By Jahthaime Smith

33-year-old Cash Money rapper, was a featured guest on Fox Sport’s “Undisputed” with Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharp this September.  When asked about SF 49er’s QB Colin Kaepernick and his protest against police brutality, the Young Money CEO responded, “They wouldn’t want my answer to that…God knows that I have been nothing but blessed … I’ve never dealt with racism. I thought [racism] was over, I still believe it’s over. But, obviously it isn’t … ”

This cowardly stance appears to be diametrically opposed to his perception of racism in 2014 during the Donald Sterling controversy.  When asked about racism when the white media gave him permission to be offended, he stated,

“If I was a Clippers fan, I wouldn’t be one anymore, it’s that simple. But if I was a Clippers player, a current Clippers player, you wouldn’t see me on the court anymore in that uniform.  An apology wouldn’t do it, it wouldn’t work for me. A team meeting wouldn’t work for me. Locker room camaraderie — that wouldn’t work for me. I’d stand up for myself, and I’d understand that pride and respect isn’t a team sport. Those are the things you’re supposed to have within yourself.”

What I’ve noticed, is that the majority of black athletes and entertainers don’t take a stand on anything unless it’s sanctioned by the popular white backdrop.  In other words, it’s cowardice to only take a stand when the majority of others are taking it, and it’s brave to take a stand when you stand alone in your viewpoints.  Its brave to take a stand, albeit unpopular.  Its brave to take a stand, when you stand to lose millions in endorsements, when the fans switch sides on you, when the media tries to assassinate your character, when your boss puts you on his sh!t list.  It appears on White sanctioned issues (supporting the military, women’s rights, breast cancer, gay rights, etc), it’s acceptable to give an opinion and take a stand.  When it pertains to Black issues (police brutality, miseducation, the lack of Black coaches, management, and owners), there is fear from the backlash that may ensue.  

Lil Wayne has been synonymous with New Orleans.  Louisiana has more black men incarcerated than any other state in the union.  I can’t understand how one can come from that environment and not understand how racism contributes to that environment’s existence.  He mentioned how grateful he was to the white officer who rushed him to the hospital when he shot himself at age 12, but couldn’t find the courage to question the officers who he saw kill unarmed black men on camera.  

As a child, there were times I knew I was dead right on an issue (however minor it might’ve been).  However, there was either popular opinion or the opinion of a higher ranking adult that sometimes was in opposition to my own.  In my little boy mind, I sometimes recanted out of fear of having to defend my point alone, or recanted out of fear of being somehow reprimanded by some higher ranking adult.  That’s what Lil Wayne reminded me of, a scared little boy.  Racism is over?  Ha! Racism made Lil Weezy say “racism is over.”