Common and Obama: Poetry Night

Tonight at the White House, the Obamas will be celebrating American poetry.

From the Washington Examiner:

[The Obamas will celebrate] American poetry and prose by hosting a gathering of poets, musicians and artists.

Those slated to attend include Elizabeth Alexander, Billy Collins, Common, Rita Dove, Kenneth Goldsmith, Alison Knowles, Aimee Mann and Jill Scott. The performers, using music and verse, will highlight poetry's influence on American culture, according to the Associated Press.

As per usual, Michelle Obama will use the event to teach young ones. The first lady will host an afternoon workshop connecting students from all across the country to the evening's performers.

"An Evening of Poetry" is part of White House's music series, which began in 2009 with a jazz studio. Since then, Michelle Obama has hosted a celebration of country music, classical music, Motown music, Latin music, a salute to Broadway, music of the civil rights movement and a dance tribute to Judith Jamison.

"An Evening of Poetry" doesn't sound very controversial, but it is.

The source of the controversy is the White House invitation for Common, aka Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr., a poet and rapper from Chicago, to participate in the event.

Common and the Obamas go way back.

They were all members of the very controversial Rev. Jeremiah Wright's Trinity United Church of Christ.

Watch Common freestyle the sermon, and campaign for Obama, at the Church's 2008 New Year celebration.



Common defended his pastor when Wright came under fire back in 2008. Obama, of course, eventually threw Wright under the bus.

Here's another performance by Common, "Can a Black Man be a President."



Clearly, Common is politically active and a longtime Obama supporter. He's done plenty of campaigning for Obama. Watch "Vote Hope: Common for Barack Obama."



Given their history, it's no surprise that the Obamas would want Common to attend their celebration of American poetry.

The issue is some of Common's "poetry."

One of his "poems" speaks of killing police and burning President George W. Bush.

That violent imagery is a problem, especially since Michelle intends to use the event as a teaching moment for kids.

As per usual, Michelle Obama will use the event to teach young ones. The first lady will host an afternoon workshop connecting students from all across the country to the evening's performers.

I don't know that it's a good thing to connect American students with Common.

Common writes some rough, hateful stuff. I don't think that's a good message to send to kids.

Video of Common reciting "A Letter to the Law."



Transcript, from The Daily Caller.

A Letter to the Law

Dem boy wanna talk… [indistinguishable]

Whatcha gon do if ya got one gun?

I sing a song for the hero unsung

with faces on the mural of the revolution

No looking back cos’ in back is what’s done

Tell the preacher, God got more than one son

Tell the law, my Uzi weighs a ton

I walk like a warrior,

from them I won’t run

On the streets, they try to beat us like a drum

In Cincinnati, another brother hung

A guinea won’t see the sun

with his family stung

They want us to hold justice

but you handed me none

The same they did to Kobe and Michael Jackson

make them the main attraction

Turn around and attack them

Black gem in the rough

You’re rugged enough

Use your mind and nine-power, get the government touch

Them boys chat-chat on how him pop gun

I got the black strap to make the cops run

They watching me, I’m watching them

Them dick boys got a lock of cock in them

My people on the block got a lot of Pac in them

and when we roll together

we be rocking them to sleep

No time for that, because there’s things to be done

Stay true to what I do so the youth dream come

from project building

Seeing a fiend being hung

With that happening, why they messing with Saddam?

Burn a Bush cos’ for peace he no push no button

Killing over oil and grease

no weapons of destruction

How can we follow a leader when this a corrupt one

The government’s a g-unit and they might buck young black people

Black people In the urban area one

I hold up a peace sign, but I carry a gun.

Peace, ya’ll.

I have no problem whatsoever with Common expressing himself through his art.

However, because some of his work contains very violent imagery and inflammatory rhetoric like calling to "Burn a Bush," I don't think it's appropriate for the Obamas to highlight him at their poetry soiree.

Where's that new tone of civility?

Common's "A Letter to the Law" isn't vague. It's very specific about President Bush and police being the enemy, and dealing with them violently.

Would the Leftists mind if a Republican president invited a performer to the White House who called for Obama to be burned?

I think they'd completely flip out.