Council of Bad Language
Disdainers
Like sticks and stones, bad names and words do
harm us.
Evangelical Church of God
1205 Washington Avenue, Bronx,
NY 10456
Telephone: 718-665-3497 Church
Fax: 718-665-0708 Disdainers Fax: 718-237-8808
E-mail:
evangchurch@aol.com
website:
www.evangelicalchurchofgod.org
April 2, 2007
Helen D. Foster, Council
Member
1377 Jerome Avenue
Bronx, New York 10451
Re: Word Ban Equity - N - B - HO, ALL MUST GO!
Dear Ms. Foster:
We believe women of the Bronx, and the rest of our City, deserve equal
access to the symbolic slur word ban recently passed by the New York City
Council. The vile use of the “B” and “Ho” words promulgated by our local
and national radio, television and other music media are accompanied by the
most Black female degrading scenarios imaginable.
This appalling condition harkens back to the die hard slave master notions
that Black females are sexual service beasts.
We also believe as recent studies have shown that the “B” and “Ho” words
that are perpetuated in rap music and videos are even more detrimental to
our Black girls than the abhorrent “N” word. This has been demonstrated in
studies cited by Essence magazine and others.
There is a connection between the “B” and “Ho” rap messages and the AIDS
epidemic afflicting Afro-American females. The severe misogynist scenarios,
messages and images that globally degrade mainly our Black females are
tagged and symbolized by the “B” and “Ho” words. We request equal access to
a symbolic ban on the most prominent denigrating misogyny inflicting words
used against women in general and Black females in particular.
We take this as a women’s rights issue applicable for the Committee on Civil
Rights or a women’s physical, social and mental health issue applicable for
the Health Committee.
As a female council member, we hope your sensitivity to this calamity would
be strong enough to garner your support. May we have it?
Sincerely,
Marion Sylvester, Public Information Officer
Council of Bad language Disdainers
