I cry when I think about Young Thug (aka Jeffery Lamar Williams) sitting in Fulton County Jail for almost a year now as his RICO charges are addressed by the court. Like so many other black Americans Thugger was raised in poverty and has spent years of his life behind bars. When he wasn’t incarcerated he built an empire with his talent. He mentored those around him and didn’t leave his community behind as he arose.
Young Thug was praised by mainstream media for his authenticity, until soneone decided he was to authentic. So authentic that he made white people uncomfortable, which happens when we think there is potential for financial loss. It was a failed relationship, the things that were most endearing initially were now the source of great concern. If you are a black person in America that can dance you’ve got a shot on the big stage, as long as you dance to their music and don’t get to groovy. Malcolm X said the white mans greatest weapon is his ability to divide people. Think about that for a sec.
Thug and his crew were arrested when they had multiple albums in multiple top ten charts. Some of the crew have pleaded out, including Gunna (Sergio Giavanni Kitchens) who prior to arrest was one of Thug’s closest associates. Thug has not spoken on it but much of the hip hop community have now expressed disdain for Gunna. The hip hop community, the glue of some of the only community that some have is divided. Its connections that keeps people off the streets and protected from addiction. Division is white mans poison.
This is just one story; the story of a few black men experiencing what so many black and other marginalized Americans do everyday. The conservatives waste time arguing against things like reparations and affirmative action when so many Americans would be glad to simply play on an equally level field if not the same one.