The annual REVOLT Summit began in Atlanta on Sept. 12 kicking off a series of panel talks, performances and opportunities to network with entrepreneurs in the media and entertainment industry. The three-day event hosted a panel called “Trap The Vote: Hip Hop & Politics”, which consisted of rappers T.I. and Killer Mike, Donald Trump campaign spokesperson Katrina Pierson, Dream Defenders Steven Pargett, Co-President of the Women’s March Tamika Mallory and conservator activist Candace Owens. The panel was moderated by journalist Jeff Johnson.
The conversation became real heated when Johnson asked how black people should go about voting and engaging a two party system in which neither Republicans or Democrats have been adamant about resolving issues facing the black community.
Killer Mike voiced his opinion very clearly when he told the audience, “This is a process. You are a part of a process… Never in your black ass life allow your history to be wiped away.” He continued, “It is my responsibility and that is why I vote.”
T.I. suggested that the black community use what they already have control of to make an impact in politics. ”Our leverage is our culture,” he said. “Our leverage is the power of our dollar and until we take control of that, we’ll always be in a position where we have our hand out and we’re asking a m*therf-ker to do something for us.”
The atmosphere became verbally hostile, as the panelists were ready to debate statistics and opinions.
Johnson asked the panel what the negotiation tactics should be to ensure that black people are pushing their agenda in the arena of politics. Candace Owens was eager to answer the question stating all the issues plaguing the black community.
“The biggest issue facing black America is father absence,” she said. “We have children that are growing up without their fathers in the home and that is being incentivized by the government right now via the welfare system. When the government says we’ll give you more money if you don’t marry the father of your children, you are incentivizing bad behavior in our community. What happens when you remove a father from the home? This is why I do not mess with feminism at all. I’m not with it. This breakdown in mocking masculinity making it seem like there’s something wrong to be a man, all of this contributes to the breakdown of family.”
Her statement must have really touched a nerve because someone in the audience began heckling her loud enough that the moderator stopped the conversation to quiet the audience. Killer Mike chimed in to defend Owens with the audience cheering him on.
Katrina Pierson joined the discussion stating that Donald Trump had invested millions of dollars into black communities and even implied that the state of the black community could be blamed on the misguidance of the Democratic Party.
T.I. was not having it. The legendary Atlanta rapper turned the heat up when he asked the conservatives on the stage how they could align with a constituency that would not denounce white supremacy. “Although a lot of the things you are saying are actually factual…I can’t even get to that before I address the disregard for young black lives and people will not speak up on it,” said T.I.
Owens responded by telling the audience to look at Trump’s social media to see how he has denounced white supremacy in the past. This led to a heated exchange between Owens and T.I.
Most of the panelists made valid points. But, even with all the punchline rhetoric flying across the stage, the bottomline was that there was no resolve. No one came up with a blueprint or ultimate plan. Despite all of Killer Mike’s efforts to wrap up the discussion in a digestible message, the panel came off as just another discussion with no action plan and no pragmatic solutions.
See for yourself. Check out the interview below:
