Yasiin Bey asks, "Do we believe in the system, an oppressive, murderous system, more than we believe in our ability to change it?"
Yasiin Bey (formerly Mos Def) spoke to Stop Being Famous regarding police brutality and racial injustice in the United States. As one of hip-hop's premiere conscious emcees, Bey's reaction to the events was sure to be thought-provoking, and he didn't disappoint.
âWhere are we? Weâre at [a] critical time,â he said in the first of two audio lengthy audio commentaries posted to SoundCloud. âWeâre at [a] watershed moment for humanity. I imagine weâve been here before and I imagine that weâve probably been here for longer than we realize. I think many of us are becoming even more aware of where we are. And the urgency to change this miserable condition on this Earth, as Malcolm X said, is occurring to many of us and reaffirming itself. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Itâs an opportunity for necessary change. Positive change. And itâs not necessarily convenient or comfortable. As Iâm sure it is with any period of growth.
âI read somewhere that in order for an arrow to fly the bow has to be drawn back with some pressure involved and I think weâre all feeling that pressure. Some of us are more aware of it than others. Some of us are trying to drown it out. But we all feel it one way or another in indelible ways in these times and days.â
Check out both pieces of audio here and here.Â
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