Gucci Mane Angers Parents With Career Day Appearance

By: Amanda Anderson-Niles

Rapper Gucci Mane isn’t necessarily known for being a role model. In fact, these days Gucci makes the news more so for his legal troubles, rap beefs, and recent arrests than his music. So it’s no surprise that people were a little confused as to why the rapper was invited and showed up to Career Day at an Atlanta middle school the other day. And apparently not only did it confuse people and became a popular topic on the social networks, but it also angered parents of children who attend Crawford Long Middle School. And these parents are demanding that school officials explain why Gucci Mane was invited to speak to children about choosing a career.

According to WSBTV:

Parents and Atlanta Public Schools alumni are upset over one city school’s decision to bring in a controversial rapper to speak at career day this week.

Channel 2’s Amy Napier Viteri spoke to Crawford Long Middle School parents who believe rapper Gucci Mane shouldn’t have been talking to kids.

Gucci Mane, whose real name is Radric Davis, is known for hit songs with catchy beats, but some critics said he’s just as known for his criminal record in metro Atlanta. They question whether he was the best choice to be talking to middle schoolers about careers. Pictures on the rapper’s Facebook page show him talking to students Wednesday.

Leisle Moody, an APS graduate, said she was stunned to hear Gucci Mane was talking to kids, given his graphic lyrics and arrest record.

“How do you justify bringing someone who is not even at the top of his game in the rap industry, who has a rap sheet because he’s been in so much legal trouble?” she told Viteri.

The Atlanta news outlet even claims that some parents suggested they didn’t even know that Gucci made an appearance at Career Day until they saw pictures all over the internet. And they are outraged that school officials didn’t notify them that the rapper would be attending:

“I don’t think he was such a good role model. They could have selected another individual,” parent Kevin Hall said.

Some parents didn’t know about the visit. It sparked controversy on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, with many questioning who deemed the rapper an appropriate speaker.

An APS representative said there will be a follow-up with the school about the visit and added, “We want to make sure people who serve as role models to our students are in line with our ethical and integrity standards.”