Rapper T.I. : Role Model for Corporate Responsibility?

On Friday, March 27, 2009, the rapper Clifford Harris Jr., known as T.I. received a 1 year and 1 day prison sentence on charges stemming from a 2007 arrest for possession of three unregistered guns and two silencers, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. Mr. Harris initially was facing 30 years in prison, but may now only serve 10 months in prison due to credit for time already served. He also was sentenced to 1500 hours of community service but has already completed 1000 hours using his time to speak to various youth groups and schools about the negative consequences of poor life choices.

In light of what many consider a "cushy" sentence, at a press conference after the judges ruling, T.I. still seemingly accepted the responsibility for his actions saying, "I've never looked at myself as a leader of a generation. This experience has taught me I have the ability to influence...I hope that others can learn from my mistakes." While he never used the weapons to inflict harm on anyone, his attitude alone is a broad deviation from the current crop of atrocities being perpetrated of the blue-collar variety. Is T.I. setting an example for corporate company heads and trust fund swindlers whose crimes affect thousands of people? This writer thinks so.

In this age of Mom and Pop small business owners losing their hard earned savings to greedy capitalists such as Wall Street financier, Bernard Madoff, as well as sticky fingered CEO´s who use their position as a means to advance their own bank accounts, isn´t it time for someone to accept responsibility for their actions? These large-scale thefts have led to a trickle down effect that has continued to weigh down this already heavily burdened economy. Unfortunately, even with the resulting suicides of investors who lost millions or 90-year-old Madoff investors such as Ian Thiermannn returning to work 30 years after his retirement, neither Madoff nor any other corporate criminal has accepted complete blame. While pleas of guilt have been entered as well as a somber statement made by Madoff stating that he is, "painfully aware that I have hurt many, many people," these public displays are still a far cry from affirming the magnitude of their crimes. Though facing life long prison terms, loss of respect by their peers, and their personal lives in ruins, corporate criminals still manage to maintain an air of superiority with no genuine signs of regret.

I do not condone Mr. Harris´ criminal acts, but I do applaud his efforts to rectify his situation. What I saw in T.I.´s press conference is something that has been sorely lacking in the trials of corporate ne´er-do-wells: remorse. Let´s hope Madoff and others do learn from Mr. Harris´ mistakes as well as his successes, and take similar responsibility for the negative effects that their actions have had in the lives of countless people.