Terry Crews Responds To Backlash Over His 'Black Supremacy' Tweet
By Peyton Blakemore
June 8, 2020
As people around the world continue to come together to protest racial injustice, Terry Crews decided to throw in his two-cents on the ongoing black lives matter movement.
Despite black people making up only 12.6% of the U.S. population, the former America's Got Talent host tweeted about the possibility/threat of black supremacy, sparking major backlash. "Defeating White supremacy without White people creates Black supremacy. Equality is the truth. Like it or not, we are all in this together," he wrote on Sunday (June 7).
The backlash was almost immediate as celebrities, fans, and really anyone with a Twitter account called him out for his controversial statement given the fact that black supremacy isn't a valid ideology and is is not only a dangerous narrative to spread, but also completely false.
"Terry, brother, I know your heart and you know I have love for you and always will. No one is calling 4 black supremacy & the narrative that we are hurts our cause & our people," Terry's former Everybody Hates Chris co-star Tyler James Williams replied to his tweet. "We’re just vigorously vetting our 'allies' because time & time again they have failed us in the past."
He continued, in part, "Our people are tired of white people who put on a good face a claim they 'arnt racist' while operating and benefiting from the privilege of a clearly racist system. We’re not trying to do this alone. We KNOW we can’t. But we refuse to have allies who won’t go the distance."
Terry then responded, saying, "I understand, Tyler. I was not saying Black supremacy exists, because it doesn't. I am saying if both Black and Whites don't continue to work together-- bad attitudes and resentments can create a dangerous self-righteousness. That's all."
Defeating White supremacy without White people creates Black supremacy. Equality is the truth.
— terry crews (@terrycrews) June 7, 2020
Like it or not, we are all in this together.
As more and more people bashed Terry for spreading a false narrative, he continued to defend himself, at one point, writing, "Any Black person who calls me a coon or and Uncle Tom for promoting EQUALITY is a Black Supremist, because they have determined who's Black and who is not." He added, "I believe it is important we not suffer from groupthink, and we keep minds of our own, and be allowed to ask difficult questions to each other. I believe this dialogue is important as we get through this trauma together. I love you."
Terry concluded his defensive tweets with this: "Please know that everything I've said comes from a spirit of love and reconciliation, for the Black community first, then the world as a whole, in hopes to see a better future for Black people."
Black supremacy? We represent 13% of US population, hold no institutional power & gaslight our coworkers. We got 99 problems and your math isn't the only 1. #StrongerTogether https://t.co/cprFHDQMVJ
— Orlando Jones (@TheOrlandoJones) June 8, 2020
I understand, Tyler. I was not saying Black supremacy exists, because it doesn't. I am saying if both Black and Whites don't continue to work together-- bad attitudes and resentments can create a dangerous self-righteousness. That's all. https://t.co/YLWGnpj8fl
— terry crews (@terrycrews) June 8, 2020
That's not what I'm saying Kevin. At all. https://t.co/RTaz9YInZ3
— terry crews (@terrycrews) June 8, 2020
See more of Terry's tweets below.
I agree. I'm not discussing white people here. there are "gatekeepers of Blackness" within our own community who decide who's Black and who's not. I have often been called out for not being "black enough". How can that be? https://t.co/Tt9Og866x6
— terry crews (@terrycrews) June 8, 2020
Kevin, I've learned that people will take anything you say and twist it for their own evil. Anything. https://t.co/FszLI1pYbu
— terry crews (@terrycrews) June 8, 2020
Any Black person who calls me a coon or and Uncle Tom for promoting EQUALITY is a Black Supremist, because they have determined who's Black and who is not.
— terry crews (@terrycrews) June 8, 2020
I believe it is important we not suffer from groupthink, and we keep minds of our own, and be allowed to ask difficult questions to each other. I believe this dialogue is important as we get through this trauma together. I love you.
— terry crews (@terrycrews) June 8, 2020
Please know that everything I've said comes from a spirit of love and reconciliation, for the Black community first, then the world as a whole, in hopes to see a better future for Black people.
— terry crews (@terrycrews) June 8, 2020
Photo: Getty Images