7. Russell Simmons to Don Lemon
Don Lemon took a lot of heat this past summer after he made comments about race relations in America. He agreed with Bill O’Reily’s statement that the disintegration of the African-American family was the reason for so much violence in black communities and used the argument as the base of his segment on CNN listing “Five Ways To Fix Our Community”. Co-founder of Def Jam Records Russell Simmons was so angered by Lemon’s segment that he decided to pen a letter defending the African-American community.
“If you want to tell the rest of America this weekend when you go back on CNN how we fix black America, tell them to re-start the “War on Poverty.” Tell them to end the failed “War on Drugs” that has cost this nation over one trillion dollars and unjustly incarcerated a generation of black men. Tell them to support the President’s plan for universal Pre-K, so no child enters elementary school having to play catch up with the other children who are fortunate enough to go to pre-school. Tell them make college affordable and obtainable for young students who come from low-income families. Tell them that the right to a healthy life should be universal and not just for the fortunate few. And lastly, tell them that young black men and women don’t just need “role models” or “mentors,” they need “sponsors” who are willing to offer them a job.”