Kid Rock's NAACP Award Leads to Protests Over Use of Confederate Flag
Posted on Mar 15th 2011 10:00AM by Amy Sciarretto
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Amy Graves, WireImage
There is political controversy brewing in Kid Rock's world. The outspoken rapper-turned-rocker-turned-country-singer has always been a proud, red-blooded, soldier-supporting American. While he is being honored by the Detroit chapter of the NAACP with a Great Expectations Award on May 1st, some members of the organization are protesting.
Apparently, certain members of the NAACP are offended by the fact that Rock -- born Bob Ritchie in the great state of Michigan -- waves a Confederate flag at his concerts. Adolph Mongo, who heads Detroiters For Progress and is a local NAACP member, told the Detroit News that the singer's use of the flag is "a slap in the face of anyone who fought for civil rights in this country."
However, other members of the organization praised Kid Rock's dedication to his hometown of Detroit Rock City, and defended his claim to the Great Expectations award. "Kid Rock has consistently lifted up the Great Expectations of many persons ... concerning the future of the city," said Donnell R. White, interim executive director of the NAACP's Detroit branch.
Some NAACP members are boycotting the Fight For Freedom Fund fund-raising dinner and presentation on May 1st, which attracts 10,000 people to the Cobo Center. Kid Rock is on the schedule to deliver the keynote speech, but is not planning to perform.
E! reports that Rock has declined to comment on this matter.
It is worth noting that Kid Rock has gone on record saying that he utilizes the Confederate flag because he loves the Dixie culture associated with it. He does not, however, endorse its past affiliation or association with racism in the South.
"Sure, it's definitely got some scars," Kid Rock told The Guardian newspaper in 2008. "But I've never had an issue with it. To me, it just represents pride in Southern rock 'n' roll music. Plus, it just looks cool."
Filed under: News
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