Russell Simmons and Kimora Lee Simmons’ youngest daughter Aoki Lee recently called out a classmate for repeatedly hurling racial slurs at her. During an Instagram Live session, the 16-year-old high school student blasted her fellow classmate for addressing her as a “n-word” and was moved to tears as she recounted her experience.
“I’m so over people at my school being racist and no one doing anything about it,” she says in the clip. “Like, I go to school to work. I don’t even talk to these people because I’m busy. I’m trying to go to Yale, I’m trying to go to Harvard, I don’t have time for you.
“And this particular kid, I swear all day long — he’s white and he cannot stop saying the n word. It’s like his favorite thing to say. I don’t even use it like that, but he just loves to use it. And see how far he can push it and see how many people he can offend and all of his friends don’t care. They all think they’re nice, woke, good people but they don’t stop him.”
Even in the Beverly Hills bubble where Aoki lives and attends school, she says racism rears its ugly head on a daily basis.
In response to the viral video, Simmons has penned an open letter for not only the student responsible for Aoki’s distress but also for all young people who could use this experience as an opportunity to learn and grow.
The Hip Hop mogul emphatically believes his daughter’s generation has the potential to make a powerful difference.
Read Simmons’ open letter sent exclusively to HipHopDX below.
“After seeing my daughter Aoki Lee’s experience with a fellow student go viral online, I felt compelled to write this open letter to the students at her unnamed school. For those that missed the live video that went viral, the long story short is a white student addressed her using the ‘N-word.’ It was, as she understood it, normalized behavior for him and no doubt for some others.
Here is what he and other students must realize, the dehumanizing of people of color around the world has gone on for many centuries and for our entire existence in America. Beginning with the Transatlantic slave trade, which is documented (but not taught well by Western Civilization or even in our schools), the suffering of African-Americans is a part of human history that is one of — if not the worst — examples of mankind’s unconscious behavior.
This part of history is likely a more brutal period than most people can even imagine. It lasted 430 plus years. The unofficial slavery of Jim Crow where blacks were forced to work on land owned by whites became an ongoing phenomenon that lasted another 75 years. The fact is, this dehumanizing process has lasted throughout African-American’s entire history in America. You could say that the forced segregation and hateful legal practices inflicted upon African-Americans never officially ended, you may know that blacks couldn’t even vote in many places until 1965 and racism is alive and well and rising in many aspects of our lives today.
It’s safe to say that as long as black people have lived in this country we have, as a collective, never been made to feel equal and we continue to feel the burden of the disease called ‘white supremacy.’ My daughter is, in many ways, fortunate to live in a bubble where, until this incident, I assumed most of her friends in Beverly Hills were kind of shielded and, in some ways, ignorant and therefore believed and acted as if that suffering was somehow limited or gone entirely.
I encourage them to look deeper where in the ‘real world’ they can still see clearly the effects of the dehumanizing of people of color all over the world. A great number of people of color still suffer from discrimination and feelings of inferiority. It is worth mentioning the number one way of keeping a slave has always been to promote their skin color as proof that he or she was somehow less than his or her slave master or colonizer. Make no mistake, the sickness of white supremacy is alive and well all over the world as illustrated in the actual practices of whites —either intentionally or unintentionally — we are seeing this all over the media. We are witnessing the rising tide of polarization and hate in America.
I would like to believe this rapper made a horrible choice — a misstep — and for that, he needs to be educated, not made into a villain. The language he used is unacceptable, of course, but what I prefer to believe, in this case (and many others like it) is that it is mostly just thoughtless behavior that needs to be corrected. In fact, I believe that the young man is better than his words and these action and actions of his ancestors.
Yes, I helped introduced the mainstream to rap, but I also promoted the first white rap band [Beastie Boys] and none of them ever used that language. They respected the culture and their black colleagues. I choose to believe this young man in question is already a better human being because of this experience. I will ask the students and faculty of Aoki’s unnamed school to sensitize themselves and to use this experience as a teachable moment.
Together as a group of forward thinking teachers and young leaders, they can go forward ever mindful of their words and reject thoughtless choices that cause pain to each other. Students, you are part of a new generation that wants to give the same level of freedom and happiness to all people that you would like to claim for yourselves. Let’s — as a team — break the archaic practice of using words that cut and instead, be a light and living, breathing examples of doing better.
You are the generation or already the individuals poised to break the chain of negativity. Together through this kind of open and honest dialogue, I believe we can be the change the world needs. Blessings to all the students all over the world who hold the future in your hands. Be gentle with it and each other.”
Everybody should stop using the N word, Especially black people. Can’t get mad if other people use it if you use it. Justifying it with saying gga instead of gger has a different meaning is actually ignorant and stupid in it’s self.
Foh.. anyone that’s not black knows what comes with saying it.. somehow they try to place blame back on us. If they were still getting their asses whipped for saying it there would be nothing to talk about
Dude, it’s the first amendment. We should all be happy when people say this shit, film and record them, and post it on social media. They’ll lose everything. Let cats play themselves. You have a right to an opinion, and lose everything for it. Chess, not checkers.
This is real life negroe, you think we playing chess.
No, it’s actually the Internet, negro. Middle earth is closer to real life than this bullshit, dummy. Her dad is worth hundreds of millions. She says a white kid id saying the N word AROUND her. He probably thinks he is street, or Hip-Hop. Some shit. Still, he’s protected by the first amendment. I’m sure she cries in her Chauferred limo from her private school in Beverly Hills all the way back to her Bel Air mansion, about him systematic racism is holding her back. Try thinking for yourself for once.
Fuck writing a letter.. put a bag on their head
words arent racist. context is.
people need to learn what the word ‘racist’ means.
Black people are mainly the ones keeping the N word alive. So as wrong as it is for white people to use that word to racially abuse, I think it’s about time that hip hop took some responsibility for it’s own language.
Lots of women who are friends call each other bitch, you gonna call them one too? Fuk outta here with this tired old ass argument.
Russell Simmons pretends to be against racism while he pals around with Louis Farrakhan.
Plot twist: The student was black.
Is this that “Us” movie? Hahahaha
I think the experiment of using the N word in order to “take it back” and own it as a tool of empowerment has failed. Live in this reality and realize it’s obviously only hurting people who would rather move on from it. Find other ways to express yourself ….
Sticks and stones friend. If a word hurts you, you are weak beyond repair. Society, specially black America with this particular word, believe that if someone says something to you, you should react in a preordained way. Usually by commuting assault and catching a felony, or trying to defeat ignorance with more ignorance or violence. Call me whatever you want, just spell my name correctly on checks. It’s time to stop being an easy target and a victim.
Black ppl used to be strong. Now theyre the weakest emotional and mental face their is. There isnt a day that goes by theyre not lookinng for attention or to play victim.
Wanna know what white ppl would do. Either contact the school to get them removed or let it go and be successful. So happy white ppl arent bitches.
You forget that it’s weirdo white people who empower this nonsense.
It’s only going to get worst for her next school day.
His daughter is about as old as a couple of his victims. Theres 15 women accusing blood diamond Russ of rr@pe or sexual assault
So, let me get this straight… She says a white kid is using the N Word AROUND HER. he didn’t even call her it. He’s probably one of those Malibu Most wanted types wearing a bandana in his pocket who thinks he is street. This triggers this princess? He is protected by the first amendment. Period. Deal with it. You will have REAL difficulties at some point in life. I find it amazing no one calls people on their shit. She leaves her Beverly Hills private school in a Chauferred limo on the way to her Bel Air mansion, crying about racism and how hard it is for black people in america? Her dad is worth over 300 million dollars. Last time I checked, he was black. Her dad also has been accused by over ten women of being sexually innapropriate. He also was involved in a fraudulent credit card deal that targeted black people. Let’s keep all of this in context. Now we get some “open letter” from this hack, because a kid at his daughter’s school has poor taste and is spoiled, like his daughter. Dude bringing Africa into this shit.
She’s only a kid let’s give her a break. It’s okay if hearing that bothers her, is it the biggest issue in the world? No, but that doesn’t make it cool. But I agree 100% on Russell he preyed on the same community that made him rich in the first place and this note seems tone deaf.
To make this about him and his daughter and miss the point that he clearly stated that this is about a 400+ years situation of abuse and extreme violence against Black people by White people, yet you focusing on the wrong thing i.e. the personal circumstances is simply missing the point, completely. Even though he touches upon slavery and current day racism, there are so many atrocities still going on that that is where the focus needs to be.
WoW Congrats Retard…I think you just typed the most racial statement ever…GTFOH
Being simmons daughter must carry its own baggage.
However the case, due to the fact that this young princess was offended and felt indifferent, then as Mr. Simmons rightfully stated, is an opportunity for education and learning, and my apologies to the young princess and we hope that this gets amicably resolved and leads to growth. Great open letter, really analytical.
However, due to the fact that the young princess was offended is enough reason to examine the issue and the letter by godfather Simmons does really dive deep into the history and energy of the world. Apologies to the young queen and hope this does serve as an opportunity for learning and dialogue that will lead to a better understanding for all involved.
Peace and 1Love
RAP MOGUL , RUSSEL SIMMONS?-
– ATLANTIC RECORDS really don’t have Recording equipment of their own, they purchase equipment, the name ATLANTIC RECORDS is not really on the EQUIPMENT
-Here at this CRIP RECORDS/SONY thing I’m looking into …I know SONY have the equipment, CRIP RECORDS have the rapper, SONY have the equipment that the RAPPER need… DEALS
– ATLANTIC RECORDS (CRAIG KALLMAN) – YOU DON’T HAVE EQUIPMENT…YOU DON’T HAVE RECORDING EQUIPMENT …WHY SIGN WITH YOU, JACKASS?
AOKI LEE SIMMONS attending NYU somewhere in NY. She said YALE like YALE all that.- Take Her rump to school in NY somewhere.
Damn NYU you PURPLE
NEW JERSEY have UNIVERSITY (UNIVERSITIES)
PRINCETON, SETON HALL..RUTGERS..UGH
RICE is RICH.
-Why eat POOR when you RICH?-
ENRICHED MACARONI PRODUCT
-RICH-
ENRICHED- RICH…
RICE- RICH… need more pounds of RICE…mmmm ate RICE every night last week
– ….1 Cup of RICE and 2 CUPS of WATER…no one to eat it with other than myself… You can add Pepper and Salt to it if you want,
Paprika….It’s Slamming…. I eat other things too…
MMMM that RICE was SLAMMING
AMERICA’s FAVORITE RICE…MAHMATA
ENRICHED PRODUCT
see RICH in ENRICHED…-
Don’t Eat Poor, Eat Rich- you Rich, You Korean, you Kimora’s Daughters, Ain’t y’all rich?
GET RICH AND STILL WANT TO EAT POOR.
– WE WAS EATING FRIED CHICKEN WHEN WE WAS POOR
WE RICH NOW, AND YOU STILL WANT TO FRY CHICKEN
WHAT UP WITH YOU?-
FRIED CHICKEN AGAIN?
Crips and Crops
-Rice, Peanuts- POTATOES, I NEED MY POTATOES…
EAT CROPS
-EAT GOOD, DRINK GOOD, SMOKE GOOD, FEEL GOOD
EAT GOOD, DRINK GOOD, FEEL GOOD, LOOK GOOD, …LIKE ME
EATING LIKE ME, THIS WILL HAVE YOUR GIRL RETURNING AND RETURNING FOR THE PACKAGE…
DIFFERENT FOOD GIVE YOU DIFFERENT SHIT
MMMMM PEANUTS….OUNCE OF PEANUTS….99 CENT…
FRITO LAY’S GOT IT GOING ON
CUZ YOU A PRO
CRIPS IS IN HERE
Name: TREY
Gang: Crips
Company: Crip Records
-I’m a Gangster, I make Gangster Rap-
-Go run and tell your friends that..
Gangster Rap
Fuck You and your Hip-Hop Act, I’m a Gangster/ I do Gangster Rap.-
What is the difference of Hip-Hop and Rap?
A: Hip-Hop is Negros and Hispanics together
Rap is Negros
words of advice my Black cousins in America, you are constantly giving this word so much power than it deserves and getting hurt in the process. The word is like a forbidden fruit to the white man, we know what happens with forbidden fruits. Either you strip the word of its power by stopping using it altogether or anyone uses it. As an example, in South Africa during Apartheid, Blacks were called Kaffirs. Blacks don’t refer to themselves as kaffirs in the present day, so the word is off limits from everyone. It doesn’t carry the power of the ‘N’ word. lets get smart!!