R&B artist Keyshia Cole drew a wave of admiration from fans for touching on racism in a recent post.
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 21, Cole shared a video intended to depict a repeatedly recycled urban legend about a bigoted airline passenger. In Cole’s version, a white woman asks a stewardess to swap her seat on a plane because she felt uncomfortable sitting next to a Black man. However, the white passenger’s racist behavior backfired after the Black traveler was moved to first class.
Cole reposted the video on Instagram and wrote in her caption, “ENJOY “YOUR” LIFE… #BeGrateful (and Stop Hatin on the next Man/Woman because of ur Insecurities)!”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs6RNYhFRZx/
While this meme, which in various versions casts the black man as a Muslim or a Jew or even a gay person, is firmly in urban legend status, folks commended the “Just Like You” singer for using her platform for sharing the anti-racism message.
“👌 Good job captain!!” one fan exclaimed. “Wish racism would just end way more important things to worry about in this life then the color of our skin.”
Another added, “Say that Keysh! Put #Racism In the right place!!! More ads like this please ❤️.”
“Thank you Keyshia for spreading the word 🙏🏽 happy mlk day to you,” another fan wrote.
However, one social media user slammed Cole for so called being “woke” on racism, but for seemingly still supporting Chicago singer R. Kelly.
“Stay woke when you did a show with R Kelly recently…..yeah ok,” the person wrote.
The 37-year-old singer came under fire two weeks ago for indicating that the parents of R. Kelly‘s accusers should have protected their children better.
“As parents, man, some people gotta do better at protecting their children,” Cole wrote. “I get what P was saying.”
The Oakland native’s remarks follows after rapper Master P. shared his opinion after watching the Lifetime documentary series “Surviving R. Kelly” that aired a few weeks ago. Several women came forward and accused the Chicago artist of sexual misconduct.
Master P. faulted the parents for not doing more to bring their children home.
“The truth is I don’t like the parents,” said P. “Those parents shouldn’t have let that go that far. If you got love for your kids, you are going to war behind your kids. You ain’t doing no reality show.”
The rapper’s comments were met with backlash also. Kelly on the other hand, has denied all of the accusations.
