M.I.A: The Problem You’re Allowed to Talk About is Black Lives Matter – blogged by @MsJennyb

After two months, Beyoncé’s “Formation” song and video still triggers debate and controversy. While, Beyoncé has already come out to defend her stand against police brutality and justice for black lives, many are still unimpressed.

In an interview with ES Magazine, political rapper M.I.A. took the time to address American celebrities, Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar, and their public support of Black Lives Matter over other minority groups.

“It’s interesting that in America the problem you’re allowed to talk about is Black Lives Matter,” she said. “It’s not a new thing to me – it’s what Lauryn Hill was saying in the 1990s, or Public Enemy in the 1980s. Is Beyoncé or Kendrick Lamar going to say Muslim Lives Matter? Or Syrian Lives Matter? Or this kid in Pakistan matters? That’s a more interesting question.” “And you cannot ask it on a song that’s on Apple, you cannot ask it on an American TV program, you cannot create a tag on Twitter, Michelle Obama isn’t going to hump you back,” she adds.

According to TheBoombox, M.I.A.’s questions come following Erykah Badu’s statements regarding Black Lives Matter. “We can organize like a motherf***** when police beat us up. But can we organize to stop black-on-black crime, or poor-on-poor crime? Because, you know, poor is the new black. You don’t have to be black now.” Badu tells FADER.

Seems like M.I.A. is concerned with the attention Black Lives Matter receives, while other issues aren’t getting as much recognition. Is M.I.A right in her criticisms against Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar? Or should she use her voice and platform to bring awareness to Muslim, Syrian or Pakistani Lives?