On social media, you mentioned “Black exceptionalism.” Can you explain that?
It’s something that I call “Exceptional Black Person Syndrome.” There’s a small group of celebrities who have achieved a level of success that most Blacks have not. For some reason, they believe it gives them the right to speak on behalf of all Black people. I speak for myself. People get sensitive when you challenge someone who has reached a level of success. I’m not being disrespectful. But if Diddy says we’re holding the Black vote hostage, or Jay-Z says we’re passed kneeling, or Ice Cube says he’s doing a Contract With Black America, they should at least speak to us first. There has never been a time when one White celebrity has spoken on behalf of all White people.
What would’ve been your message to Ice Cube?
My message to Ice Cube would have been that Trump is different. He’s radioactive. He’ll tank your business. You can’t align yourself with this man when he won’t denounce White supremacy. He says racist things. He stokes division between the Black community and the police. I would have told Cube that this isn’t the guy to have a conversation with. [With] everything that Trump has in his plan he can make a change now. He’s dangling change like a carrot to Black people for votes. We have to remove this guy from the office and start fresh.
