CAPITALISM

Jay Z wants us to think of him as revolutionary for being a wealthy Black man. Since many Black people don’t, he’s accusing us of wanting to “eat the rich,” and even suggesting “capitalist” is a slur. He couldn’t be more wrong, and here’s why. For one, capitalism refers to a free-market economic system where the people control the market instead of the government. If you don’t want to be called a capitalist, don’t spend your life trying to get rich. Rather, spend it helping others. It’s as if Jay-Z doesn’t understand what American capitalism is. As Matthew Desmond wrote in The 1619 Project, “in order to understand the brutality of American capitalism, you have to start on the plantation.” Now, all of us need to buy food, clothing, and shelter, and in doing so, contribute to the capitalistic system, but what makes someone a capitalist is how they move. Ask yourself, is Jay Z hoarding wealth, or is being a billionaire necessary for his family’s survival?

Fred Hampton, a Black revolutionary deputy chairman of the national Black Panther Party, would have some words for Jay Z: “We say you don’t fight capitalism with no Black capitalism; you fight capitalism with socialism.” Similarly, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would argue that “the kingdom of brotherhood is found neither in the thesis of communism nor the antithesis of capitalism, but in a higher synthesis.” However diverse, the message throughout the generations is clear — Black revolutionaries don’t praise the all-mighty dollar bill — they empower and uplift Black communities.

Jay Z isn’t even a conscious rapper, let alone a revolutionary.

Let’s take the conversation to Black Wallstreet. O.W. Gurley bought 40 acres of land in 1908 and vowed to “sell them to negroes only.” In doing so, Gurley became a wealthy, Black revolutionary, willing to use his wealth to improve the lives of other Black people. He could have taken all that land for himself and built a mansion for his family to enjoy, one so big it could have been a palace. But instead, he laid the foundation for a prosperous Black city. Of course, White people burned and destroyed 35-blocks of the town in the Tulsa Race massacre of 1921, but it doesn’t change the fact that O.W. Gurley used his wealth in a revolutionary way.

On the other hand, Jay Z hasn’t created any type of Mecca for Black people. This Black billionaire owns Roc-A-Fella Records, stakes in Uber, Roc And Nation, Roc-a-Wear Clothing, “Armand de Brignac is Jay-Z’s own luxury champagne,” and Tidal streaming service, to name a few. And best believe, he owns a lot of property, none of which is earmarked for low-income Black investors. Calling “capitalist” a slur shows Jay Z’s built himself an empire and expects the rest of us to gravel at his feet. Throughout his career, Jay Z’s single-minded goal was to make profits; unless he changes that, his legacy will be that of a “capitalist.” The 52-year-old rapper is salty that many Black youths see him as an op rather than a hero. Suddenly, we’re the bad guys for expecting Black revolutionaries to be revolutionary. We’re being chastised for refusing to lower the bar. What a world this would be if, instead of talking about killing other Black men and mocking them for not having enough money, women, and clout, Hip-Hop lived up to its potential and empowered Black men around revolutionary concepts. Jay Z isn’t even a conscious rapper, let alone a revolutionary.

Becoming a wealthy Black person does not make you a revolutionary — only your actions can do that. You don’t see us patting Clarence Thomas on the back for amassing wealth because he’s spent his life fighting against civil rights legislation — actions matter. The Black Panther Party, for instance, consisted of Black men and women who created survival programs that fed poor people in the community, provided them with free shoes, legal aid, and nutrition classes, and managed ambulance services to communities rejected by white service providers, to name a few. A Black revolutionary does not prioritize profits over people, and that’s what a Billionaire does. So don’t get mad at young Black people for calling a spade a spade; just switch up the cards or take the heat. When Jay Z joined the National Football League (NFL) to “amplify social justice issues,” he was playing the part of a revolutionary. Too bad “there isn’t a single, tangible thing you can point to that shows Jay-Z helping with the league’s social justice efforts.”

Black revolutionaries don’t praise the all-mighty dollar bill — they empower Black communities.

In his 1967 speech, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. noted, “we have deluded ourselves into believing the myth that capitalism grew and prospered out of the Protestant ethic of hard work and sacrifice. The fact is capitalism was built on the exploitation and suffering of Black slaves and continues to thrive on the exploitation of the poor — both Black and abroad.” Jay Z may think he is a billionaire rapper because he works harder than other rappers, but that’s nonsensical. Is Jay Z a smart investor who met the right people to support his brand— yes, but is hoarding wealth revolutionary — no.

Jay Z failed the number one rule of the hood — forgetting where you came from, talking about “generational wealth is the key,” while ignoring the fact that “White households hold 86.8 percent of overall wealth in the country,” according to the Federal Reserve. How can you expect Black people to pass down generational wealth when they didn’t have any to pass down to begin with? Brother, we need reparations and restorative justice, and you are hollering about “generational wealth is key,” as if Black people don’t already understand that.

Sadly, the Blueprint artist seems enticed by his own wealth. It’s understandable to reflect upon your legacy in your fifties, but it’s obtuse to think you can control the narrative. Be wealthy, strut your stuff, but don’t expect Black youth to consider you a revolutionary just because you made it out of the hood because it’s what you do when you get out that counts. The term “capitalist” is not a slur, sir; it’s an accurate description of your money-hungry persona. In 2003, Jay Z rapped in the Black Album, “I can’t help the poor if I’m one of them, so I got rich and gave back, to me, that’s the win-win.” But, the problem is Jay Z, born Shawn Corey Carter got rich and didn’t give back substantially to the community or help to lead a revolution through his music. Hate to be the one to burst the bubble, but there’s nothing revolutionary about Black greed in a white-dominated system.

Sure, many White people are rooting against Black men’s success, but when rappers like Jay-Z get the money and fail to be revolutionary, they play right into racists’ hands. Don’t get mad at young Black people for seeing through the smoke and mirrors. Remember one of the Black Panther Party’s founders, Huey P. Newton said, “we have two evils to fight. Capitalism and racism. We must destroy both racism and capitalism,” or as King would put it, we have a system of “Socialism for the rich and Capitalism for the poor.” Whether an all-out renunciation of capitalism or a mindful critique, the writing is on the wall — Black revolutionaries are not capitalists. No need to wonder if you are a revolutionary Jay-Z — simply read the classics.