Metro Nashville Schools Director Dr. Shawn Joseph’s love of explicit rap music is hitting a sour in the district.
An attorney, Jamie Hollin, told NewsChannel 5 he represents “more than five” principals who attended a recent principals meeting in which Joseph played a portion of the song “Blow the Whistle” by rapper Too $hort. The song title refers to a sexual act in street lingo.
According to Hollin and other principals who spoke to NewsChannel 5, Joseph told the group that, when dealing with a difficult board, he sometimes hears the song in his head. He played the following lyrics:
I go on and on.
Can’t understand how I last so long.
I must have super powers.
Rap two hundred twenty-five thousand hours.
A school district spokesperson said Joseph cut off the song to avoid any explicit lyrics.
However, the lyrics go on to use a word for women starting with the letter “B” several times.
One female school board member has filed a complaint with the district’s civil rights coordinator.
“I could not understand how this misogynistic song could be appropriate in ANY educational environment,” board Vice Chair Jill Speering said in the complaint. “What kind of example does this set for principals, teachers and students?”
The Tennessean quoted Speering as further saying, the song was “highly offensive, reprehensible and inexcusable” to play in public.
Board Chair Anna Shepherd told The Tennessean she also spoke with several principals who weren’t offended.
Speering and Joseph have disagreed throughout this year’s budget process, the newspaper said. Speering’s complaint says that the song is meant to disparage herself and board member Amy Frogge for their opposition to Joseph.
One of Joseph’s fraternity brothers recently accused Speering and Frogge of engaging in what he called “a public lynching,” NewsChannel 5 said. The superintendent also went on a radio show and compared himself to President Obama.
“They beat up the last president I knew, Barack Obama,” Joseph said. “So, you know, it’s expected. It’s alright. I’m going to try to keep cool like he is.”
