A$AP Rocky and the Pressure of Being A Black Creative
Speaking out or being silent on social justice issues doesn’t make you more or less black.
News about the detainment of A$AP Rocky in Sweden has been hard to ignore. Born Rakim Mayers, the 30-year-old rapper got his start as a member of the A$AP Mob hip hop group from Harlem, New York, before launching a successful solo career in music, film, and fashion. He, however, was arrested, along with two friends, and detained on July 3 following a physical altercation between his entourage and two Swedish men. Video footage shows two men following and allegedly harassing Rocky and his team for blocks in spite of their requests to be left alone. The confrontation eventually escalated and Rocky is seen throwing the man on the ground while his crew punched and kicked him. On Tuesday, Rocky pled not guilty to charges of assault during his trial, arguing that he acted in self-defense.
Meanwhile, back in the states, fans and celebrities are advocating for A$AP’s release, including President Trump, who took to Twitter last Friday to let the world know that he urged the Swedish Prime Minister to free the rapper from jail. However, another point of discussion is over the controversial comments Rocky made about Michael Brown back in 2014. When asked in an interview about his thoughts on the tragedy of Brown’s death, Rocky replied, “So every time something happens because I’m black I gotta stand up? I don’t wanna talk about no f — king Ferguson and s — t because I don’t live over there! I live in f — king Soho and Beverly Hills. I can’t relate.”
Critics say Rocky’s words dismissed the seriousness of racial injustice and police brutality in America. They also argue that the entertainer used his money and status to distance himself from the harsh reality of being African American and that his arrest overseas should serve as a wakeup call.
This entire situation got me thinking about the position of the black creative in today’s society. While I do not excuse Rocky’s crude language in addressing the Michael Brown incident, I understand the logic behind his words. When something devastating happens in the black community, a reporter doesn’t think twice about asking a black person in the spotlight about their feelings on it. However, the black creative’s role is not to be on the front lines of social justice simply because they have a platform; their role is to be. Their art speaks for itself whether that be painting or sculpting, acting, playwriting, or music. Their choice to speak on black issues publicly does not make them any less or more black.
I know some are likely reading this with the comrade spirit: “If it were me, you wouldn’t even have to ask me to speak up for my people.” For that courage, I applaud you. But it is important to recognize the drastic difference between being an entertainer and an activist.
Take Colin Kapernick, for example. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback was booted out of the NFL as soon as he became an “activist” and shared his opinion about injustice against the African American community. During the 2017 season, after leading the team to the SuperBowl for the first time since 1994, he kneeled during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and systematic oppression in America. The league and football fans quickly turned against him, while Trump tweeted that the NFL should “fire” players who protest the anthem. After Kapernick’s seventh season, he opted out of his contract with the 49ers and became a free agent, only to be nudged out of the league with no offers or interest.
While Rocky and Kapernick are on different ends of the entertainment spectrum, they both live their lives in the public eye. One chose not to speak publicly about black issues while the other peacefully protested. Yet, they were both penalized. One is being shunned for not speaking out while the other sacrificed his career in the NFL.
At the end of the day, black entertainers are not obligated to voice their opinions about their community if they don’t choose to do so. The average black person is not expected to speak up on issues in their community because they’re black, so it shouldn’t be expected of anyone just because they are famous. Black celebrities are people, too.
