Smokey Robinson’s poem “A Black American” sparked a widespread dialogue about racial identification following its unique efficiency almost 18 years in the past in the course of the season finale of “Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry.” Whereas the scripture aimed to teach its readers concerning the Black expertise and what Black individuals have been known as or considered over time, it additionally sought to clarify what being Black meant to the now 82-year-old.

Throughout a digital look on “The View” final month, the legendary soul singer-songwriter opened up concerning the poem after it was become an animation by a instructor attempting to teach his college students concerning the Black expertise throughout Black Historical past Month. When requested what being Black American means to you, the singer surprised viewers after admitting that he resented being labeled “African American.”

It’s a remark, together with others in that very same vein, that now has arrested the eye of social media customers, who’re posting about it on-line weeks after Robinson’s interview.

“I resent being known as African American as a result of Black individuals have contributed a lot to the event of the US of America,” the Motown icon mentioned. “I believe that if you do this, you’re disclaiming all of the issues, the contributions that Black individuals have made to America,” he added.

“You see, I think about myself to be a Black American, and I take pleasure in being known as Black, and Black has been so negativized as a coloration down all through historical past by those that needed to negativize it. And so, it spilled over into the Black neighborhood and to the Black individuals. And even Black individuals again within the day calling one another Black was an indication for a struggle,” the enduring entertainer continued.

“I resent being known as African American as a result of Black individuals have contributed a lot to the event of the US of America,” he added whereas describing what he calls the best present Blacks gave to America: their lives.

“The great Black American who served within the armed forces and gave their lives in all of the wars. They didn’t do this for Timbuktu or Capetown, or Kenya. They did that for Louisiana and Mississippi and Texas and Virginia. Okay? In order that’s how I really feel about it.” Robinson famous that their contributions needs to be acknowledged equally to their white friends.

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Robinson’s philosophy is drawing blended reactions on-line, together with one Twitter person who wrote, “Smokey Robinson… a person born within the 1940’s is on the web tellin individuals to drop the African and simply name him Black American. Trigger he by no means been to Africa. What’s the phases of Dementia?”

“I knew Smokey Robinson was an fool after he threw us beneath the bus for Jennifer Lopez however this newest stunt takes the cake. As I mentioned mere days in the past, the information that ‘Black is a race’ and ‘African American is an ethnicity’ actually whoops y’all’s asses,” one other individual remarked.

Nonetheless, some agreed, together with a 3rd one that wrote, “I don’t see an issue with what he mentioned. Truly, I solely see one challenge: all his years of touring, he’s by no means been to Africa?”

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