From the No Good Deed Goes Unpunished File:

Blacks are already criticizing the Live 8 Concerts, whose goal is to help fight hunger in Africa, as “too white.”

One reggae musician who was obviously upset that he wasn’t popular enough to make the bill had the following to say:

“It seems like the great white man has come to rescue us while the freedom fighters never get a mention. Where are the reggae artists that have been campaigning for truth and justice over all these years?” 

I guess his point is that no one pays attention to reggae artists when they play by themselves so the only chance that they have to get heard is to be sandwiched in between to acts that people want to see.

Even though the Live Eight concerts will not likely do much to change African hunger—unless it somehow leads to a coup in Zimbabwe and other kleptocracies—you have to admire Geldof’s goals. So it must be particularly frustrating for him to be attacked because he’s using popularity instead of race to select artists.

Also for the record, the last time I looked, P. Diddy, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, and Will Smith (to name just a few of the participants scheduled to appear) were all black.

This entry was posted on Monday, June 6th, 2005 at 9:01 am by Insider and is filed under Media, Politically Correct ... and stupid. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.