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New York radio station Hot 97 is once again at the center of controversy as one of its DJ's role model status is questioned, while serving as Principal for a Day at a local public school.
On-air personalities Raqiyah Mays and Megatron were invited to Brooklyn's Sankofa Academy to serve as Principal and Vice Principal for a Day, respectively, as part of the alternative school's Hip-Hop Appreciation Week. However, the event hit a sour note when a Daily News reporter covering the event was asked to leave after asking "inappropriate questions" about whether Mays was a fit role model for the students.
His questions stemmed from an incident Mays had at another radio station, New York's Power 105.1, where she was fired after telling listeners, "I'm a racist" during an on-air discussion about interracial dating. "I have a problem with white people," Mays was quoted as saying. "Not all white people, but a lot of white people... I hate when the black guy is walking down the street with the white girl. I hate them both. C'mon, there's a man shortage."
"It's in the best interest of the children that you leave," Sankofa Academy Coordinator Wayne Harris told the reporter.
Harris organized the career day to give Sankofa's students examples of individuals in hip-hop who are contributing to local and global education, marketing, business and policy.
According to the Daily News, the event was not approved by district officials or the chancellor's office, and the Department of Education would not have green-lighted Mays had they known.
"We would not have someone who unrepentantly expressed racist sentiments giving our kids career advice," David Cantor, a spokesman for Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, told the paper.
At press time, Mays and Hot 97 declined to comment.
While Sankofa Academy Principal Percy Thorn also admitted he wasn't sure about having Mays and Megatron lecture students because of several incidents of shooting outside the station, he said they'd been instructed to keep the discussion limited to career opportunities in the music world.
"The purpose of them coming today is all about careers," said Thorn. He told the Daily News he wasn't aware of Mays' past comments.
However, despite the controversy, the students of Sankofa Academy, a Second Opportunity School for students that have committed serious infractions of the City Chancellor's Discipline Code, the students said they were inspired by both DJs.
"They said, 'Don't let people put you down in a negative way,'" 16-year-old Ty-lisa Smith told the Daily News.
"Some people have heard I'm a racist," added 13-year-old Carlos Santana of what Mays told students. "That's not true. I care about everybody."
In related news, fellow Hot 97 on-air personality DJ Envy was on BET's "Rap City" today (May 23) to talk about his beef Star, former host of "The Star & Bucwild Morning Show."
Source: sohh.com
On-air personalities Raqiyah Mays and Megatron were invited to Brooklyn's Sankofa Academy to serve as Principal and Vice Principal for a Day, respectively, as part of the alternative school's Hip-Hop Appreciation Week. However, the event hit a sour note when a Daily News reporter covering the event was asked to leave after asking "inappropriate questions" about whether Mays was a fit role model for the students.
His questions stemmed from an incident Mays had at another radio station, New York's Power 105.1, where she was fired after telling listeners, "I'm a racist" during an on-air discussion about interracial dating. "I have a problem with white people," Mays was quoted as saying. "Not all white people, but a lot of white people... I hate when the black guy is walking down the street with the white girl. I hate them both. C'mon, there's a man shortage."
"It's in the best interest of the children that you leave," Sankofa Academy Coordinator Wayne Harris told the reporter.
Harris organized the career day to give Sankofa's students examples of individuals in hip-hop who are contributing to local and global education, marketing, business and policy.
According to the Daily News, the event was not approved by district officials or the chancellor's office, and the Department of Education would not have green-lighted Mays had they known.
"We would not have someone who unrepentantly expressed racist sentiments giving our kids career advice," David Cantor, a spokesman for Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, told the paper.
At press time, Mays and Hot 97 declined to comment.
While Sankofa Academy Principal Percy Thorn also admitted he wasn't sure about having Mays and Megatron lecture students because of several incidents of shooting outside the station, he said they'd been instructed to keep the discussion limited to career opportunities in the music world.
"The purpose of them coming today is all about careers," said Thorn. He told the Daily News he wasn't aware of Mays' past comments.
However, despite the controversy, the students of Sankofa Academy, a Second Opportunity School for students that have committed serious infractions of the City Chancellor's Discipline Code, the students said they were inspired by both DJs.
"They said, 'Don't let people put you down in a negative way,'" 16-year-old Ty-lisa Smith told the Daily News.
"Some people have heard I'm a racist," added 13-year-old Carlos Santana of what Mays told students. "That's not true. I care about everybody."
In related news, fellow Hot 97 on-air personality DJ Envy was on BET's "Rap City" today (May 23) to talk about his beef Star, former host of "The Star & Bucwild Morning Show."
Source: sohh.com