In his article, Kweli says:
...No matter the message, white kids always will be the primary consumers of hip-hop music around the world. White kids are most likely to be the ones with the money to support the music, another result of systemic oppression and white privilege. Some of these white kids go beyond being consumers and actually participate in the culture...
If he does not understand that these kind of statements might garner some "white backlash" for his hypocrisy & patronizing tone, then he's not as smart as he sounds.
He should thank his white fans for their money. Perhaps mention in a sidebar that, like hophop, some of their success could maybe-- just maybe-- be merit-based and not the sole result of black oppression and white privilege.
In fairness, after that quote he is complimentary about how white kids can excel and become great and hip hop is inclusive etc,
Still the tone seemed patronizing.
The pro-black movements, while usually accurate in their grievances and systemic diagnoses, MUST put themselves in a white person's shoes.. specifically a white person who is struggling daily to pay bills and live life.
They simply don't have the time or patience to be bothered with those grievances, since they did not bring slaves over, they did not write the Jim Crow laws, they are not the CEO's of private prisons, and they do not sit in an office throwing away the resume's of black sounding names.
The race issue in this country will improve when black activists understand the diversity of white people and their perspective.
That may be a large "ask", as it has taken centuries for slow movement the other way around..
But I'm just trying to help
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