music / Hip-Hop

Solange, Missy Elliott, And More Speak After Ferguson Verdict

“My words are like aimless shapes and figures at this time. Trying to find a place to go, something to hold on to, to make ‘sense’ of this all.”

By Zara Golden
November 25, 2014

This morning, Solange Knowles woke up in a world where Darren Wilson walks free, and she felt, as so many do today, broken. On Instagram, she shared an image of a cracked bust with the this message capturing her sense of clarity on what must be done:

I screen shot this image months ago. Artist unknown. It moved me for many reasons. One being ....brokenness. Today I feel a sense of brokenness on behalf of my people. Black people. Everyone expresses differently. I respect all forms and shapes of expression. I respect those who don't see this as a matter of black and white, who think "unity and peace" will save us all from this, who's optimism in the heart of the gut wrench still seems to have a place...Although I feel differently, I respect it all. We were not molded here, to all be molded the same......My words are like aimless shapes and figures at this time. Trying to find a place to go, something to hold on to, to make "sense" of this all. But the one thing that's been concrete in my heart is my will to want to express something to my friends. To the people I love, who love me, who feel pain in this moment just as I do, but who do not feel pain in the way that I often do in many walks of life. Who might feel I talk about race too much, that it's consumed me, who I've distanced myself from....because it's true, I can't a joke. When I told a friend of mine I was making an album about race, his response was...."Just make it fun". I would like him to think about it now. We are not Michael Browns family, but we are Michael Browns family. We don't hurt like they do, but we do hurt. Hurt like hell. Thing about my people though....we don't stay broken. We get up. We put the pieces together when there aren't even pieces to pick up.......and we will......again and again and again.

I screen shot this image months ago. Artist unknown. It moved me for many reasons. One being ....brokenness. Today I feel a sense of brokenness on behalf of my people. Black people. Everyone expresses differently. I respect all forms and shapes of expression. I respect those who don't see this as a matter of black and white, who think "unity and peace" will save us all from this, who's optimism in the heart of the gut wrench still seems to have a place...Although I feel differently, I respect it all. We were not molded here, to all be molded the same......My words are like aimless shapes and figures at this time. Trying to find a place to go, something to hold on to, to make "sense" of this all. But the one thing that's been concrete in my heart is my will to want to express something to my friends. To the people I love, who love me, who feel pain in this moment just as I do, but who do not feel pain in the way that I often do in many walks of life. Who might feel I talk about race too much, that it's consumed me, who I've distanced myself from....because it's true, I can't a joke. When I told a friend of mine I was making an album about race, his response was...."Just make it fun". I would like him to think about it now. We are not Michael Browns family, but we are Michael Browns family. We don't hurt like they do, but we do hurt. Hurt like hell. Thing about my people though....we don't stay broken. We get up. We put the pieces together when there aren't even pieces to pick up.......and we will......again and again and again.
Een foto die is geplaatst door S A I N T R E C O R D S (@saintrecords) op

Solange was just one of many attempting to unload her words and emotions on social media today. Here are just some of the artists joining her choir of brokenness, rage, dismay, and determination. We'll update this as we see things come through.

facts.
A photo posted by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on
Una foto publicada por Beyoncé (@beyonce) el

Photo credit: David McNew/Getty Images

Posted: November 25, 2014
Rihanna Migos Zara Golden solange mike brown
Hip-Hop, Migos, mike brown, R&B, Rihanna, solange, Zara Golden

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Solange, Missy Elliott, And More Speak After Ferguson Verdict