During a recent sit-down with Bloomberg TV, RZA stirred the ‘Net with his statements on some police officers’ perception of young black men.
Within the on-air Q&A, the Wu-Tang Clan member said, “When you think about some of the brothers who are being brutalized by the police, you also got to have them take a look, and us take a look, in the mirror at the image we portray.” He later continued, “If I’m a cop and every time I see a young black youth, whether I watch them on TV, movies, or just see them hanging out, and they’re not looking properly dressed, properly refined, you know, carrying himself, conducting himself proper hours of the day — things that a man does, you’re going to have a certain fear and stereotype of them.”
Now, the New Yorker is clearing up any smoke that engulfed his comments. He took to his Twitter account to share his sentiments on the matter, writing, “I could never condone police brutality or any form of injustice and oppression. Knowledge of self means studying self to improve self. Peace.”
On his thoughts about how young people dress, RZA said he’s not “condemning” them for their style of clothing. “We live we should learn and evolve. When are we men at 21 or 41?”
Read his tweets below.
How can a original black man be a coon &sell out? You best look deep into my words &make an assessment. Do you still think pork is healthy?
— RZA! (@RZA) January 8, 2016
I don’t expect agreement with everything I say. I speak honestly from my own perspective &evaluation from my space time experience.
— RZA! (@RZA) January 8, 2016
I could never condone police brutality or any form of injustice and oppression. Knowledge of self means studying self to improve self. Peace
— RZA! (@RZA) January 8, 2016
I’m not condemning the kids for their garments. We live we should learn and evolve. When are we men at 21 or 41?
— RZA! (@RZA) January 8, 2016
Yea yea mon. Enough Rza badgering for the day. Add a button up shirt to your wardrobe.
— RZA! (@RZA) January 8, 2016
“Of course Black lives matter.. All lives matter”
— RZA! (@RZA) January 8, 2016