Editor’s note: This column contains language that may be offensive to some people.Young Jeezy’s president is black.What a coincidence – more than 300 million other Americans have a black president, too.Jeezy doesn’t realize this because he’s too busy calling former President George W. Bush a racist.Obama being elected is a moment to be shared by all Americans — no matter their race.Jeezy’s newest song “My President is Black” is nothing more than another example of an ignorant artist trying to make a quick buck.If a white artist wrote a song titled “My President is White,” during the tenure of previous presidents, people would be up-in-arms about the lyrics. This song is a prime example that it’s time to stop segmenting ourselves by race.This country will never move past its racial divide and see the significance of Obama’s presidency if Americans continue to segregate themselves.During a Jan. 18 concert, Jeezy and Jay Z performed the song at the “Concert on the Eve of Change.”Jeezy showed his immaturity that night by slamming Bush.”I want to thank the motherfucker overseas who threw the two shoes at George Bush,” Jeezy said. “And … I want to thank the motherfucker who helped them move their shit out of the White House. Keep it moving, bitch, ‘cause my president is black.”Following the concert, conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly discussed the tasteless words on The O’Reilly Factor. But, it took comedian and political commentator Dennis Miller to hit the nail on the head.Miller said the two artists’ behavior couldn’t overshadow the significance of Obama’s inauguration.”If they couldn’t ratchet down the hate for a day, that’s their problem,” Miller said. “If the dinosaurs were done in by the asteroids, role models in the black community like that are about to be done in by a shooting star named Barack Obama. “I welcome the next four years when ‘hos’ can once again become a word about an instrument that is used to till a garden at a community center … I am happy for Barack Obama, and I’m sorry emphysema [speaking of Jeezy] and Jay Z could not join me in that happiness.”In response to the comments, Jeezy told MTV that he felt “it was necessary” to write the song.Jeezy said he has never paid much attention to politics because it never benefited him.”This time around, it’s not a black-or-white thing — you got somebody in there for us that’s well-spoken and going to handle their business,” Jeezy said. “I just wanted to do my part and let them know we need change, we need help, it’s rough out there.”Jeezy shouldn’t say “it’s not a black-or-white thing” then say “It never benefited us” or “you got somebody in there for us.” Jeezy has rapped numerous times about racism. He, along with most rappers, adds to racial tensions by writing the lyrics that separate blacks and whites.O’Reilly isn’t off the hook either.”When I object [to the video of Jeezy and Jay-Z], I’m a racist,” O’Reilly said during the interview with Miller.That’s not true. You’re entitled to your opinion, but you teeter on the line of racial discrimination when using words like “we,” “us” or “them.”You’re no better than those who use the same terms when describing people. Since the birth of the nation, we have not achieved equality. This doesn’t dismiss Obama’s victory.Claudeidra Minor, Louisiana assistant attorney general and the University’s first black Golden Girl, put it best when she said Obama is “everyone’s president.” ”He’s America’s president, and he just so happens to be black,” Minor said.Jeezy claimed, “No president ever did shit for me.”Maybe the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that President Kennedy introduced to Congress didn’t do “shit” for you. Maybe Kennedy also never appointed 40 blacks to administrative positions — something no president had done — and never secured the early release of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. from jail in 1960.Not to mention what President Lincoln did.Take a piece of advice from someone who grew up in a primarily black neighborhood and whose best friend is black — know the facts before you rant about something you know little or nothing about.
—-Contact Jay St. Pierre at [email protected]