No stranger to misconduct, rapper T.I., had some choice words for rioters in Saint Louis, MO following the shooting of unarmed black teen Michael Brown by a Ferguson County white police officer.
The shooting served as another example of an unjust crime by law enforcement against African American men. Previous examples of this include the shooting and killing of victims, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin and Oscar Grant, just to name a few, by law enforcement.
As you can imagine, the African American community has been, once again, left in disbelief and anger over the growing number of cases similar to these. Unfortunately, the outrage has led to a number of riots in the Ferguson County community.
The rapper, whose served time in jail for gun possession and violating the terms of his probation, took to social media to express his anger and disapproval of those rebelling.
Sharing the above image, the rapper writes,
Look at us….America has created a monster. The result of ignoring & mishandling an already fragile spirited, recently enslaved, presently oppressed race/generation of people. Look at us. We’re the monster that now refuses to be dismissed, overlooked,& ignored. We were brought to this place,unaware of our own cultures,religion,&traditions therefore,we created our own. Now look at us. For years we’ve been crying out for the nation to address the substandard education systems & disparaging treatment of our citizens in communities across America. Our people have had an increasing lack of opportunities for generations. There have been homes broken,lives shattered,and futures lost on your watch….unanswered. Look at us. How long can u expect a nation/race/generation of people to be blatantly disrespected? Spoken to and treated with arrogant tones of insignificance. Our fathers,uncles,brothers& role models were killed& Imprisoned more often than educated. Now look at us. Our friends,& relatives Murdered and cast aside without thought,as though your human life is more valuable than ours. How long can that go on without consequence? Now Look at us. How long can u continue to pass the buck & make excuses of why u can’t do today what should have been done yeste-year? Although I DO NOT support the negative responses & actions of my people in light of dis tragedy….I WILL NOT condone your lack of effort to show any urgency to improve the treatment of our people, nor the living conditions in our communities. Your refusal to address these life altering issues makes events such as these seem inevitable. Although I too am at fault to a degree & I admit that I may not have all da answers… I do have a fun fact for you. Insanity is…Going about things the same way,expecting a different result. U wanna different result? U must take different action. What else do u expect? Look at us!!!
Sharing a second and disturbing image, (above), the rapper continued with this message.
(To My People)Look at us. Rebels without a cause. Soldiers without a general. A lost generation. Ready for War. No strategy,no training. Armed only with our grief,aggravation, and passionate disdain for our treatment in America. Sick and tired of everything…especially ourselves. We’d rather use the tragedies of our environment as an excuse to act-out,go-off,or turn-up, rather than use our education,talents & future opportunities to get-out,speak-up,& make-a-change. Look at us… Too Enraged to sit around & do nothing. But Too Entrapped in da cycle of vengeance/hostility to do anything WORTH doing. Look at us. So upset with our conditions that we’ve gone into “Fuck-it” mode… “Fuck-the-world” “Fuck-the-Police” And even “Fuck” the wishes & request of a grieving mother,father,family who lost a son…who’s memory they would NOT like to see tarnished by OUR negative ACTIONS/DECISIONS. Naaah G,that ain’t the code, this ain’t da way. What I see us doing is just as futile as swinging wildly into the wind,waiting on the air to get tired. One question to MY PEOPLE: What are we changing…Really? Look at us. Destroying our own community, but continuing to spend money in theirs. Refusing education… re-volving in the same cycle of ignorance instead of e-volving out of it. I must admit that I TOO am disgusted wit America’s treatment. I TOO demand change. But Goddddaaaaamn man…. Look at us!!!!! Although I too am at fault to a degree & I admit that I may not have all da answers… I do have a fun fact for you. Insanity is…Going about things the same way,expecting a different result. U wanna different result? U must take different action. What else do u expect? Look at us!!!
While some critics have bashed the rapper for speaking out against rioters while he’s had an extensive rap sheet and a recent public feud with boxer Floyd Mayweather, we have to commend him a bit.
It sometimes take someone whose made similar mistakes to speak on it. We just hope T.I. remembers this the next opportunity he’s given to speak about the boxer.
Nonetheless, what are your thoughts CK readers? Do you agree or disagree with what the rapper had to say?
(Photo/Source: T.I./Instagram)
