 |
Hip-Hop Industry By Felicia Persaud |
New York, Janaury 2003: Rapper Slick Rick has been called many things from "an entertainer of unparalleled ingenuity," to a "rhyme veteran," to "a modern rap music genius." Infact Rick, whose real name is Rick Walters, is famous in rap circles for the song, "I Own America." In this tune, Rick, 33, raps: "Evicted! Why you trying to find hits to lick wid? Even your kids tell you that you ain't s--- to Slick Rick. Though you pretend to be glory I'm number one. That's the end of the story."
Ironically, the man who claimed to own America is now languishing in an Immigration and Naturalization Service detention facility outside Tampa, Florida, while agency officials' rush to deport him back to his native country. Born of Caribbean parents in England, Rick was arrested six months ago after returning from the Tom Joyner boat cruise. The INS says Rick is not an official citizen of this country, though he's lived here since 1976. And he's been a permanent resident since 1995 after the INS tried to deport him then following the 5-and-a-half years he spent in jail over an altercation. Rick is also married to a U.S. citizen. However, the INS successfully won the appeal to have Rick deported in 1997, because of the crime he committed. Rick of course was unaware of this when he agreed to entertain the crowd on board Joyner's cruise.
Earlier this month, an immigration judge ruled that Rick should be deported back to his country of birth. An appeal by Rick's lawyers has been denied. Suddenly, the entire hip-hop community has awakened and rushed to Rick's side. Even Congressman John Conyers, a top-ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee, is rushing to Rick's aid. They are now calling on President George Bush to step in and overturn the deportation order and free Slick Rick and have urged supporters to call the White House and voice their displeasure. Hip-Hop Summit Action Network President, Dr. Benjamin Chavis even issued a statement urging President Bush not to "permit this gross violation of human rights to continue." And Russell Simmons, chairman of the HSAN, added, "We want the federal government to bring justice to this case by releasing Slick Rick."
It is amazing that now that one of their own faces deportation, hip-hop's bigwigs are suddenly moved to lobbying the President on behalf of their friend. But where were Simmons and Muhammad when dozens of immigrants were being deported? In fact, neither HSAN executive have ever commented before on the harsh immigration laws, even as hundreds of immigrants languish in INS detention facilities across the country following widespread profiling and sweeps after 9/11. Did Simmons or Muhammad ever show up at any immigration advocacy rallies? Have they ever used hip-hop to foster discussion on this subject? Have they for one minute ever considered the millions of undocumented immigrants trapped in the system that are in desperate need of an amnesty?
The answer to all these questions is no! As Irwine Clare, head of the Caribbean Immigrant Services puts it, the HSAN are fast taking on the face of "Christopher Columbus." It's as if they've suddenly discovered this phenomenon. Yet for years, the same fans of Rick and hip-hop have been facing the draconian immigration laws. Thousands have been deported for minor infractions. Thousands more have been picked up and placed in deportation proceedings without contact with either family or an attorney. Still thousands more remain in limbo in the system because of backlogs and bureaucracy that prevent their adjustment of status applications from being processed in a timely fashion. They cannot work legally, cannot receive any benefits though they pay astronomical taxes and they cannot travel.
The Rick case is a wake up call to the leaders of the summit and all in the hip-hop industry. You need to use your resources and your power to lobby, not only for Rick, but all immigrants. Your "urgent alert to millions of supporters of hip-hop music and culture across the United States and throughout the world" on behalf of Rick, should be a cry on behalf of all immigrants. Today it may be Rick, tomorrow, another one of your brother or sister. It's time to take a stand against these harsh laws that are bound to only get tougher under the new Homeland Security law. And let's remember, though we may be from Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia or be African American, we are all suspects and therefore we are all affected.