Sex, Drugs,&Cash: NFL and Media Hypocrisy

Here we go again – I’m writing another article regarding the NFL! In the National Football League’s latest bout with hypocrisy it has decided to denounce entertainer Janet Jackson for bearing her breast (with the assistance of singer Justin Timberlake) during the Super Bowl halftime show. The NFL’s partner in crime, CBS, also feigned concern over showing Jackson dancing provocatively with Timberlake and her breast antic during, of all things, “The Family Hour!” This must be the sign of the apocalypse! These fine institutions are aghast over the body part that helped to create “The Family Hour?” Heavens no!

Seriously, let’s explore this event further. There are two major issues inherent to the affair:

So, in retrospect, what does this breast-bearing mean? Absolutely nothing, other than the NFL trying to maintain or project an image of being a good corporate citizen on one hand while selling sex and stereotypes in order to make billions of dollars on the other hand. And, finally, for those that experienced psychological pain (or arousal, depending on your point of view) from seeing Janet Jackson’s breast, fear not because Lil’ Kim will be performing during the 2004 National Basketball Association All-Star Weekend, and she, in no way, has any problems in revealing her breasts. Besides, I know more about psychological pain than anyone; I’m a New York Jets fan!

Reynard Blake, Jr. is a East Lansing, Michigan based freelance writer and has a business, Community Development Associates, which serves nonprofit and faith-based organizations. He is still at work on his book on hip-hop, black leadership, and the black church and hopes to complete it by mid- to late 2004. And, despite his penchant for using raw language in his writings, he is a master’s degree student in Pastoral Ministry at Marygrove College in Detroit. (Heaven help him!)