Hot Topic (8/31): "Birthday Sex" singer a poor role model for students?

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

 

CPS role model Jeremih not sitting well with everyone

by Wendell Hutson

Tuesday’s announcement by Chicago Public Schools officials that one of its famous alumni has joined their Back-to-School campaign is not going over well with everyone.

Mayor Richard M. Daley was joined by Ron Huberman, chief executive officer for CPS, and Michael Scott, president of the Chicago School Board at Robeson High School in Englewood to announce that R&B sensation Jeremih has agreed to use his Twitter account to contact students and encourage them to attend the first day of school, which is Tuesday, Sept. 8.

But William “Dock” Walls, a community activist who is running for governor, said using the 22-year-old South Side native sends the wrong message to kids. He opposes Jeremih largely because of Jeremih’s current chart-topping single “Birthday Sex,” which contains sexually suggestive lyrics. His self-titled album carries a “parental advisory” sticker because of its explicit content.

“While we respect Jeremih’s commitment to his personal academic accomplishment, we oppose the CPS’s decision to make him the central figure in its Back-to-School promotional campaign,” he said. “Our opposition is based upon the fact that Jeremih’s hit song, “ Birthday Sex,” promotes gratuitous sexual acts. This suggested promotional campaign would wrongfully edify Jeremih and give further credence to his lyrics.”

Walls voiced his concerns along with other community leaders today at a morning news conference outside CPS headquarters, 125 S. Clark St.

However, Huberman defended his decision to enlist Jeremih and downplays any notion that he is not a good role model.

“Jeremih is a musician. His music is no different from all other music our kids listen to,” he said. “Kids are using social network sites like Twitter, MySpace and Facebook to communicate with one another, so it makes sense to have a young alumni like Jeremih use the site to reach out to students.”

 

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Would you approve of a singer like Jeremih promoting public education?  Do you think he is a poor role model?

 

Do you have a problem with children under 18 listening to explicit lyrics?  Do you allow your children to listen to music that has a "Parental Advisory"? 

[hsteele]

The lyrics to a few of his songs are pretty raunchy. I just looked up his lyrics online. I really don't think that they are at all kid appropriate although you know they're listening to it. I can see how using him to contact students would be beneficial to encouraging them to attend school, but not sure if making him the center of the campaign is a good idea. If he wants to help, he should just do it without fanfare. I would discourage my kids from listening to his music if they were old enough to choose their music, but you really can't control everything your kids hear.

[athenax3]

He's an entertainer, NOT a role model- I think that we have begun to blur the lines between role models and the wealthy or the popular.

I personally don't censor much from my children- though I won't listen to some of it, lol- but in all honesty I feel bubble wrapping them is counterproductive, I prefer that they hear and interact with the world and I'll explain it as we go along- why this is acceptable to me, why that may not be acceptable, so on and so forth.

The reality is those children know who he is, they've heard his song, probably have it downloaded on one device or another, and if he wants to encourage kids to go to school, great. His desire to try an be a positive influence however should not be misunderstood to signify that he is in some way a role model- he's a young man from roughly the same background, with some talent who has made himself some money- no more, no less.

[NadiasMommy427]

Well i myself LOVE his music. but no he's not a role model for kids. roles for kids now days are becoming very slim. I monitor what she hears when she is home and in the car with me. She has the LG Dare cellphone and we have hear the song before she can put it as a ringtone. 

[texanmommy]

I have a problem with ME listening to raunchy lyrics, so yea, I don't think it is appropriate for young children. I would have to poll the parents of the school aged children to see what they thought about it, and abide by their majority decision. Some kids may have never been allowed to listen to his music due to content, and this would send a message that the rest of the community and the school system condone it. And of course they are then going to try to listen to it, without parental consent. JMO 

[tha-hawt-mommie]

Honestly -- this song is clean compared to what i used to listen to at 16! I listened to hard-core rap , not this stuff! lol ... I think teens myspace pics are rauncheir than this song though!

Would you approve of a singer like Jeremih promoting public education?  Do you think he is a poor role model? I approve of any musical talent doing this,because everyone says that once they go big they dont care about their community or the 'little people' anymore -- this is showing he does! I dont think he is a poor role model,he's on my twitter and he is likeing what he is doing w/ this! Yes that song is dirty , i guess , but again there is a parental advisory on there, and im sure he wouldnt perform it in a school filled w/ kids.

 

 

Do you have a problem with children under 18 listening to explicit lyrics?  Do you allow your children to listen to music that has a "Parental Advisory"?  I dont have a problem w/ it ... again thats all i listened too. My oldest is 4 1/2 -- i dont censor 24/7 , and go all out to censor what he hears, bc im not going to be there when hes at a friends house or his dads , or whereever ... hes going to hear these words one day. i mean i dont listen to songs that are cussing HORRIBLE words throughout the whole thing. Theres songs we listen to that say ass or damn , or whatever. Hell at 2-3 yrs old my sons fave song was "sexy Love" by neyo -- and ppl have probs w/ him sayin 'sexy' lol but it was his song.

 

[Serenity7]

He is promoting public education. That's a good thing. As far as kids under 18 listen to the birthday sex song. Sex is everywhere. Kids are not allowed to listen to it at home. However they can listen to it at their friends house. At school on a friend CD player or anywhere else,

[canthaveboys1]

My kid came home from school singing this song. So I sent an email to the principal. I dont think in their "free time" they should be allowed to listen to that in the 5th grade.  

[GoddessNDaRuff]

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Would people get over themselves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Really c'mon if the parents don't want them to listen to it don't play it around them. Don't buy the damn CD.  Turn the radio station when the song comes on!!!!!!! The parents are suppose to raise the children not the celebrities!!!!!!!!!!!! I approve of any celebrity that is going to have the sense enough to use their fame to put out a positive message such as "go to school". Teens were having sex and performing sexual acts WAY before Jeremiah came out and are going to continue. And yes I approve of my kids listening to explicit lyrics because if i'm playing it they are going to hear and I KNOW IT IS MY JOB AS A PARENT TO TEACH THEM THAT IT IS A SONG! I know I'm suppose to instill morals and common sense into my children to help them make good decisions. NOT THE DAMN ARTIST OF A SONG!!!!!!!!!!!

[tha-hawt-mommie]

sooo agree! my kids hear what i listen to sometimes ... so ... idk

Quoting GoddessNDaRuff:

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Would people get over themselves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Really c'mon if the parents don't want them to listen to it don't play it around them. Don't buy the damn CD.  Turn the radio station when the song comes on!!!!!!! The parents are suppose to raise the children not the celebrities!!!!!!!!!!!! I approve of any celebrity that is going to have the sense enough to use their fame to put out a positive message such as "go to school". Teens were having sex and performing sexual acts WAY before Jeremiah came out and are going to continue. And yes I approve of my kids listening to explicit lyrics because if i'm playing it they are going to hear and I KNOW IT IS MY JOB AS A PARENT TO TEACH THEM THAT IT IS A SONG! I know I'm suppose to instill morals and common sense into my children to help them make good decisions. NOT THE DAMN ARTIST OF A SONG!!!!!!!!!!!

[Sapphire769]

I don't think there is anything wrong with this. It's not like he is going to be singing his song to a bunch of little kids. He's going to promote going back to school. That is a good thing. Especially since he came out of the Chicago School System. It shows that kids who graduate out of that system can go on to make something of themselves. I really hate it when parents expect athletes, musicians and entertainers to be role models for their kids. I would much rather my child look up to me and my husband or someone in my family or close friends. They can admire the athlete, musician or entertainer for the talent they have but role model, I hope not.