Comments on: Ferguson; Jay Z and other artists so silent. https://thyblackman.com/2014/12/08/ferguson-jay-z-and-other-artists-so-silent/ Black News 24/7 Online for the Black Community. Thu, 11 Dec 2014 19:16:04 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: toomanygrandkids https://thyblackman.com/2014/12/08/ferguson-jay-z-and-other-artists-so-silent/comment-page-1/#comment-270815 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 19:16:04 +0000 http://thyblackman.com/?p=50316#comment-270815 There were a couple of rappers who showed up to speak with the residents of Ferguson. I do know Nelly was one of ’em but I forgot the other one. Anyhow, they booed Nelly away from Ferguson. Surprised they didn’t injure him. Why did they boo him? Because Nelly tried to talk some sense into them. Told them that there was a better way for them to handle this situation. But out of control looters/rioters refuse to listen to reason.

They were already hell bent on raising hell and causing destruction. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Ferguson residents want people who agree that what they’re doing is the right thing to do or what they should do. They want folks like Al and Jesse to hype up the situation. Make ’em angrier. Or better yet, Louis Farrakhan who demanded that they, “Burn this nation down!” So I doubt if any entertainers will have much to say.

]]> By: reality_check https://thyblackman.com/2014/12/08/ferguson-jay-z-and-other-artists-so-silent/comment-page-1/#comment-270800 Tue, 09 Dec 2014 02:38:28 +0000 http://thyblackman.com/?p=50316#comment-270800 Hey honey. I’m sure your heart is in the right place, and I know you mean well, but you are barking up the wrong tree here. Your article shows me that you don’t understand how the system works. This is not to belittle you, but is meant in earnest truth. Nelly and Jay Z will no more lift their voices to speak out and effect change any more than the average black person working in a corporate cube will speak out in protest at work. Why is that? Because they understand the system enough to know that doing so will be against their best interests. Do you really believe these entertainers are trying to upset the proverbial apple cart of donors, sponsors, backers, investors, deal makers, brokers and agents? Do you? The Mike Browns and Eric Garners of the world are inconsequential to these entertainers. It’s not like these types of individuals are in their inner circles anymore, so most of them are completely removed and detached from reality.

The bigger issue I take is the underlying premise of your article. Black folks DO NOT need entertainers to spearhead change for them. No real revolution in history started with entertainers. They started with common folk like you and me. I’m sick of black people calling on Jay-Z and Beyonce to do something. It’s really not their jobs to do something. It’s all of OUR jobs. Jay and Bey have too much at stake to upset the status quo. Same goes for Nelly.

While I understand where you are coming from, you have to understand the system to know why that will never happen. Just remember, those at the top of the game are there for a reason, and it’s not through hard work and dedication alone. Most of them were “selected” for success. Before these entertainers are catapulted to A-level, they are already screened and vetted to see who are the potential radicals, or threats. Those that were identified as radical are weeded out, careers stalled, or worse. Trust me on this.

So, while you’re calling on Jay and Nelly, are you calling on your congressional representative to introduce laws for stiffer penalties for these situations? In reality, Jay and Nelly couldn’t speak out against police misconduct even if they wanted to. That’s truth.

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