Kurtis Blow wasn’t exactly feeling the love when he discovered Virginia’s Attorney General Mark Herring had once donned blackface at a college party to “honor” the rap pioneer. On Thursday (February 7), Blow sat down with TMZ and expounded on his feelings toward the insensitive costume.
“I find it totally offensive and disrespectful, degrading,” he said. “It’s ugly. I’m praying for my man Mr. Herring right now. It’s very important as a Christian that we forgive each other for our mistakes. It was definitely a mistake on his part.
“It’s a teachable moment nowadays and we all should learn from this. I think if you can, forgive him. He owes some kind of retribution or just a commitment to help out African-Americans since he has been in this situation right now.”
In a statement to HipHopDX, Blow further expressed his disappointment in the entire situation.
“It is unfortunate that in this current climate we are confronted with the use of blackface as a barometer of where we are as a society,” Blow told DX. “I am a Black man, a father, a husband, a minister, and a pioneer of Hip Hop. It is my hope that these regrettable actions can be turned into teachable moments. Moments that lead us to an increased understanding of how certain acts can impact others and reopen historical scars.
“We are in trying times as a country, and I ask that we come together and focus on our commonalities and not our differences. Love is the answer. Love defeats hate. Love conquers all.”
Herring issued a statement to Twitter on Wednesday (February 6) copping to the act and took “full responsibility.”
“It sounds ridiculous even now writing it,” Herring wrote. “But because of our ignorance and glib attitudes—and because we did not have an application for the experiences and perspectives of others—we dressed up and put on wigs and brown makeup.”
He added he was “deeply, deeply sorry for the pain that I cause with this revelation.”
Gucci was also feeling the wrath on social media earlier this week after the luxury fashion brand was called out for a $890 sweater that strongly resembled blackface.
The company quickly issued an apology after pulling the item from its website and all retail stores.
People today clearly don’t know what “blackface” was….
i dont know and i dont give a fuck about the history of racism
This is how a sizeable chunk of the country thinks, unfortunately. P.S. You’re wack.
Yet you are that insecure that people would wonder if you were black making that reply that you posted your picture. P.S. You’re ….
let me tell you a secret, the rest of the world is not full of racist bullshit like the US, all contrys have a story of people fucking with theyr culture and they just keep going with theyr lifes without being cry babys
And what this guy did isn’t “blackface”
Who gives a fuck if someone wore blackface. Seriously these people who do it, just do it for fun. They ain’t trying to disrespect us black folk. Yes, long ago it was used in a derogatory way. But we must cut that tie of history.
Cultural appropriation entail every group that is represented here in the United States. Even the American Indians have now culturally appropriated typical caucasian customs – seemed like it was mere assimilation until the official change back to American Indian from Native American. We need to set a date – maybe 2025- that we declare everyone free of these stupid chains and let people be free to be.
The Democrats will be silent about this because they have three top members of their government in Virginia coming out to be degenerate fuck ups. The calls for resignation have been quiet, because the fourth person in line to take over the gubernatorial position would be Cox, a Republican. Sooooo they’ll this KKK shit slide in the name of holding control. Good on Blow for not letting it slide.
Used to come here a lot myself way back in high school. It was anything but a gradual process, been that way since the early days. Face it, its an open internet and it doesn’t take much to google “hip hop” see what’s up and leave a juvenile comment or 2. As for issues with whites, that’s the way it goes. Vibe, Complex, etc… if there’s a corporate element to it, just about any mag or major website is gonna be largely comprise out of white scribes.
You’re really missing the point. Hip Hop is universal, son. Everyone is welcome.
While that’s a convenient platitude, I actually didn’t give my personal take. That was me sayin how it is what it is.
Did the movie White Chicks piss any white people off?
Did these NUTZZZ PISS U OFF..U DICK HEAD……FOH