"You think about the idea of growing up in a single parent house, which I grew up in … and having an adverse feeling for authority, right? Your fathers gone, so you’re like, “I hate my dad. Don’t nobody tell me what to do. I’m the man of the house.” And then you hit the streets and run into a police officer and he says, “Put your hands up, freeze, shut up,”’ and you’re like, “F**k you!” That interaction causes people to lose lives." Jay-Z
This statement is not saying the lack of fathers in the black home is the cause of police brutality. He is saying the lack of a father in the home cause black kids to have a lack of respect for authority; especially a white man, a police officer, or a white police officer. People are reading something that simply isn’t there. Everyone knows when a black kid raised in an impoverish community without strong parental guidance or presence of a father is a recipe for waywardness. These young black boys’ rebel against any authority figure. It’s the pain and lack of having a father present that causes them to act this way. The lack of love and affection from that male figure is the cause of their anger. That attitude to a racist police officer is the reason for the brutality. That police officer who beats and kills a black kid resents that kid because of his lack of respect and obedience, when it’s not that kid’s fault. He a product of his environment. He wasn’t taught better. These kids grow up thinking police are the enemy. They grew up seeing the police come in their neighborhoods using their badge to say, “I have all authority over you; you are nothing.” As a black person, nobody’s going to tell me or treat me like I’m nothing. I love Jay; he didn’t directly state, “Absent Fathers Cause Police Brutality”. He said absent fathers can be the result police brutality towards black kids. He grew up the same way, so he knows what it’s like. People are so quick to speak without full understanding. I’m saying this because I am a fan. I seriously listen to his lyrics not just the beats and bass of a good track. He may come from the streets, but he is not a dummy. He may have been hungry but he is not greedy. He is on a very different level of intellect when it comes to rappers. He is an artist and very gifted in his talent. He’s more than awesome music. He stood with Trayvon Martin parents because of social injustice. Trayvon parents weren’t together, but it appears that he had a very solid foundation. So, “Absent Fathers Don’t Cause Police Brutality”. As much money as Jay has and as active as he’s been with social justice change, I don’t think for one second his main focus was to capitalize off of Kaepernik’s issues with the NFL. The NFL knew they needed to make some serious changes and felt partnering with Jay could help with that change. As he clearly states in his lyrics, he doesn’t need the NFL they need him. If it was about money he would have performed at the Super Bowl when asked. He also asked several other artists to stand in solidarity with him. Jay is not going to agree to a deal with the NFL unless he’s going to get exactly what he wants from them and that is first and foremost serious social justice change. It’s going to take someone of his stature to get these people in positions of authority to do what’s right when it comes to involvement with the black community. If anyone can get these NFL owners, general managers, and coaches to understand it would have to be some like Jay who knows about making money and connecting with the black community. He and Van Jones are working together on a project helping people convicted of crimes they didn’t commit. There is no money in that. Just the desire to right some wrongs done to our people. He is genuinely for change. He may not be screaming it from the mountain tops, but he is doing the work. Just listen to his music. You’ll hear it. I don’t know what or if Kaepernick will be involved with this deal. I doubt it highly because Kaepernick reached a settlement the NFL. Who knows what’s in that agreement? He may not have to work again a day in his life. He may have chosen money over football? If so, with that money I’m sure he will work hard to change social injustice in the NFL as well. I don’t know the details but if it’s a settlement there are some guidelines he may have to follow. That needs to be taken into consideration when saying Jay not helping him. Jay has always moved in silence. So, I’m sure very few people know all the details regarding what’s going on. For me the only thing Jay has done wrong is cheat on his wife. And that’s none of my concern. It doesn’t take away from his creative gifts and savvy business sense. He is still “That Nigga”.
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