An Apology from Dr. Dre is Not Enough
This week, Dr. Dre told The New York Times he apologized to all the women he’d “hurt”, and I’m here to tell you – that’s not enough.
When Straight Outta Compton hit theaters last week, fans flocked in record numbers to see it, spurned on by nostalgia from the glory days of gangsta rap, and a revolutionary spirit reawakened by the Black Lives Matters movement.
In the movie’s revisionist history version of events, cleverly packaged by the studio, they would have you think that songs like “F—k the police” and “Express Yourself” are an accurate depiction of NWA’s legacy. And while from what I’ve heard the film was “dope” – I’d be hard pressed to find any journalist or hip hop head with a conscious who would call it well rounded.
By now several articles have been written about all the glaring omissions in the so called biopic. Dre’s history of domestic violence and the group’s gleefully misogynistic lyrics are common knowledge.
So last weekend when my friends, one by one, asked me “You going to see Straight Outta Compton?” I repeatedly muttered a very salty, “Nah.”
My annoyance coming from the fact that I am an insatiable movie buff and very rarely give up the opportunity to see a film that has engrained itself so deeply into the conscious of pop culture. I usually make it my business to be the first person in line for these sort of things. But something in my spirit refused to let me give a single penny to Dr. Dre or Ice Cube.
With a heavy heart, I solemnly accepted my fate and made peace with the fact that just this once – I’d have to be out of the loop.
But then yesterday morning, my best friend texted me a link to a New York Times article declaring, Dr. Dre Apologizes to the ‘Women I’ve Hurt’ and with cautious curiosity I decided to read what this man finally had to say for himself.
According to the article,
"In a sign that the uproar was threatening not only his reputation but also his business dealings, Dr. Dre, who has previously spoken dismissively or vaguely about the allegations, which are decades old, confronted them on Friday in a statement to The New York Times. While he did not address each allegation individually, he said: “Twenty-five years ago I was a young man drinking too much and in over my head with no real structure in my life. However, none of this is an excuse for what I did. I’ve been married for 19 years and every day I’m working to be a better man for my family, seeking guidance along the way. I’m doing everything I can so I never resemble that man again.”He added: “I apologize to the women I’ve hurt. I deeply regret what I did and know that it has forever impacted all of our lives.”
Before I could fully process how I felt about any of this, I went online and was immediately greeted by women posting things like “Oh m goodness girl! He finally apologized, I never thought I’d see the day” and “Good for him. Now we can put this to rest.”
And in a flash I was overcome by a rage that I haven’t experienced since that time I made the mistake of watching Sandra Bland’s police dash cam video.
Maybe I’m slow, but let me get this straight; a man beats on women for God knows how many years, builds his billion dollar empire on the backs of black women specifically, glorifies misogyny for the better part of two decades, and even includes violence against women in a skit on his latest album, Compton – and we’re supposed to forgive ALL of that because he mumbled a half hearted apology in The New York Times – only after he found out not doing so might hurt him financially?
In what world is that enough?
On what planet were these black women taught that their dignity was worth so little?
Whatever the case may be, I’m hear to make it clear on behalf of all the sisters who know better, that the jig is up and we are Straight Outta Patience with NWA.
A generic statement isn’t gonna cut it Dre. It’s about twenty years and several upper cuts too late for that.
After expressing my simmering rage and disbelief on social media, many asked me, “What do you want from Dre. now?”
And without skipping a beat I repeatedly responded, “I’d ask him to go deeper than words and give back to domestic violence victims and charities.”
After all the women Dr. Dre has hurt both directly and indirectly, it’s about time he gave back, specifically, to the community he’s taken so much from. It’s about time that he put his money where his mouth is and cut a damn check.
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Photo: Reuters
Blue Telusma is a Washington-based writer for theGrio.com, an online venue devoted to perspectives that affect and reflect the African-American community. Follow @theGrio on Twitter or like it on Facebook. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author. Follow her on Twitter.
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