If I had a daughter right now—which, for the record, I don’t (no kids, period)—I’d be worried. Very, very, very worried.

For starters, growing up today is different than growing up even just 10 or 15 years ago. I can remember a time when the cover art for Lil Kim‘s Hardcore was considered risque. Today? I’m pretty sure I’ve seen more of Rosa Acosta‘s body parts than her doctor. I can also remember a time when belly shirts and short shorts were enough to send a girl back upstairs to put on a new outfit. And it’s not like I’m 57. I’m 27, meaning that when I say I “remember a time,” I’m remembering something that happened in the late 1990s, not the 1960s.

That being said, this whole Montana Fishburne-is-making-a-porn story that’s been circulating on the Internet for the last week or so has rubbed me the wrong way (no pun intended?).  Before you think “I’ve read this already—NEXT!” know that I’m not here to bash her for doing porn or to admonish her father for allowing it to happen.

But I am going to question one particularly statement Montana made when she announced she was putting a sex tape out into the world. Without mincing any words, here’s what Montana said:

“I view making this movie as an important first step in my career. I’ve watched how successful Kim Kardashian became. I think a lot of it was due to the release of her sex tape. I’m hoping the same magic will work for me. I’m impatient about getting well-known and having more opportunities, and this seemed like a great way to get started on it.”

Let that last sentence roll around inside your head for a second….

Okay, you good? So, let’s break down Montana’s statement to the world. She clearly wants to be famous for something. Acting? Modeling? Bending over and…I’ll let you finish that thought. She’ll take the fame however she can get it. She’s also dead-set on doing it. She won’t take no for an answer. And she’s willing to put everything—her reputation, her father’s reputation, her public perception and her all-around image—on the line to get it.

To be honest with you, that sounds like a pretty ambitious young lady right there. She knows what she wants and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Only problem? She’s still doing porn! And getting paid for it! And trying to use it as a springboard to other opportunities! Like, let me guess, a VH1 reality TV show? (Gasp!) A perfume line? (Double gasp!) And a boyfriend who plays a professional sport? (*dead*)

This is the part of the blog where you probably expect me to blame Kim Kardashian for whatever is going through this young lady’s head, because clearly she saw how Kim parlayed her brief—and unintentional—porn career into a successful career as a…well, whatever Kim Kardashian does. But I’m not going to do that, either. Instead, I’m going to ask this: When did porn become a logical stepping stone to success? When did a sex tape become a resume builder? When did performers in adult films become bonafide celebrities? And, more importantly, why?

A lot of people have missed the most tragic part of the Montana Fishburne story. It’s not really about the daughter of a famous actor turning to porn to get famous. It’s about our country actually sitting back and allowing it to happen. Mark my words: Montana Fishburne will have, at the very least, a reality TV show of some kind before the year is over. From the blogs I’ve read over the course of the last week, people are interested in her story. Even if they say they’re not, you can tell they’d watch a reality TV show about her. She’s also probably got some kind of book deal coming down the pipe and, if she gets really lucky, an appearance in an upcoming rap video (and not this rap video!) that’ll result in even more Google searches and blog appearances for the girl.

As ridiculous as we all think she’s being for doing porn to try and make a name for herself, guess what? IT’S WORKING! So, can you blame her for doing it? Before last week, I didn’t even know Laurence Fishburne had a daughter—let alone a daughter who wanted me to know who she is! So, can you really blame the next girl behind Montana for using porn as a means of making a name for herself? This schtick works!

Listen, it’s no secret that sex sells. But we’ve literally built a system in which sex can make you a somebody in America. A young lady can get ahead in this country and use a sex tape as a stepping stone to the next part of her life. She can sacrifice a little bit of her dignity today for a piece of the American Dream tomorrow. It’s all very confusing to me. And it’s a little crazy to think that we’re allowing it happen.

But, oh well. Like I said, I don’t have a daughter. So, I shouldn’t even be worried about this. Right?

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