I’m giving it up to gospel singer, Yolanda Adams on the BET awards this past week.

After being assaulted by foul mouthed talk and rap, Adams gracefully accepts her award and says, “We need all of y’all. I’m saying the world needs everyone in this room. Please make sure that you use your gift responsibly, ’cause we’re watching. Our babies are watching, and they want to be like us.”

Yes, our babies are watching and what they see and hear isn’t making them better people.

The amount of work the censors had to do on this show was ridiculous (and I don’t mean that in a good way!).

Kanya West, Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz were censored so many times there were periods of complete silence. Nicki Minaj joined the multitude of bleeps. It was a silent assault of offensive language and those of you who read me, know how this is one of my soap boxes. What is the point? In fact, this lack of civility does harm. Read this. Is Profanity on TV Harmless? The language of aggression is a precursor to violence according to the results from the Civility Project at Johns Hopkins.

So back to Yolanda Adams remarks. What would happen if these talented performers used their gifts to better the world, to encourage young people in a positive way, and were role models of peace and love instead of inciting people to objectify women, be violent and rude?

How could these rappers influence young people in a good way? Perhaps a little conscious raising and policing of their own lyrics could make a real difference. I can’t imagine Beyonce wanting her little girl exposed to rap that tells her she is a BLEEP and a BLEEP!

Yolanda, you were brave. I doubt the entertainers will heed your advice, but I for one am glad you said it.