Stay Connected
Atlanta Black Star/Entertainment
EntertainmentMusic

Jay-Z’s Comments on Racism and Sexism In America Ignites Debate

Posted byBy Kiersten Willis | Published on: | Updated on November 22, 2017 CommentsComments (0)
jay z sexism racism

Jay-Z could have been speaking on the uptick in sexual assault allegations coming from Hollywood.
(Shareif Ziyadat/FilmMagic)

Jay-Z’s inspirational message to a 9-year-old concert-goer was meant as an encouragement. But the discussion soon zeroed in on whether the MC was right about America being more sexist than racist.

“At this very moment America is way more sexist than they are racist,” he said at a Cleveland show for his “4:44 Tour” Sunday, Nov. 19. “But you young lady, you got the potential to be the next president of the United States.”

 

Yolande Tomlinson, co-founder and director of Education and Applied Intersectionality at the ‎Organization for Human Rights and Democracy, said JAY-Z’s statement may have stemmed from his having daughters Blue Ivy and Rumi Carter.

“I think what Jay-Z is trying to articulate is his consciousness and [his] more current awareness of the prevalence of sexism,” Tomlinson said, noting it’s important for him to speak on the subject. “Because he has daughters and I’m sure he sees the way his wife  [Beyoncé] has suffered.”

While some praised Jay’s message…

More News About Jay-Z

Absent Jay Z Inducted to Songwriters Hall by Obama via Video

Beyoncé and Jay Z Reportedly Worried Blue Ivy Would ‘Feel Left Out’ When Twins Were Born

Jay Z Comes Clean On New Album ‘4:44’ About How He Almost Blew It with Beyoncé

Many fiercely disagreed with the idea that sexism is more prevalent in the U.S. than racism.

In light of the sexual assault scandal taking over Hollywood and media as of late, Jay’s comments make sense.

Over the weekend, Russell Simmons was accused of forcing a woman to perform a sex act on him and on Monday, Nov. 20, CBS and PBS anchor Charlie Rose was accused of sexual harassment.

Tomlinson said Jay’s statement was also likely influenced by his experience in the music business.

“It’s more of a statement about the industry and the field that he’s in, more than what’s higher or lower [on the spectrum of oppression],” Tomlinson said. “I don’t think it benefits us to talk about what’s higher or what’s lower. … I wouldn’t say one is more than the other but that they’re both mutually reinforcing.”

Still independent.

We hope this story was worth your time. For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed Black-owned and independently run. We didn't get here by waiting on ad budgets that were never built to prioritize us. Our readers did that.

Corporate support for Black media has always been thin. Outlets like ours get roughly 1% of the $170 billion spent on U.S. advertising each year, and that margin is shrinking further as advertisers walk back the DEI-linked commitments they made in 2020. That's the backdrop. It's not why we're asking.

The wider picture isn't any steadier. Newspaper ad revenue has fallen more than 80% since 2005, and local newsrooms are closing at a rate of roughly two a week nationwide. When outlets go under, it's rarely the ones built to center a Black perspective from the ground up that get to stick around.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Give once Give monthly Support another way

Related Stories

Back to top