Two Tennessee women told a congressional committee last week that the music industry must stop slandering women to make a profit.

Congressional concern over offensive stereotypes in hip hop music is nothing new.

But it’s getting a new look since Don Imus was fired for using racist and sexist slurs to describe a women’s basketball team.

Vanderbilt University Professor Tracy Sharpley-Whiting was one of several academics invited to speak about the impact of such slurs. Whiting says the entertainment industry demeans African-American women to make money.

“A culture of disrespect, with Black women on the receiving end, packaged as entertainment permeates American culture.”

And she says it’s nothing new-Whiting compared rappers references to black women as hos to derogatory comments made in some of Thomas Jefferson’s writings.

Whiting’s panel came after sessions with music industry executives and rappers.

Brentwood Representative Marsha Blackburn was unhappy that rapper David Banner and producer Master P were invited before her committee.

“In my opinion, they do not deserve the dignity of this committee’s time. It raises a good question though, for these individuals, where and how did society fail you to the point where you choose to write such filth?”

Although the discussion with the panel of rappers was long and contentious, the portion with the academics was rather short, with only one Congressman posing a handful of questions.

The subcommittee devoted most of a business day to the hearing. However, it doesn’t appear Congress intends to crack down any further on objectionable music or videos.