*Rapper David Banner spoke his mind on Trayvon Martin last week in an interview.
Banner, who usually speaks on cases of injustice like Trayvon Martin’s, surprisingly said that hip-hop artists aren’t responsible for being activists. He said that artists aren’t activists and shouldn’t be expected to speak on everything that occurs in the black community.
Columnist Boyce Watkins recently wrote a piece on Banner’s comments on the Trayvon Martin case.
Below is an excerpt:
I love David Banner. He is not the only brilliant hip-hop artist that we hear on the radio, but he is one of the few who is proud of his intelligence. Unlike brothers who fall for the temptation to mask their intelligence with counter-productive bo-jangling, Banner boldly uses his platform to promote the greater good.
My love and respect for David was challenged, though, when I read a recent statement he made about the response of the hip-hop community to the death of Trayvon Martin. In an interview with TheGrio.com, Banner stated that hip-hop artists don’t have a responsibility to speak on behalf of Trayvon and that they are only required to make good music.
Read more at NewsOne.
Another badly written article and even worse title for an article.
David Banner needs to realize in a case like Trayvon Martin it is his responsibility to speak out. It is the Trayvon Martins that has made his successful as a rapper. Not only that, what about speaking out as a black man who has some compassion for another black man. That could have been him or one of his loved ones. Would he speak out and see it his responsibility when a loved one of his is unjustifiably murdered? Things that make you go Hummmmmm……..
For someone that’s “touted” as being intelligent, he should have used his “intelligent” and refrain from making a statement, especially if it is nonconductive to his rapping techniques he so eloquently informed us. It’s everyday people that are responsible for him being on the radio and having the the monetary gains he enjoys. When someone is in the spotlight and have a following – you are deemed somewhat of a; hero, activist or supporter – because you have a following wither you like it or not! Having Facebook, Myspace and twitter all encompasses a following, which leads to him wanting to be heard, albeit music or otherwise! If people stopped shelving out their hard-earned money for his disk – believe me – the first thing he would do would be to voice concern over losing followers! Get it together and THINK before you speak!