Open letter to Montana Fishburne...

 Just curious, but did anyone blame Vanessa Williams' parents when she decided to take those girlie pictures before she became Miss America? I don't recall this type of reaction from anyone. Why? Because Vanessa was a consenting adult when she took the pictures. Besides, the same parents who had such an accomplished kid at 18, can't also be horrible parents. 

No one knows what really went down behind the closed doors of the Fishburne household. It is sort of ridiculous to judge considering the limited information we have. Sometimes, we as a people need to see a situation as the tragedy it is and not judge. 

^5 and 2

...i agree...

Just curious, but did anyone blame Vanessa Williams' parents when she decided to take those girlie pictures before she became Miss America? I don't recall this type of reaction from anyone. Why?

I for one didn't chime in on the whole Vanessa Williams issue back when it was hot because it didn't affect me the way this one does.  When "Nessa" was doing her thing I was still in junior high school and didn't have any children of my own.  As I said on the outset of my letter, "I am a father of two little girls..." and that is the sole reason I took notice to this story. 

I get that Montana is an adult.  I also get that this issue is really none of my business.  But what I don't get is when a black male, such as myself, tries to show love for his children outside of just giving them money from time to time or buying a toy here or there, by standing up for them and their dignity as future black women, regardless of whether or not that dignity is directly impacted or not by the issues in the news, then we are told don't judge them and to let it ride.  But when a black mother takes a stand and says, "I'm tired of all of the negative stereotypical images displayed by the media for blacks," NO ONE says, "Oh just let it ride and don't judge."  

We can't have it both ways, Folks.  It doesn't work that way. 

 I don't recall saying anything about how you as a dad couldn't speak out. My issue is the blanket statements that have been made by others about it being the father's fault. I think someone else said that kids can come from a busted home, and turn out good, and kids can come from a good home and turn out not so good. At some point when do we say that the individual has to take ownership? We aren't talking about a kid here, we are talking about a consenting adult. No one knows what went down in that household. We don't know if Lawrence sucks the big one as a dad, or was the perfect father. We don't know. 

i just say live and let live. When my son, who is 17 wasn't doing what he knows he should have been doing i didn't go off on him. I told him it is now the time for him to decide what kind of man he's going to become. To look at the men in his life and decide which he wants to emulate. Porn star or doctor, she's still worthy of her parents love. It's really not our business.

Porn star or doctor, she's still worthy of her parents love. It's really not our business.

I respect your overall opinion but I disagree on your last point simply because when it comes to us (and I assume that you're African-American though I don't see any pics of you on your profile) we can't afford to have anymore negative stereotypical role models in the media that's supposedly reflects us as a people.  We can use the doctors. lawyers, cheifs aka CEOs, and educators, etc...  However, any new p*rn stars, gangsta rappers, and ghetto B-S artists need not apply. 

I agree with your open letter, not only could this damage her father's career it is so embarrassing to their family. Although she is of legal age to do what she wants, seems like they should still be able to control her to some degree, it seems like something maybe wrong with her, because a normal girl  with blemishes on her body would not put it out there like that, I think she is mentally ill.

Why would a stable girl that KNOWS her body is not perfect do something like that? She comes from a family with MONEY she should have done something about blemishes on her butt, like laser treatment or cosmetic surgery, this does not makes sense, she should KNOW she can't make it  big with a body like that, it looks trashy and ghetto.

The biggest difference with her and Kim Kerdashian, Vanessa Williams and the like who have made it BIG with sex tapes and video's THEY LOOK FLAWLESS, and they are beautiful, this girl looks like a low class penny pinching **** no one is going to give this girl the time of day, it does not matter which color she is....

LF is a public figure but we don't really know anything about him. Why defend his honor or demean his parenting skills. People of  all races are going to do what they will. My aim in life is to get rid of as much stress as possible and live everyday to the fullest. I feel I can't do that if I'm in everybody else's mind figuring out why they do the things they do. And if you don't know it by now, we'll (and I said we) never get a fair shake in a media system that thrives on divisiveness and fear mongering. I know the inner truth and don't seek it in the media

The only thing that I personally saw in this whole ordeal IS a CRY for some type of help. Rebelliousness can be a cry for help. I honestly see drugs, rape and all kinds of bull crap in this girl's future if SHE does not get treatment to deal with whatever issues she may be having right now. Regardless of who her father is. I agree with Na...she might have serious mental health issues BEcause no one in their right mind would be all high profile AND do it with a nasty looking booty like that....that's the shame of it all.  Heyl....I don't think that people would be making such an issue out of it...if she was the BOMB as a porn star!!!!!!!!!!  Don't get me wrong because I sure as heyl would not want either of my daughters getting into porn either that BUT heyl if you are going to do it BE the dayum BOMB!!!!!!!!!!!! and wear a f'ing condom!!!   The only thing that I can say is that people should not judge because you know what IT takes people WHO watch porn to keep the industry going.  All of those women that do porn might NOT be Larry Fisburnes daughter BUT they are somebody's daughter. Does it make it any more wrong or right? I am sure many family's deal with shame in these circles.  Larry will continue to be judged on his own merits.  I just hope that if he does have any issues that can be resolved with his daughter....he intervenes quick....because I personally see tragedy as an outcome to this whole ordeal. We've seen this cycle before.