Miami rapper Trina is being criticized for her very harsh comments regarding looters among the George Floyd protestors that she made on The Trick & Trina Morning Show on 99 Jamz radio. She was reporting the news on the latest curfew order when she expressed her true feelings about the protestors.
“Keep everybody off the streets, these animals off the streets that are running around in Miami-Dade County acting like they have escaped from a zoo. Lock them up at 5 p.m. so the streets can be nice and clean, that’s how I feel.”
When her lifelong business associate and radio co-host Trick Daddy tried to help her clarify herself to avoid being misunderstood, in Trina hot temper fashion she rebutted saying “We not talking about the lives.”
As the debate continues, Trick Daddy tries to help her understand the circumstances and dynamics that surround the action of the protestors, but she wasn’t trying to hear it.
Trina started making comparisons. She compared George Floyd’s death to her brother’s death. Then, she compared her experience of being on lockdown due to COVID-19 to those of the protestors, not being aware that she is in a privileged situation where she does not have to face the daily difficulties of the average American citizen who is concerned about employment, health, and fearing for their lives because of unlawful police.
OPINION:
In true predictable form, the online critics started a “cancel Trina” campaign for her insensitive comments. Yet, instead of cancelling her, it would be more beneficial for people to inform her.
Trina is not the only privileged black person that feels this way. In the last few weeks, we have been able to witness several black celebrities come out and express their disdain for what they call violent protests.
Atlanta rappers T.I. and Killer Mike went on live TV reprimanding looters for destroying their city. They shared the same sentiments as Trina. However, they did not call the protestors or looters names.
If anything, instead of cancelling Trina, how about we list the reasons why her perspective is not conducive to bettering the quality of life of a black person in America.
While she’s right that the protests will not bring back George Floyd or any other person that has died at the hands of police, to be complacent and comfortable with that status quo is certainly not going to make a difference or even prevent it from happening again in the future.
People are frustrated, angry and tired. They are not only tired because of the police killings, but racism as a whole takes a toll on all of us. People are tired of the capitalistic dog-eat-dog structure of America, hence the looting. Furthermore, the widespread poverty, unemployment and disregard for the lives of people who built America has driven people to the edge.
It’s not about the looting. But, the protestors that choose to loot are mirroring the nasty values of those in power who respect the dollar and materialism more so than they do the lives of black people.
So, if you condemn the looters or protestors (by the way, most protestors are peaceful), then you have to acknowledge why they are doing what they are doing. You cannot condemn the protestors without condemning the police, the government and the people who continue to perpetuate values of the early 1900s.
Another thing, if you are rich and black and you don’t agree with the cause but you are not actively doing something to remedy the situation, then you must keep your opinions at this time to yourself.
Houston’s own Trae Tha Truth and Bun B are perfect examples of wealthy, black celebrities that showed the people how to protest and demand change. Now, it would be nice if people like Trina and Trick Daddy or T.I. and Killer Mike could unify their cities and do the same.
