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| Harriet Tubman |
The description of
the video via The Washington Post read:
the “Harriet Tubman Sex Tape” is “the off-record
account of how Harriet Tubman blackmailed her master into letting her run the
Underground Railroad!”
Say
what, now?
I was reluctant
to write about this because I don’t want to give Russell Simmons free
advertising he doesn’t need (thus no hyperlinks). You see I don’t believe his
actions were accidental. I think he knew exactly what he was doing from post to
apology because it’s all gravy for All Def Digital in the form of Google
searches, clicks, views, and brand awareness isn’t it? Did you know Russell
Simmons had a YouTube channel? Well you do now. Am I giving the man more credit
then he's due? I don’t know. You look at the size and scope of his empire and
tell me.
The video is supposed to be funny
because we presume that Harriet Tubman – runaway slave, abolitionist, Union
spy, the woman called Moses who led dozens of slaves to freedom on the
Underground Railroad without ever losing a passenger – would never make a sex
tape. Don’t get me wrong. I like historical fiction. I guess what I’m
not a big fan of are pseudo historical hoes. With so
many modern-day, ready-set-go hoes making actual sex tapes, fabricating one
seems completely unnecessary. (Please note, as a disillusioned feminist I
struggle over the use of the word hoe. Just because a woman enjoys sex and is
not camera shy does not make her hoe. But, doing a sex tape for free does make
her a dumb hoe.)
In
my corner of the universe, this video has reignited the discussion of what’s
funny and asks the question: when does funny go too far. That’s a tough one for me. I'm an American and a comedian. Free speech
is in my blood. You can say just about anything but then you have to have the
stones to take the heat from those who don't find it funny. That will be anyone
for whom the subject is too raw, close, and personal. But keep in mind, despite
what a politically correct climate may have you believe bad taste is not illegal.
Hurt feelings are not actionable. We do not have the right not to be offended.
I am hopeful however that the reaction to this video will
make All Def Digital rethink any plans it may have had for a follow up: “Coming to the Main Stage: Rosa Parks!”
The Urban Erma, the longest running column on StageTimeMagazine.com, was created and written by stand-up comedian Leighann Lord. Listen to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher Radio. Watch the video edition on YouTube.com. If you enjoy The Urban Erma please leave a comment, Like it on Facebook, follow on Twitter, And share it with your friends. (Share it with people who are not your friends and maybe they will be.) TheUrbanErma@gmail.com Get her free e-books of The Great Spanx Experiment and Sometimes I Wish Facebook Had a Hate Button.
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