Alicia Keys has teamed up with the NFL to launch a $1 billion endowment fund for Black-owned businesses and communities. Keys, who performed before the 2020 NFL Kickoff game on Thursday (September 10), spoke to Billboard about the purprose of the fund.
“We are already seeing the blatant injustices that are going on around us,” Keys told Billboard. “As an artist, I’m always thinking about how can I use my platform to further racial equity. This fund is one of the answers and our goal is to empower Black America through investing in Black businesses, Black investors, institutions, entrepreneurs, schools and banks in a way to create sustainable solutions.”
One year ago, the NFL announced a partnership with JAY-Z’s Roc Nation as part of the league’s attempts to address racial and social injustice. The move came after the league essentially blackballed former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who famously protested police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem in 2016.
Alicia Keys Reveals 'Empire State Of Mind' With JAY-Z Almost Didn't Happen
Keys, who is managed by Roc Nation, believes the NFL is willing to right its wrongs. The league will be contributing to the $1 billion fund in an effort to do so.
“I’m personally committed to holding corporations and institutions accountable, and in my conversations with the NFL, they reaffirmed their commitment to racial equity,” Keys said. “The prospect of true generational wealth for the Black community is long overdue and I’m grateful to express my purpose as an artist to advance that cause. I’ve been deeply inspired by the courage of Colin Kaepernick and the determination I have to see this through is meant to honor his commitment to social justice.”
Watch Keys’ performance at the NFL Kickoff concert below.
Whose fault is it that blacks don’t have generational wealth? Their own! They need to change their cultural norms, attitudes, habits and get rid of the victim mentality holding them back. Keys knows this, but she reads from her script anyway. You know what this racist BS does for the fake “racial equity”? It puts more $$$$ in pockets that are already rich. You think these poverty pimps are gonna give it to the hoods? Lol nope. None of this ever makes it there, or to the homeless. Funny how that happens.
“The prospect of true generational wealth for the Black community is long overdue” / okay but we seen T.I admitted black folks on government handouts spend the money on overpriced bullsh!t brands instead of building a financially viable future for themselves … Question is, where was all this entitlement 10 years ago b!tch? NFL woulda laughed at you ‘holding them responsible’ for anything. FOH you opportunistic bandwagon cxnt!
well its about time.
Lol you stewwwwpid little girl…the NFL and professional sports in general has made more black men and women multi millionaires than any other venture in history. The highest paid QBs in the league are all black. Mahomes and Watson combined make almost 80 million a year.
Lol you stewwwwpid little nobody…because the NFL have made billions off the backs off African Americans it’s just to ask them to invest money in areas in which African Americans face opportunities that stem from a foundation of racism that many white people would rather not change because those systems and policies favor them. It was just the yesterday when they played the first game of the season and fans booed when they linked arms in solidarity(their was no kneeling no protests during the anthem) them linking arms made people boo. So basically when you had a display saying we should all be treated equally, people feel as though that’s outrageous.
Why are you responding to DeletePrincessPigskin? Stop wasting your time because people like him are the reason why we cannot move forward with this nation.