Like many who are still in a state of DISBELIEF over the acquittal of George Zimmerman, Jay-Z recently spoke about his reaction to the verdict; noting that he didn’t sleep for two days after hearing the “NOT Guilty” plea. Following his appearance along with wife, Beyonce, Trayvon’s mother, Sybrina Fulton and the Rev. Al Sharpton in New York City, the industry mogul spoke with Elliot Wilson of Rap Radar to discuss his reaction of the verdict.
Here’s the excerpt:
[nggallery id=141]“I was really angry. I didn’t sleep for two days. We all knew there was still a bit of racism in America, but for it to be so blatant was … if you just asked the questions, asked yourself the question, ‘Didn’t Trayvon have a right to stand his ground?’ He was being chased and he fought back.”
“He had no intentions of robbing anyone’s home. It’s like, again, a reminder we still got a long way to go. It’s beautiful, because this generation right now, they don’t see color in that way… you have hope that this generation don’t see racism that way, but you still see that that old guard — that whole thing that I’m fighting against — that old guard and their old ideas and their stubborn ways and all that ego and that bullshit is just still there, it still exists. You just hate to believe that.”
As for Zimmerman’s acquittal, Jay-Z says:
“He may have won; that doesn’t mean he’s a criminal… I mean, if you chase me and you try to attack me and I defend myself, how can I be in the wrong? How is that right? This guy went to get some Skittles and go back to watch the All-Star game. He had plans — I’m gonna get this Arizona, get these Skittles and I’m gonna watch the game.”
Jay-Z also talks hip hop veterans and inspiration, J. Cole, Drake and responds to Harry Ballefonte criticisms of him “not taking on enough social responsibility with his fame and fortune.
Here’s the full interview.
Part I Jay-Z Talks music and its comparisons, playing yankee stadium, Holy Grail Magna Carta, co-touring with Justin Timberlake, and more
Part II – Jay-Z talks Trayvon Martin, Drake, J. Cole and more.