Jesse Jackson on the "Read A Book" Video

What's so strange is that Jesse seems to have no idea what the word "satire" means.

I didn't find the video very funny and ultimately found it rather demeaning. I couldn't see how it could promote reading and since it didn't seem funny that didn't leave much room for anything positive.

I'm not out to shut it down but I can't really offer any support.

garbage is garbage.
i cant stand jesse jackson but i agree on this one

OBVIOUSLY YOU DIDN'T GET THE KOKE EITHER^^^^^^
THE SONG TELLS YOU TO READ A BOOK, BRUSH YO TEETH AND DRINK WATER I MEAN DO YOU FOOLS LISTEN TO MUSIC OR DO YOU JUST SKIM THRU IT

OBVIOUSLY YOU DIDN'T GET THE JOKE EITHER^^^^^^
THE SONG TELLS YOU TO READ A BOOK, BRUSH YO TEETH AND DRINK WATER I MEAN DO YOU FOOLS LISTEN TO MUSIC OR DO YOU JUST SKIM THRU IT

i get it...
but its stupid.
brush yo teeth brush yo teeth brush yo god damn teeth
and apparently we have a different definition of music

wear deodorant, skipper

You guys are a bunch of dicks, especially Jesse Jackson. Shouldn't he be in Jena, Louisiana? Anyway, if you went to notarapper.com you would know that the guy that made the song is actually educated and is a conscious rapper, but he did this as sattire, but obviously you jackasses just hear the curse words. I found this hilarious, and since I do "read motherfucking books", I didn't take offense to this at all. Why does Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton dick ride all of the bad rappers, but they won't name any of the rappers doing anything positive? I wonder.

Jesse jackson is the king of the blog. He's always out there finding strange issues and pushing people to take internet stands. He 's like a Run in a hot tub, my daily crucible. Discuss.

What didn't he get about the video? The video does not insult reading or personal hygiene. It's actually sad that he had to put out a statement saying he doesn't understand this joke.

To me, what makes the video funny is that it shows the absurdity of using the mass media to tell black people how to live their lives.

Take a drive around South Los Angeles and look up at the billboards. Every other billboard has a public service announcement of some sort, telling black (and brown) people to talk with their kids about drugs and alcohol, to eat better food, to practice safe sex, and, yes... to read a book. But go to Beverly Hills and you don't see signs like that.

Yes, there are more income-related problems in South L.A. than in Beverly Hills. No one denies that. But the billboards, in particular, often verge on absurdity and they generally don't work. And as if life wasn't already difficult in a low income neighborhood... as if gangs, hoes, and dealers wasn't enough... you look up and see giant sullen faces talking about AIDS, obesity, ignorance, abuse, etc. There is an unintended message: your neighborhood sucks.

To me, the "Read a Book" video has a sort of cathartic "emperor wears no clothes" effect wherein, for a brief moment, we get to laugh at the do-gooders who make their living telling people in low income neighborhood how to live their lives.

im just saying its a stupid song... but whatever

im just saying its a stupid song... but whatever

I thought it was hilarious. I thought it was true satire. The language was a bit heavy, but it was hilarious. It was like someone said use rap to send a positive message - because every ill can be traced back to hip hop, right! And then here is the catch make it sound gutter. Replace of those lyrics with stuff like, touch that but azz, steal that cash, rob your neighbor and it's a hit. That my friends is hilarious.

So, they didn't understand that the purpose of the video, was to convey the message in a way to target kids that watch mainstream rap videos all day long. No one was smart enough to grasp that idea? No one?

To quote my father, "Ignorance is a bitch of a thing".

For ALL you people who felt the garbage wasn't garbage... CHECK YA'SELVES, because it was DEFINITELY GARBAGE and DEFINITELY INSULTING TO THE BLACK RACE!!! It doesn't matter if the guy is an educated individual. He put out a song with what was supposed to be a POSITIVE APPROACH, and KILLED IT with DOWN PLAYING THE BLACK RACE!!! Anybody on here leaving comments and you're BLACK... CHECK YA'SELVES because if you didn't feel insulted by that GARBAGE... SHOOT YA'SELF!!!

For ALL you people who felt the garbage wasn't garbage... CHECK YA'SELVES, because it was DEFINITELY GARBAGE and DEFINITELY INSULTING TO THE BLACK RACE!!! It doesn't matter if the guy is an educated individual. He put out a song with what was supposed to be a POSITIVE APPROACH, and KILLED IT with DOWN PLAYING THE BLACK RACE!!! Anybody on here leaving comments and you're BLACK... CHECK YA'SELVES because if you didn't feel insulted by that GARBAGE... SHOOT YA'SELF!!!

this video is insulting but the truth at the same time about a large part of our community

Jesse Jackson is so pointless...

Having personally met the (non)rapper, and seen it performed in person makes the song even more funny and poignant. I know he's heard at least one Li'' John 'song' in his lifetime - yet finds "Read a book! Read a book! Read gotdamn book!" more offensive and demeaning than "Say nigga fuck you - fuck you Nigga fuck you - fuck you"? I'd rather see 12 years old BET worshipers yelling the former over the latter on the back of the bus

If this is what it takes to get our youth to read books then we are in serious trouble.

It is obvious that all you people who is on the "offended" tip, is clueless to art and satire. The author is a "fucken" genius. As Viacom/Time Warner and all those corporate media giants (the ones who masquerade as "BLACK" ENT. TV) dominate and decimate the idea of what is black reality, spawning a generation who defines themselves solely from what is portrayed and transmitted thru the mainstream media, this song and video shows us exactly how low of a level black people have fallen. This is one of the most poignant statements one can make to the "hip-hop"/neo-pop(we know what they call hip hop is not hip hop but pop music) generation. It is a shame to say as stupid and abc as this song is, it drives the nail right on the head. I for one applaud the author. It is a slap in the face - saying wake the fuck up... NIGGA, to those low leveled thinkers of our time who defines them selves as the 'hip hop generation." It is also a beckon to the reasonable able minded thinkers who is obviously tired of all the shit the media cram down the throats of our "black community." I guarantee the author's intended audience, who dwells on BET/MTV/ POWER 102, 105, 106, 107, whatever, will on a subconscious level pause for at least a second before they continue to digest the feces handed to them on a platter(daily) by the mainstream American media giants.

I visited the author's site and the man is definitely intelligent. As he said in the intro of his song, he will now blow up. Any publicity is good publicity. The more controversial the better. You Tube clocked over 900 thousand hit for the video and over 300 pages of responses just like this one. My only regret for this song is that the author beat me to it. He took the words right out of my mouth. However the deodorant thing kinda nullified the song a little- all in all kudos to the author. Also, all you "so called proper bourgeoisie Negros" talking about "INSULTING TO THE BLACK RACE!!!", what BET/MTV/VH1 and all those "POWER" stations (yes the ones in your city - owned by VIACOM and Clear Channel) dishes out everyday(repeatedly) is insulting to the "Black race."

ps.. Again, the song is not about reading.. it is about waking the fuck up, NIGGA!
At least that's what I got out of it.. just my two cents..

I found the video insulting to Black people. I am a Black man myself, and enjoy some hiphop music, as long as it's not too dumbed-down. Nas and Common are 2 popular artists that usually have something to say, a message or story.
This song, though made by an 'educated' Black man, is so simple, it's insulting. Where's the creativity? You're beating me on the head with "Read a book, Nigga?" If it was performed by a White man, I would be equally as offended. Sure, there is a message, but it's hard to believe this guy has read many books.
The lyrics could've been written by a child, and if it's aimed at that group, he should lose the profanity.

The video was hilarious. It's a shame, but not suprising that JJ doesn't even know the proper definition of satire. Being an irrelevant blow hard doesn't work real well if you have a well developed sense of humor, so I suppose if he were able to get the joke, he'd be out of a job.
And will someone please explain to me why making fun of gansta rap videos, do-gooder's condescending preaching and poking fun at the idea that black folks don't know how to self-correct since we're all stereotypical ghetto dwellers is insulting to black people? I mean, the whole point of satire is to make fun of people by exaggerating their ridiculous thinking to the point that its absurdity is exposed. So these guys pointed out how absurd rap videos, the condescention towards black folks which is prevelant in media and the stereotype of black folks as stupid ghetto dwellers who don't know enough to teach their kids to brush their teeth at the same time. It's genius. Seriously. Please someone explain to me why exactly we're supposed to be insulted.

Read A Book Ringtones!

http://jivjiv.com/classichiphop

I think Jesse missed the whole package. The music, and lyrics are uninspired on purpose. It's meant to parody the slump that hip hop is in right now with all of the crunk/southern stuff. It's satire. Wake up.

Man ya'll dum as hell dat shit funny as fuq!!! You wouldn't be offended if you read a muhfuqin book. Read a book muhfuqa read a got damn book!!!
And fuq u wear deodarant nigga!!!(lmao)Raise yo got damn kids

Man ya'll dum as hell dat shit funny as fuq!!! You wouldn't be offended if you read a muhfuqin book. Read a book muhfuqa read a got damn book!!!
And fuq u wear deodarant nigga!!!(lmao)Raise yo got damn kids

The guys (writer of the song) was on Power 105.1 (NY) this morning, even before hearing him talk i loved the idea of the song. All his did was take a hot track ( like all rapper) said something positive instead of negative and everybody pissed. All the trash the pump on the radio 24/7 should pissed you off. Justin Timberlake should piss you off then, cause his doing the same thing....taking whats HOT(RAP/R&b/Hip-Hop)tracks and make you listen to him. have the people who dont like the song bother to listen to lyrics,I mean REALLY LISTEN to lyrics.....NO, you listen to to beats.

When you first here a song for the first time what grabs your attention.....the beat, nobody listen to the lyrics! This guys did both MADE YOU DANCE AND THINK ( NOT FOR NOTHING THE TRACK AND SONG IS HOT, YOU CAN'T DENY THAT) THINK IF 50Cent did the same song....yall would pump like it was last song made on earth!!!!!
I think because he is unknown(to the hip-hoppers) and his coming positive he is being shot down.
I heard him mention a song and new video his is working on called "GROWN MAN" , and his asking for "GROWN ASS MEN" to come to Washington, DC to be in the Video doing "GROWN MAN" THINGS i.e. opeing the door for ladies, spending time with their children, teaching a kid how to time, etc.

LET'S SEE HOW MANY "GROWN ASS MEN" SHOW UP THAT ARE APART OF THE HIP-HOP INDUSTRY....
I KNOW I SAID I LOT...I WANT TO SAY MORE!!!!

The guys (writer of the song) was on Power 105.1 (NY) this morning, even before hearing him talk i loved the idea of the song. All his did was take a hot track ( like all rapper) said something positive instead of negative and everybody pissed. All the trash the pump on the radio 24/7 should pissed you off. Justin Timberlake should piss you off then, cause his doing the same thing....taking whats HOT(RAP/R&b/Hip-Hop)tracks and make you listen to him. have the people who don't like the song bother to listen to lyrics,I mean REALLY LISTEN to lyrics.....NO, you listen to to beats.

When you first here a song for the first time what grabs your attention.....the beat, nobody listen to the lyrics! This guys did both MADE YOU DANCE AND THINK ( NOT FOR NOTHING THE TRACK AND SONG IS HOT, YOU CAN'T DENY THAT) THINK IF 50Cent did the same song....y'all would pump like it was last song made on earth!!!!!
I think because he is unknown(to the hip-hoppers) and his coming positive he is being shot down.
I heard him mention a song and new video his is working on called "GROWN MAN" , and his asking for "GROWN ASS MEN" to come to Washington, DC to be in the Video doing "GROWN MAN" THINGS i.e. opening the door for ladies, spending time with their children, teaching a kid how to time, etc.

LET'S SEE HOW MANY "GROWN ASS MEN" SHOW UP THAT ARE APART OF THE HIP-HOP INDUSTRY....
I KNOW I SAID I LOT...I WANT TO SAY MORE!!!!

The guys (writer of the song) was on Power 105.1 (NY) this morning, even before hearing him talk i loved the idea of the song. All his did was take a hot track ( like all rapper) said something positive instead of negative and everybody pissed. All the trash the pump on the radio 24/7 should pissed you off. Justin Timberlake should piss you off then, cause his doing the same thing....taking whats HOT(RAP/R&b/Hip-Hop)tracks and make you listen to him. have the people who dont like the song bother to listen to lyrics,I mean REALLY LISTEN to lyrics.....NO, you listen to to beats.

When you first here a song for the first time what grabs your attention.....the beat, nobody listen to the lyrics! This guys did both MADE YOU DANCE AND THINK ( NOT FOR NOTHING THE TRACK AND SONG IS HOT, YOU CAN'T DENY THAT) THINK IF 50Cent did the same song....yall would pump like it was last song made on earth!!!!!
I think because he is unknown(to the hip-hoppers) and his coming positive he is being shot down.
I heard him mention a song and new video his is working on called "GROWN MAN" , and his asking for "GROWN ASS MEN" to come to Washington, DC to be in the Video doing "GROWN MAN" THINGS i.e. opeing the door for ladies, spending time with their children, teaching a kid how to time, etc.

LET'S SEE HOW MANY "GROWN ASS MEN" SHOW UP THAT ARE APART OF THE HIP-HOP INDUSTRY....
I KNOW I SAID I LOT...I WANT TO SAY MORE!!!!

Why is it that when somebody call stuff like it is, we always want to kill the messenger? The bottom line is this...Yeah, you might be offended because you do read books, but for every book you have read you can find 5 of your friends and relatives that haven't read a book this whole year.

Rap, hip-hop, or whatever you want to call it has degraded into a fast-food joint. The food all taste the same cause the joint uses the same formula. The formula is:
A memorable beat + repitition + explicit content

You can take "read a book" and replace a few words, add real people instead of cartoons, and you got 3 out of 5 top rap videos on BET EVERYDAY.

That's what you should be offended by. The next video you see (aside from Common and Kweli) will have the following things in them...Some grown ass man with the words "Young or Lil" in their name, scantily women, bleeped out profanity every 5 words, and some unrealistic portrait of our culture and regular lives being painted by some fool over accessorized and bragging about material possessions like a woman.

I thought the video conveyed a good message. Read a book! Educate yourself. Stop buying rims when you don't own your home. Stop abandoning your children. Take care of your body. The format is presented in such a way that will reach the target audience. Hip hop culture has a huge effect on the behavior of the population it caters to. Maybe if more rappers made it "en vogue" to be educated and responsible, more young people would follow suit.

can u please tell me where your books r i need to know because i'm doing a book report on you and if i don't find yor books with just you in it i will fail in language arts and he can retain me in the seventh grade and i have never ever been retained before PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE!!!!!!

can u please tell me where your books r i need to know because i'm doing a book report on you and if i don't find yor books with just you in it i will fail in language arts and he can retain me in the seventh grade and i have never ever been retained before PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE!!!!!!