Azealia Banks' bold stance on racism and inequality have made her a lightening rod in recent weeks. She gained the attention of many who had written her off after her emotional interview with Hot 97. And she continued to say the things few others in the spotlight will when she called out Kendrick Lamar for his comments on Ferguson in Billboard Magazine.
Kendrick told the magazine: "I wish somebody would look in our neighborhood knowing that it's already a situation, mentally, where it's f---ed up. What happened to [Michael Brown] should've never happened. Never. But when we don't have respect for ourselves, how do we expect them to respect us? It starts from within. Don't start with just a rally, don't start from looting -- it starts from within."
"When we don't respect ourselves how can we expect them to respect us" dumbest shit I've ever heard a black man say.
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
Lol do you know about the generational effects of poverty, racism and discrimination?
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
There are things in society that benefit a select few of us. fine.... But don't put down the rest by saying they don't respect themselves
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
HOW DARE YOU open ur face to a white publication and tell them that we don't respect ourselves.... Speak for your fucking self.
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
I really pray for the minds of the urban youth, I really do because I was once on the side of feeling like I wasn't owed anything...
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
Once on the side of feeling like black people ain't shit because that's what America and my social studies textbooks taught me
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
Becoming an adult and doing my own research has REALLY opened up my fucking eyes, and I get upset to know that.....
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
There are still young black kids in our public schools being indoctrinated with the same shit they pumped into my head.
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
And fuck all this shit about erasing racial barriers and getting along... Why does white America think blacks even wanna be here?!
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
I really just want my fucking reparations, and want you guys to stop killing my sons and telling my daughters they're ugly.
— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) January 9, 2015
Kimberly Foster is the founder and editor of For Harriet. Email or Follow @KimberlyNFoster
