Kid Rock Ignites Controversy With NAACP

By The Boot Editors Posted Mar 14th 2011 12:45AM

Kid Rock isn't living up to some people's expectations. The Michigan rocker is slated to receive the Detroit-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Great Expectations Award at their annual Freedom Fund dinner in May, but the event will host a much smaller crowd than normal this year, thanks to several members boycotting the ceremony.

The reason for the protest is the singer's use of the Confederate Flag, which is considered by some to be a representation of slavery and has been used by several controversial groups, including the Ku Klux Klan and the white supremacist group, the Aryan Nations.

But the head of the Detroit chapter of the NAACP, Donnell R. White, defends this year's honoree, "Kid Rock .. has consistently lifted up the Great Expectations of many persons ... concerning the future of the city," (quote via the Detroit News).

Other city leaders disagree. "It's a slap in the face for anyone who fought for civil rights in this country," the leader of Detroiters for Progress, Adolph Mongo, said Thursday. "It's a symbol of hatred and bigotry."

For now, the multi-platinum-selling artist is staying silent on the subject. But in a 2008 interview, the star defended his use of the symbol at his live shows. "Why should someone be able to own any image and say what it is?" he questioned to United Kingdom's The Guardian. "Sure, it's definitely got some scars, but I've never had an issue with it. To me it just represents pride in Southern rock 'n' roll music, plus it just looks cool."

Kid Rock will head to New Orleans after his appearance at the Freedom Fund dinner, where he will perform for the New Orleans Jazz Fest.

Get more at The Boot >>

Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook

Tags: kid rock, NAACP

Comments

(84)

Monday 14 March

By Libby

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

NAACP didn't say anything about it being bigotry and hatred when Outkast wore a rebel flag belt buckle in the Mrs. Jackson video.

By stu

Vote down Vote up Report this

i hope showers before the dinner.

By Julie

'Kid Rock' has a black child and he is far from being a racist. If the protesters could read they might know that.

By Hunt

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I know someone who is bi-racial (half black and half white), and this person hates black people. I would say that his disdain for black people--even though he's black--still qualifies him as a racist. What's my point? That Kid Rock banged a black woman--which white slave owners often did--doesn't automatically mean he can't be a racist.

By DW

They say screw a black changes your luck !!!!!111 worked for him

By john

Since he is white, I doubt that he has a black child. He may have a multi-racial or bi-racial kid though.

By Chris Greene

A lot of plantation owned had black children during slavery. They weren't racist either. Oh, wait...

By midsmr

....and the NAACP is, OF COURSE, not considered RACIST!

Tuesday 15 March

By tc

What do you think the american flag means to the american indians. Peace and love!!! At some point of time everyone has been wronged

By Zero

Why's he call himself "Kid", he's like 47.

By KidzSista

Zero - it's obvious you don't know what YOU are talking about -- you should KNOW before you speak falsehoods. KID ROCK just SOLD OUT His 40th BIRTHDAY Celebration Concerts at Ford Field in The D! FORDY FIELD!

By tony

maybe the same reason you call yourself 0

By Hey Bitch ;)

UH... REALLY? Kid Rock is the BLACKEST white man that Ive ever seen. He is a TRUE genuine person. Just as he said about gay marriage "Hey its not MY thing personally but its their business. As long as they are Americans they should have that right too". HE HAS MY VOTE!

By cookie4u

I agree. LUV the KID. He's soo under-rated.

By kim

NAACP is racist so they really have no room to talk.

By Blacks

There are more Blacks that are racist towards other Blacks than any other groups (ethnic) in this country!

By joey

the confederate flag is the flag of another country, The Confederate States of America. they lost the war, right? displaying the flag of a country that the USA beat fair and square is silly. Southern Pride? it seems more like southerners not wanting to admit that 160 or so years ago they lost a war. This is the United States of America, not the Confederate States of America. time to let the flag go.

Confederacy wanted the right to own slaves, so displaying the flag shows your support for their ideals. It is more than a symbol of southern pride, it is the symbol of the civil war that tried to destroy this country. Its like displaying the Nazi flag.

By Thad

You really need a history lesson.

By Ruby

The Confederate Flag is heritage not hate. If you want to crusify a flay for slavery try the stars and stripes it upheld slavery a whole lot longer. besides remember history so you won't repeat it and not the whitewash history they teach now. News Flash black people fought for the south in the civil war look it up. In the prisonor of war camp in Chicago union soldiers shot a black man as he walked through the gates of the camp because he fought for the south.

By ian

Joey you have to be the most ignorant American ive ever came in contact with..Thad is right you diff. need to go back to school FYI Northerns had slaves too..Read and you might learn something.

Page 1 of 5