Category | Arts & Living

Chuck D of Public Enemy visits KSU, inspires students

Published on January 29, 2008 by The Sentinel

    On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, honored guests, students and staff
gathered together at the Dr. Bobbie Bailey and Family Performance
Center. The event began with Mr. Punit Patel, President of the African
American Student Alliance. Patel introduced Dr. Oral Moses and the KSU
Gospel Choir. The choir sang “For All You’ve Done For Me,” a lively and
spiritual song in commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr.

    Next, Assistant Director of Minority Student Retention Services Nicole A. Phillips, came onto the stage. “Our theme this year is A month is not enough to celebrate all African Americans’ contributions. This is why we are beginning in January. KSU has seen a 15 % growth in African American attendance.”  

    Dr. Carlton Usher, author of “A Rhyme is a Terrible Thing to Waste,” introduced the keynote speaker Chuck D. “He is an agent of change. And a symbol of change.” Dr. Usher gave the audience a heartwarming overview of Chuck D’s accomplishments.

    In 1982, Chuck D formed the hip-hop group Public Enemy. In 1987, the group rose to fame with their debut album, “Yo! Bum Rush the Show.” In two decades, the group had three multi-platinum records and produced nine more albums.

    In 2001, Chuck created an online, offline, and midline artist distribution channel through record label SLAMjamz. He went on to launch a radio station on the Internet, bringthenoise.com. Public Enemy became the first multi-platinum selling act to release their album via the web before it was available in retail stores.

    Chuck D spoke on controversial subjects such as the election, immigration and social injustice. First, on the 2008 presidential elections he said, “If Obama does take office that doesn’t mean that we have made it. There is no excuse for laziness.”

    Then, he made impacting statements on immigration (including illegal) mentioning, “God gave the planet for everybody to share. Culture brings everybody together.”

    Lastly, he mentioned the phrase “illusion of diversity” among the mass media. “You see many faces in commercials but how many of those companies are headed by blacks?” With the controversy of the golf magazine that displayed the picture of a noose on it, Chuck D offered his take on the matter. “If you had a black man working there he would have said ‘Man, this doesn’t look good.’”

    Chuck D pointed out that racism does have a presence in America today. “You fix racism by dealing with it. Dr. King dealt with it. Dr. King is an introduction to so many heroes. He didn’t get locked up for nothing.”

    As Chuck D neared his conclusion he reminded all of us to keep our energy and focus for every dream that we pursue. In closing, he reminded students, “Whatever you want to be, then learn it thoroughly. You have to learn what you want to get into. Be the best you can be. Keep your eye on the prize.”

    Overall, many can say that Martin Luther King Jr. not only made a difference for blacks in America, but he made a difference for all minorities in the Civil Rights Movement. In conclusion, Chuck D reminded all of us that Dr. King fought for justice and equality for all races: the human race.

    Photos by John Stubbs