Activists Protest Disrespectful Song Lyrics in Braddock, TX

Braddock, TX -- Tuesday was a national day of outrage against the music industry as some top civil rights activists urged hip-hop artists to clean up their lyrics. The call to action united women, men and children across Texas.

In Dallas, dozens of people gathered outside the "Thugs" music store toprotest derogatory words used in the entertainment industry. "When it comes to using the 'N' word, the 'H' word and the 'B' word against our people and our women, those words are not filtered out," Bishop Thomas White, president of the NAACP in Braddock County, said. "What we are saying to our artists, to the hip-hop generation, this is not against them," White said. "We love them. We appreciate their contribution to the world of music, but you don't have to offend a whole group of people and you don't have to offend our women."

For years, rap's critics have complained about some of the lyrics only to watch the music become more profane and more popular. However, months after outrage over Don Imus' alleged sexist and racial comments, intense scrutiny of rap's negative imagery caused protests across the state of Texas, from Galveston to the "pan-handle." Rap artist, wrestler and Braddock County's own Antonio "Da Crunk" Davis is known to liberally use curse words and epithets in his lyrics. "Those is words I be familiar with growing up in the streets," Davis said. "I wants to bring the streets into my rap." Davis said he means no disrespect. He said at the end of his album, he left a prayer message. "I salute all the hos, and I especially salute all the white hos," Davis said. "Me and the Reverend [Dr.] Curtis [Eldorado Lowe] pray for white hos everyday, too."

Davis said he's open to cleaner lyrics. But, he said, if activists want to address the language, they have to go to the "Man." "You got to start with the Man and then work your way down," Davis said. The activists said this protest is just the beginning of a national movement to end the use of derogatory words in all recordings. There was no word on when the next protest will take place.