After the NAACP announced it would honor him with its Great Expectations Award, rapper-turned-rocker Kid Rock ignored the criticism and accepted the accolade last night at the organization’s 56th Annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner.
The event, which took place in his native Detroit, MIchigan, saw the singer receiving the honor and announcing $100,000 in donations and grants to local organizations and the American Red Cross for victims of recent tornados. The Motor City entertainer faced controversy from critics who blasted the NAACP for honoring a performer who used a Confederate flag on stage and in videos, though the 10,000 attendees at the award show supported Rock by giving him a standing ovation.
But outside of event locale Cobo Hall, protesters burned Confederate flags and brandished “No to Kid Rock” signs. “Every bigot and racist in this country loves that flag,” said Detroit political consultant Adolph Mongo. “If Kid Rock was alive in the 50s in Selma [Alabama] he would have beaten up John Lewis and waving the Confederate flag.”
During his acceptance speech, Rock dismissed the connotations that come with the controversial flag. “I’ve never flown that flag with hate in my heart, not one ounce,” he told the audience, declaring his use of it as a tribute to classic rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd. “I just want to say I love America, I love Detroit and I love black people.”
Rock, born Robert James Ritchie, who began his career as a rapper on Jive Records, most recently released his seventh studio album Born Free in November 2010.
Really? Who gives a fickiddy fuck fuck?
funny if the white man said a black guy couldnt win something because of there color………….
People took umbrage with the Confederate flag, not Rock’s ethnicity. I accept Kid rocks the flag in honour of one of his favourite bands, but the flag still has negative connotations. Read the full article next time before you comment.
“If Kid Rock was alive in the 50s in Selma [Alabama] he would have beaten up John Lewis and waving the Confederate flag.”
So we’re judging people on what they might have done in a different time frame/world? This critique coming from a man named “Adolph” is hilarious.
Seriously, who names their child Adolph?
So its okay for Lil Jon to rock a shirt with the flag on it?
I LOVE KID ROCK BUT I HATE THAT FLAG !
Kid Rock been out forever. He recently made the transition to rock, country, folk music like Everlast. He does’nt come off to me as a douche like m&m.
Kid Rock is cool people and YES I’m black.
LONG LIVE THE CONFEDERACY
Real talk…Kid Rock’s son is half black. Dude doesn’t get like that on some racist shit!
Strom Thurmond had a half black daughter..You can be a racist and be weak for black pussy.
they also said on the news last night that it was one guy against kid rock the 20 odd people who were protesting refused to give comment for their cause and hid their faces. that along with the rumors lead everyone to believe Adolf paid people to protest.
The argument in support of the Confederate flag is that it’s heritage, why would you want that the flag is a symbol of hate, it just makes you look like an ignorant person that racist.