Several prominent Black rappers have recently aligned themselves with conservative politicians and media figures, which the author finds concerning. Rappers like Ice Cube, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne have sat down with Tucker Carlson and supported Donald Trump. However, the author argues that right-wing populism threatens Black communities. While some see these moves as opening dialogue, the author believes shared values around money, religion, and distrust in institutions have brought these unlikely groups together against vulnerable people. As the hip-hop industry has become more commercialized and corporate, rappers have also gained wealth and political influence, but supporting policies that don’t help everyday Black Americans. The author maintains that rap artists have a duty to use their platforms responsibly by advocating for politics that materially improve conditions in Black communities.

  • iAmTheTot
    link
    fedilink
    121 year ago

    I don’t speak to family members that are bigots. I don’t tolerate bigot strangers. And I don’t tolerate bigots that are coworkers.

    You do, in fact, have a choice.

      • iAmTheTot
        link
        fedilink
        81 year ago

        If I work with bigots, I don’t know about it, because I don’t talk politics at work. If I did find out I worked with a bigot, I’d make it clear that at cannot work together and ask for differing assignments.

        If I find it that a stranger I’m dealing with is a bigot (also rare, because politics doesn’t come up often with strangers), I walk away. If a business owner is a bigot, I do not shop with them.

        If I find bigots online, I block them.

        The magical place I live is called being principled and using the tools at my disposal to ignore bigots.