Mississippi recording artist David Banner clarified comments he made following the shooting death of Missouri teen Michael Brown. He revealed that his words were taken out of context and also shared that part of what he tweeted didn’t have anything to do with what was going on in Ferguson, Missouri although it still applied.
August 9th Banner Tweeted, “Our situation is more psychological than people will admit. Black kids kill black kids for the same reason cops do. They see no value.”
The rapper went on to further elaborate on his tweet about the psychology of violence against black youth.
“It was definitely taken out of context,” explained David. “And first of all on Sundays I always dialogue with my fans. I always push my fans to think. And at the time that had nothing to do with what was going on in Ferguson. But it still applies. What I was saying is that white cops do not see value in young, black men. And the reason why a lot of young, black men—not all black men, kill each other is because they don’t see any value either. So many people have bought into this Americanized system and America historically has always tortured, killed, and enslaved black people. And I have not forgotten that. So, in me saying that there’s a reason why we don’t see value. But it’s different because cops are paid to protect us.”
Banner was then asked if black teens should watch what they wear and monitor their actions in order to avoid confrontations.
He responded, “Honestly, I disagree with that, because you tell me what didn’t Trayvon Martin do that our parents teach us? He did everything he was supposed to do. He acknowledged that he was there. He got on the phone. He called somebody. He said ‘Aye, you need to get away from me.’ He ran away. It’s like what are you supposed to do? You put your hands up. You tell them that you don’t have a gun. The thing that America is telling our children—And this is the sad part, that ‘Black folks, if you don’t make me comfortable we will kill you.’”
In addition to David Banner, other Hip Hop artists who reacted to the shooting of Mike Brow nvia social media included Big Boi, 9th Wonder, and Killer Mike, who published the following statement in a post made on Instagram:
“We are human beings. We deserve to be buried by [our] children not the other way around. No matter how u felt about black people look at this Mother and look at this father and tell me as a human being how u cannot feel empathy for them. How can u not feel sympathy for their pain and loss. These are not “THOTS, niggas/niggers, hoes, Ballers, Divas. These two people are parents. They are humans that produced a child and loved that child and that child was slaughtered like Game and left face down as public spectacle while his blood drained down the street. Look at the pain of this mother, look into her eyes. Look at the Man behind her.
“Look at that father made helpless and hurt that he cud not defend his seed. Don’t debate. Don’t insert your agenda. Save me the bullshit Black on Black Crime speech and look at these to Noble creatures called humans and look at what govt sanctioned murder has done. It has robbed them of their humanity and replaced it with pain and shame, suffering and hurt. I don’t care if others rioted or why. I don’t care that ball players and Rappers are what they should be. I care that we as humans care as much about one another more. I care we see past Class, race and culture and honor the humanity that unites our species. Stop talking and LOOK at these PEOPLE. LOOK at these HUMANS and stand with them against a system allows a Human PIG to slaughter their child. Forgive any typos love and respect u all.”
