Feedback About Our Russell Simmons Interview

So it seems folks are still talking about Farai's provocative interview with Russell Simmons last week. Even our friends at EURweb took note.

Here's a sampling of your comments:

From Albert Harum-Alvarez:

"I think Farai should have gently insisted on being treated better by this bigheaded man. That would have been the most direct way to deal with the issue of misogyny."

From Ernest Champell:

"I as a fellow journalist was really disappointed that Farai allowed Russell's profanity-laced rant to force her to do what he wanted ... promote his book."

From Yohance:

"We can go on all day talkin' about the negative aspects of hip hop, but I would be mad just like him if I came to talk about my book about empowerment and all people seem to focus on is the negative aspects of an art form I promote."

And from Farai herself:

"I can't acknowledge everyone, but I appreciate everyone's point of view (even when I disagree).

I will say one thing: journalism is not about making people look good OR bad. It's about asking questions and getting answers. Real answers.

And if you don't get them, you keep asking.

One example is our story today on a tenure fight at MIT. We didn't get some answers until after the interview. We put that information (from the Univeristy communications department) in what we call the back-announce, or the acknowledgement of the guest and any supplemental information.

We just kept asking, even if it didn't seem polite.

But we asked politely.

That's journalism."

Let's keep the conversation going. What responsibility does Russell Simmons -- and other hip hop moguls -- bear for the messages conveyed through rap music? And for those of you who haven't weighed in yet, what did you think of Farai's interview with Russell?

Geoffrey Bennett

12:50 PM ET | 06-14-2007 | permalink

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