The family of the late Emmett Till have penned an open letter to Lil Wayne.

The letter challenges the Young Money emcee to address the controversy surrounding the lyrics, a and implores him to help educate others on the story of Emmett Till.

Check out an excerpt below.

From Clutch Mag:

Yesterday marked a week since the “unofficial” release of “Karate Chop~remix” inclusive of your lyrics. The words we speak are powerful enough for preservation of life but also have the capacity to destroy it. When you spit lyrics like “Beat that p—-y up like Emmett Till”, not only are you destroying the preservation and legacy of Emmett Till’s memory and name, but the impact of his murder in black history along with degradation of women.

The tongue possesses power! I could offer you a history lesson and talk about the trailblazers that paved the way for our people and lyricists to engage in freedom of speech such as Marcus Garvey, Nat Turner, Frederick Douglass, Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mamie Till Mobley; but this isn’t an argument about freedom of speech. It is critical that we stay true to urgency of the hour… our youth! Your “celebrity” thrusts you into the spotlight affording you the opportunity to embrace your role as a black man, father, friend, and artist that has the ability to reach international audiences. Are you bothered in the least by the staggering statistics of the extinction of our children?

Read more at ClutchMagOnline.com

And check out the full letter at Vibe.com

 

Should Lil Wayne publicly address the controversy surrounding his Emmett Till referrence?

Do you think he cares?

Sound off below!