The NRA is Not For Us
posted by Ja'Shawn Steward-Johnson | May 4, 2018 | In OpinionFollowing the tragic Parkland shooting, a lot of narratives and stories emerged. Two such events last month were National Walkout Day and March For Our Lives. While rappers like Vic Mensa, Kanye West, and Common were in Washington, D.C. supporting the march for gun control, fellow rapper Killer Mike was seen interviewing with the National Rifle Association (NRA) in op- position of gun control.
Killer Mike, whose real name is Michael Render, is an Atlanta rapper, a self-described “Pan Africanist Gangster Rapper” that is one-half of the rap group Run The Jewels. Render is best known for his boisterous support for one-time presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders.
The video began with NRA host Colion Noir, who should be noted is also African-American asking protesters, “What are you really marching for?… It looks like a march to burn down the Constitution and rewrite the parts you don’t like in crayon.”
The segment of the video that the NRA used most for their narrative and drew Render the most criticism was when he discussed National Walkout Day with his children.
“I love you, if you walk out that school, walk out my house. That simple. We are a gun-owning family.”
The NRA and the pro-gun side of Twitter jumped on that quote with reposts and numerous articles seconding Render.
Although, it should be noted that Render did have a few good points in the video.
“The same people who are telling you we need to abolish the second amendment, they ain’t there for the documentary 13th, they’re not there to end [the 13th amendment],” Render noted.
“Why are your allies not fighting your other fights with the same vigor you’re fighting these?”
After much backlash from fans and activists, Render apologized for his interview, in a two-part video via Twitter, saying that the NRA misused his interview that was meant to advocate for gun ownership by African-Americans, to “disparage” the March For Our Lives movement, a movement that he says he actually
supports.
“I do support the March– and I support black people owning guns. It’s possible to do both,” Render said via Twitter.
However, the damage was done. Render did himself a disservice, he should have known better. The fact that an interview he did with NRATV, which acts as an advertising/propaganda channel, was twisted and mis- used is no surprise. NRATV posted the interview in contrast to the march, despite Render’s interview happening a week prior.
This was not the first time that Render has voiced some level of support for the NRA and their agenda. Last year, Render appeared on the Tavis Smiley show and announced that he was a member of the organization.
“I think that one million black men should go online and just get a year’s membership, and see how you like it,” Render pronounced.
I strongly disagree with him. The NRA was never meant for minorities, especially black people and African-Americans should not be investing $40 million (A one-year NRA membership is $40) into such an organization.
The NRA has never worked to protect gun rights of African-Americans. Historically, despite being fervent supporters of the second amendment, there have been a few times where the NRA has supported gun control. One of those times was when the NRA supported and approved President Reagan’s Mulford Act after armed Black Panthers marched on California’s state capitol in 1967. In one recent advertisement by the NRA, the organi- zation used imagery of black protesters and “rioters” as a fear-mongering tactic.
Two years ago, the NRA was deafening silent on the death of Philando Castile, a licensed gun owner who was killed by a panicked police officer.
Contrast the NRA and their support- ers’ reaction to Cas- tile to their support for Cliven Bundy in his armed stand-off in Nevada against federal agents.
There is an argument to be made that minorities, especially African- Americans need guns (legally) to protect themselves. However, no African-American, especially a well- known activist like Render should be relying on the NRA for gun training and gun education. Render could easily sponsor a black organization that supports both “black people owning guns” and the March For Our Lives. It is possible to do both.
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