As you may know I pride myself on using my "Celebrity Voice" to bring important issues to light. When I write I try not to offer my opinion because I don't want to influence or sway the opinion of the reader. I on the other hand create topics that I hope will eventually turn into discussions by concerned or interested readers. I thought it important to discuss the ever heated issue of "Snitching". For those of you that are unfamiliar with the term here are a few definitions as given in the dictionary….
- : (slang) (transitive) To contact or cooperate with the police for any reason.
- To turn informer.
- To give incriminating information about others, especially to the authorities.
Slang synonyms: Rat, Sing, Squeal, Stool, Tattle.
It is clear to see that Snitching is deeply rooted both in negative and in positive way.
Like anything Snitching or "Telling" can be seen to ways. There is a very fine line between the issue of "To tell or not to tell". This on going conflict is no more present than in the African American community and Hip-Hop culture. As a minority growing up in the most depressed area of the inner-city I was always told "Never talk, never tell" and most of all never talk to the police!
When listening to most Hip-Hop/ Rap music the message is clear, Snitching is not tolerated under any circumstance.
This brings us to the real issue. Is telling/ snitching a question of circumstance?
For example what happens when telling what you know or saw becomes a matter of life and death?
Some experts have stated that Street credibility is critical to an artists album sales. This is the main reason for this outlook. Rapper Cam'ron was quoted when asked why he refused to cooperate with police after an assailant shot and wounded the rapper in Washington, D.C. during Howard University's homecoming weekend, the rapper responded by saying, "Because ... it would definitely hurt my business, and the way I was raised, I just don't do that."
In an age when the term "witness" now translates to "snitch" solving crimes and catching killers has become something much harder to do. Many believe Biggie and Pac's cases will never be solved due to the Stop snitching movement.
I will leave you the reader with these following statements & questions to deliberate. Feel free to draw your own conclusions (Pro & Cons).
-For those that insist they won't tell under any circumstance be honest, it's easy to say what you won't do or say until a crime hits home. (Your best friend's mother or daughter is brutally raped and you know who did it…. Try telling your best friend that you don't want to tell him or the police because you're not a snitch.)
-For those that claim telling is a must, Tell that the people who say "Police protection is conditional". Meaning your only safe until the trials over! Very few end up in witness protection programs, rather they end up marked as outcast after doing what they thought was right. How can the police & government ask you to do something that can or will put you and your family in danger?
-Lastly, Does term Snitching even apply or belong outside the criminal realm?
In other words is definition of what snitching is in itself irony?
Example: If there are two individuals involved in a criminal act (something considered wrong or unjust) how can snitching be any worse than the criminal act that lead to the snitching? To clarify, neither have clean hands so "Logically" no further action by either can be considered better or worse.
Does snitching epitomize the cliché "Honor among thieves"? If so have we the people affected by what these criminals do been brainwashed?
Think about it, if they are the criminals and you're the victim, how can you share the same so called code of ethics?
You be the judge.....
-Tan
Just a side note: Hip-Hop has been blamed and become the scapegoat for issues that range from violence, teen pregnancy and literacy. As an advocate for the "Art & Culture" that is Hip-Hop it is important for me to add the following statement.
Hip-Hop admittedly hasn't made this and the issues listed any better. I'll further admit in many cases it's made them worse. But I refuse to agree with anyone who makes Hip-Hop the blame or originator of these issues.
You can no more blame Hip-Hop for street violence as you'd blame Rock/Metal music for the increase in the suicide rate.
Music as a whole should be taken as a representation of the era in witch we live in.
Music is "Art imitating life". Wrong or right, It is a view point. like any point of view subjected to criticism, assumption and interpretation.
"When we attack the music we detour the blame, fix the problem and the music will change"
Quote by: Patrick "Tango" Hunter