Mos Def was in Jena, Louisiana, today along with Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton, to take part in the swelling march in support of the “Jena 6,” a group of six black high school students who were charged with attempted murder in the beating of a white classmate in December 2006. One of the students remains in jail in Jena.
“I don’t think anybody’s coming down here with the expectations that all of the whites down here are racists,” Mos Def said in a live interview with CNN when told that a lot of the residents say they aren’t racist and don’t support what appears to be racially biased prosecution. “I understand how the residents feel, but they should put pressure on the people who represent them,” referring to local legislators.
Asked about reported sightings of locals prominently displaying confederate flags, Mos Def said, “It’s provocative to do that where black people are present. It’s not productive. It’s not good for any of the citizens, black or white. It’s played out. Racism is ridiculous.”
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