T.I. recently addressed Floyd Mayweather saying "All lives matter" during a recent interview with Tha Boxing Voice, and the Atlanta rapper seemed none too happy about the boxer's comment.
"This is socially irresponsible, inconsiderate, and insensitive ... This completely undermines and discredits the movements that fight for the plight of our people. You're a leader whether you know it or not. Don't get so lost in personal possession or individual achievement that you lose sight of the things that are larger than all of us," Tip wrote, in the caption of a repost of Mayweather's interview with Tha Boxing Voice earlier this week.
"Freedom, equality, justice, human rights, qualities of life that have been withheld (or given out sparingly) from our people for generations (400 yrs approximately). A true champion is a man of the people. A true champion makes sacrifices for the people and takes a stand against injustices for those who may not be strong enough or able to do so," he continued on to say.
The message was a lengthy one, expounding on the current state of racial oppression that celebrities, athletes, and politicians of all colors and creeds have increasingly taken up a fight against, to various degrees. From pushing a pro-Black business, Black banking initiative alongside Usher and Killer Mike, to confronting police brutality in interviews and in his music, T.I. can be credited with helping generate the call for social activism among the Black community that awakened the base of support that would receive Colin Kaepernick, and help propel his protest movement. Black Lives Matter [if not the organization, certainly the mantra] can be noted as an early catalyst for the movement T.I. has been fighting on behalf of.
When people say "All Lives Matter" in reaction to BLM, it has drawn criticism from those attempting to call attention to systemic problems faced by the Black community. They see "All Lives Matter" as functioning to suppress the urgency of matters specifically ailing Black lives before our very eyes. Not only did Mayweather say that he believes all, not only Black, lives matter; some people believe he disregarded the actual focus of the movement to address injustices the Black community faces at the hands of the law, by asking Black people to stop protesting and simply comply.
"Oppression knows no neutral ground. Either you're the oppressed, or you're the oppressor. What side would you like to believe you're on?" Tip posed, before clarifying that his intention wasn't to attack or humiliate the champ, but to share a piece of enlightenment. "The world is watching," he said.
Source: instagram.com
