In a wide-ranging interview with Billboard magazine released Friday, Kendrick Lamar gave his opinion on Ferguson, Missouri teenager Michael Brown, who died on August 9, 2014 after being shot by Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson. When a jury subsequently did not indict Wilson, questions about the perceived inequalities of America’s justice system sparked protests and civil unrest.
“What happened to [Michael Brown] should’ve never happened,” Kendrick said. “Never. But when we don’t have respect for ourselves, how do we expect them to respect us?”
Kendrick Lamar’s statements were met with a significant wave of backlash, with both fans and critics questioning his line of reasoning. Chief among the dissenters was outspoken Harlem rapper Azealia Banks, who responded with a series of tweets. Among the comments in Banks’ 10-tweet response was her assertion that Kendrick’s comments were the “dumbest shit I’ve ever heard a black man say.” Banks also raised the issues of cultural indoctrination and reparations.
In December of 2014, Azealia Banks was similarly outspoken on the issue of race relations in America with Hot 97. She accused Iggy Azalea of cultural appropriation and referred to T.I. as “a coon.” Kendrick Lamar, whose upcoming album is expected during the first half of 2015, has yet to reply to the backlash from his Billboard comments. You can read all of Azealia Banks’ tweets below.
“When we don’t respect ourselves how can we expect them to respect us” dumbest shit I’ve ever heard a black man say.
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
Lol do you know about the generational effects of poverty, racism and discrimination? — AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
There are things in society that benefit a select few of us. fine…. But don’t put down the rest by saying they don’t respect themselves
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
HOW DARE YOU open ur face to a white publication and tell them that we don’t respect ourselves…. Speak for your fucking self. — AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
I really pray for the minds of the urban youth, I really do because I was once on the side of feeling like I wasn’t owed anything…
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
Once on the side of feeling like black people ain’t shit because that’s what America and my social studies textbooks taught me — AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
Becoming an adult and doing my own research has REALLY opened up my fucking eyes, and I get upset to know that…..
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
There are still young black kids in our public schools being indoctrinated with the same shit they pumped into my head. — AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
And fuck all this shit about erasing racial barriers and getting along… Why does white America think blacks even wanna be here?!
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
I really just want my fucking reparations, and want you guys to stop killing my sons and telling my daughters they’re ugly. — AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
<p>Facebook Live Is Loading....</p>