Kid Rock & N.A.A.C.P President Wendell Anthony
Last night (May 1) at the N.A.A.C.P’s 56th Annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner, rapper-turned-rocker Kid Rock received the organization’s Great Expectations Award. The award honored him for his advancement of the city.
At the event which took place at the Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan- Kid Rock’s hometown- 10,000 attendees supported Rock with a standing ovation while outside about 50 protesters assembled criticizing him for his use of the Confederate Flag on stage and in his videos. The Confederate Flag is seen by some as an enduring symbol of slavery and racism and a replica of it was burned outside alongside signs that read “No to Kid Rock”
Rock, born Robert James Ritchie, defended his use of the flag by stating “I’ve never flown that flag with hate in my heart, not one ounce.” He also stated that his use of the flag was a tribute to classic rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd and not a representation of how he feels about black people. “I just want to say I love America, I love Detroit and I love black people.”
Source: NY Times
