Friday, April 28, 2006

50 pounds versus the 4-pound

First I want to begin by giving 50 cents affirmative heads up for his apparent concern for the health of the youth in our communities. Recently, the rapper announced that he would be the spokes person and judge for a nationwide cooking competition designed to prevent childhood obesity via improving high school students’ eating habits implemented by his foundations. This program will be sponsored by Glaceau, the company partly owned Mr. Jackson that sells his grape-flavored Vitamin Water drink, Formula 50. The competition will be held in cities including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle and will ask participating high school students to develop the most “nutrient-rich” cafeteria lunch recipe, with the winner receiving $100,000 college scholarship.

How ironic also that it is estimated that about 50 cents of every US dollar spent on food is spent on eating out. This is from a man who on his web site, has a picture of him holding a pistol grip pump shot gun and Kevlar and who in 2005, an alleged rap related shooting, in which a member of the chart-topping rapper 50 Cent’s “posse” was injured in an incidence involving the Game at Now York Radio Station Hot 97.

I am glad to see his concern, but truthfully think he would have more of an impact on health if he had focused on
HIV/AIDS and violence, not in any particular order. But such would not be expected, since this is the same Curtis “50 cents” Jackson who was shot nine times. I mean, “of the estimated 18,849 people under the age of 25 whose diagnosis of HIV/AIDS was made during 2001–2004 in the 33 states with HIV reporting, 11,554 (61%) were African American. In addition, “f the estimated 80,187 African Americans whose diagnosis of HIV/AIDS was made during 2001–2004 in the 33 states with HIV reporting, 49,704 (62%) were males, and 30,483 (38%) were females.”

Then there is the fact that African America males 15 to 24 have a homicide rate of 83 per 100,000 with deaths due to firearm related injuries being 87 per 100,000, making homicide the leading cause of death for African American males. I just want to say good job Curtis, no doubt you will save a lot of lives and send one high school student to college, albeit more people, especially the ones that listen to and purchase your music, die of homicide and HIV/AIDS. Maybe you ca save more lives if you stop talking about killing folks on your songs and boning women – you think? Good Looking.

31 comments:

The Stiltwalker said...

good points. people get their priorities mixed up with trying to be popular. what kinda work you do?

The Stiltwalker said...

oh duh looks like you're a writer. *hits self in the forehead*

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

At stilt: I do infectious disease research and teach at the Morehouse school of Medicine. ill email u and ill even send u a shport story from my latest book Butterbrown

Drea Inspired said...

Normally, I'm all about complete 50 bashing (not that you're 50-bashing...that's just what I like to do ;0)), but I think I'll have to say something nice about him this time...okay maybe not too many nice things.

Now, even though getting his vitamin water involved with this project means exposure for 50's product, the fact is that he is helping to tackle a serious issue in our country.

No one person can conquer it all. YES, HIV/AIDS is not only a world-wide issue, but it hits very close to home as it is the number one killer of black women 25-34. I think 50 probably decided he would tackle a different issue because there are so many celebrities who are already surrounding the HIV/AIDS issue.

I think if 50 took a stand against violence, our young folk would listen. But there is no way Curtis is gonna lose the gangsta image that made him. He's rich because he made a name as hip hop's biggest bulley.

So, I'll give him props for what he is doing...at least he does have a cause, but I don't expect anything else.

Drea Inspired said...

By the way, sorry for the novel I wrote in your comment section. LOL!

Very nice space you have over here!

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

TU brown soul, i try to sa something good about folks albeit i consider hime a fuck boy - lol

Rose said...

I am not impressed by 50 cent. I think he has a negative image. Maybe he can affect obesity, but I don't think so. As you said speaking out against crime and violence, would have been the better choice in making a difference....

Anonymous said...

Simple enough. He's more concerned with keeping America sexy enough to appear in his videos than he is about saving lives.

Anonymous said...

I applaud his efforts on keeping kids healthy. Many children in this country are over weight and need to eat a balance diet, and not the junk they put in the vending machines. Obesity causes diabetes, strokes, heart failure and death everyday. On the other hand, I also think he should spent more of his time and money toward HIV/AIDS research,violence, and especially education. But I do agree on the fuck boy phrase, he do need to clean up his act. He has a son to raise. He must be a better role model for him.

Anonymous said...

ok it's good that a student will recieve a scholarship from this, but i do beleive he could have focused on other areas, that are effecting our youth.

The Stiltwalker said...

oh ok so we're kinda in the same business. I like to tell people I work for the cootie police. I work in HIV surveillance.

The Stiltwalker said...

and you like voltaire and quote baudelaire?...whoa this is interesting.

i like liquor and tv said...

Man I wish I was a late night talk show host. They have plenty of material to work with nowadays.

50 50 50, what are we going to do with him? He started losing steam right after that gay GQ cover. I guess this is his way of trying to bounce back.

Waddie G. said...

good point, but we should applaud him (despite all the irony) for caring about the younger generation in any problem area...obesity is just as much of a problem as violence and STDs

Anonymous said...

i guess we should be grateful he's making such an attempt. i'm actually not too impressed though.

Anonymous said...

50 cent is full of shit. i don't see how anyone would take him seriously especially when he perpetuates many negative stereotypes in the African American community and seeps into many others who are tryin
to rise above the stereotypes that plague their communities. Obesity
is a problem, yes, I know, but shit, there are many more pressin
issues at hand. Why doesn't he represent the beautiful women of our communities who remain the stronghold. Why doesn't he represent the crackheads and all the drugs that remain a scar on our communities? Why doesn't he rap about the policies that affect our people? I don't know, I guess all I can say is that K'naan said it best when he said, "my lyrics and experiences will make 50 cent look like Limp Bizkit". 50 raps about bein hardcore yet comes out with embarrassing videos about women booty clappin. Who would take his ass serious? As you can tell, I'm not a fan of 50, lol.

MsJayy said...

I'm torn...I'm glad that he's DOING something. Obesity is a serious problem but I think given his audience, HIV/AIDS, violence, etc would have made more impact but how can he tell them not to engage in that & still sell his music? It'll be interesting to see what comes of this.

chrome said...

with 50 the power of the dollar holds sway. so what's he really promoting? probably his vitamin water (whatever the hell that is)

E.R. Carpenter said...

Well, fighting obesity is a start, even if it's only to promote his new line of beverages. Like it was said, he can't do it all.

Anonymous said...

Seven out of ten African Americans are considered overweight or obese. Awareness is the key to better health. Celebrities bring attention so that's a good thing.

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