Queen Latifah flexes new voice

By Steve James

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Queen Latifah, who has a new voice as a jazz singer, is taking blacks to task for not acting sooner against misogynist, violent and vulgar rap lyrics.

"It's a little late to say: 'Stop saying nigger,"' she told Reuters in an interview, in which she discussed the firing of radio personality Don Imus for racial comments and African-American protests over an assault case in Louisiana.

Asked about her transition from hip-hop star to singer, Hollywood actress and entrepreneur, Latifah said she also wants to be a voice for young blacks.

"I've never been a political person, but I do care about what's going on in my world, who's making the decisions for me," she said. "I would like to see young people be involved and active and voice our opinions.

"I believe what just happened in Jena, Louisiana, was one of the most exciting things in a long time and it just kind of showed how we really do have a voice and that voice should be used for positive means," Latifah said.

African-Americans marched there this month after six black teenagers were charged with attempted murder in an assault on a white student. The case has not been resolved, but following the protests over what some regarded as excessive charges, one suspect was released on bail.

Latifah, who was born Dana Owens, contrasted that action with what happened when Imus was fired in April by CBS for derogatory comments aimed at a black women's basketball team.

"The whole Imus thing was a big sandbag in a way because he's not saying anything he didn't say a long time ago that other shock jocks on the radio, who might even be black, aren't saying," she said.