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T.I. Criticizes Looters and Authorities in Impassioned Ferguson Plea

T.I. Rapper Ferguson Letter Plea Mike Brown

T.I. has joined a slew of other musicians and concerned citizens by chiming in on the events of the past week in Ferguson, Missouri, with two lengthy Instagram posts about police brutality and Michael Brown’s death, although his take is particularly critical of that minority of protesters who resorted to looting or violence, particularly during the initial fervor and chaos.

“I must admit that I TOO am disgusted wit [sic] America’s treatment. I TOO demand change,” the Atlanta rapper wrote in his post yesterday, before criticizing the aforementioned demonstrators and asking for a change in people’s responses to the 18-year-old’s death. The picture he shared was of a man carrying wine bottles, exiting a wrecked convenience store. “What I see us doing is just as futile as swinging wildly into the wind, waiting on the air to get tired.”

Alongside a second well-circulated picture that shows a man apparently throwing a police-fired stun grenade back at authorities, Tip took a different tack, addressing law enforcement, government, and citizenry with, “Although I DO NOT support the negative responses & actions of my people in light of dis tragedy….I WILL NOT condone your lack of effort to show any urgency to improve the treatment of our people, nor the living conditions in our communities.”

T.I.’s impassioned comments follow those of Run the Jewels’ Killer Mike, who yesterday penned a moving letter to Billboard about Ferguson that ended with a call to action to support the victims of violence everywhere, and J. Cole, whose new song “Be Free” touches on the same issues. Read T.I.’s full posts below.

(To My People)Look at us. Rebels without a cause. Soldiers without a general. A lost generation. Ready for War. No strategy,no training. Armed only with our grief,aggravation, and passionate disdain for our treatment in America. Sick and tired of everything…especially ourselves. We’d rather use the tragedies of our environment as an excuse to act-out,go-off,or turn-up, rather than use our education,talents & future opportunities to get-out,speak-up,& make-a-change. Look at us… Too Enraged to sit around & do nothing. But Too Entrapped in da cycle of vengeance/hostility to do anything WORTH doing. Look at us. So upset with our conditions that we’ve gone into “Fuck-it” mode… “Fuck-the-world” “Fuck-the-Police” And even “Fuck” the wishes & request of a grieving mother,father,family who lost a son…who’s memory they would NOT like to see tarnished by OUR negative ACTIONS/DECISIONS. Naaah G,that ain’t the code, this ain’t da way. What I see us doing is just as futile as swinging wildly into the wind,waiting on the air to get tired. One question to MY PEOPLE: What are we changing…Really? Look at us. Destroying our own community, but continuing to spend money in theirs. Refusing education… re-volving in the same cycle of ignorance instead of e-volving out of it. I must admit that I TOO am disgusted wit America’s treatment. I TOO demand change. But Goddddaaaaamn man…. Look at us!!!!! Although I too am at fault to a degree & I admit that I may not have all da answers… I do have a fun fact for you. Insanity is…Going about things the same way,expecting a different result. U wanna different result? U must take different action. What else do u expect? Look at us!!!

Look at us….America has created a monster. The result of ignoring & mishandling an already fragile spirited, recently enslaved, presently oppressed race/generation of people. Look at us. We’re the monster that now refuses to be dismissed, overlooked,& ignored. We were brought to this place,unaware of our own cultures,religion,&traditions therefore,we created our own. Now look at us. For years we’ve been crying out for the nation to address the substandard education systems & disparaging treatment of our citizens in communities across America. Our people have had an increasing lack of opportunities for generations. There have been homes broken,lives shattered,and futures lost on your watch….unanswered. Look at us. How long can u expect a nation/race/generation of people to be blatantly disrespected? Spoken to and treated with arrogant tones of insignificance. Our fathers,uncles,brothers& role models were killed& Imprisoned more often than educated. Now look at us. Our friends,& relatives Murdered and cast aside without thought,as though your human life is more valuable than ours. How long can that go on without consequence? Now Look at us. How long can u continue to pass the buck & make excuses of why u can’t do today what should have been done yeste-year? Although I DO NOT support the negative responses & actions of my people in light of dis tragedy….I WILL NOT condone your lack of effort to show any urgency to improve the treatment of our people, nor the living conditions in our communities. Your refusal to address these life altering issues makes events such as these seem inevitable. Although I too am at fault to a degree & I admit that I may not have all da answers… I do have a fun fact for you. Insanity is…Going about things the same way,expecting a different result. U wanna different result? U must take different action. What else do u expect? Look at us!!!