “Girl” has been replaced with “nigger.”
http://cdnapi.kaltura.com/index.php/kwidget/wid/1_xu8d0m4b/uiconf_id/6740162/st_cache/41708?&
In response to the videos surfacing, Bieber has since issued an apology regarding the matter.
“As a kid, I didn’t understand the power of certain words and how they can hurt. I thought it was OK to repeat hurtful words and jokes but didn’t realize at the time that it wasn’t funny and that in fact my actions were continuing the ignorance. Thanks to friends and family, I learned from my mistakes and grew up and apologized for those wrongs. Now that these mistakes from the past have become public, I need to apologize again to all those I have offended. I’m very sorry. I take my friendships with people of all cultures very seriously, and I apologize for offending or hurting anyone with my childish and inexcusable mistake. I was a kid then, and I am a man now who knows my responsibility to the world and to not make that mistake again. Ignorance has no place in our society, and I hope the sharing of my faults can prevent others from making the same mistake in the future. I thought long and hard about what I wanted to say, but telling the truth is always what’s right. Five years ago I made a reckless and immature mistake, and I’m grateful to those close to me who helped me learn those lessons as a young man. Once again … I’m sorry.”
So the question at hand is do we prosecute Bieber for his extremely unacceptable behavior he displayed at a young age or do we forgive him and accept him as the man he is today? Though I don’t condone the use of racial slurs, especially ones pertaining to the African-American community, I do believe that people can change. Do I believe Bieber is a racist? Not at all. We have all said things that we probably regret or will regret at one time or another. It doesn’t excuse it, but it does show that none of us are angels. The only difference between the common person & Mr. Bieber is that he’s famous; We’re not.
He’s issued a seemingly genuine apology and from there, I think we should all move on from the topic.
And to Justin… be mindful of what you say when the cameras are rolling.
Gowhere Hip Hop 