Vibe President Gibbs on Vibe Awards Events

Kenard Gibbs, president of Vibe magazine, has come out with a strong statement regarding events at the recent Vibe Awards taping. In the comments quoted by Billboard, Gibbs appropriately notes the connections between recent events and underlying problems of violence and male identity. And Vibe has made the right choice, and the expected one, to continue the Awards show. I think Gibbs clearly articulates the fact that this is a moment when corporate and community needs and concerns are closely aligned.

The January issue of Vibe is planned as a response to both the Vibe Awards events and deeper issues that may have contributed to the madness at the taping. I'm still holding out for a step-by-step analysis of who was invited, who made their way in and how spatial issues were handled, from seating arrangements to backstage access. And, although an earlier post suggests that I would seek to blame individuals, I am actually more interested in how such a system works because I know each individual within it, no matter how powerful, acts within a complicated web of influences.