Solange Knowles Explains Why Black People Feel Unsafe in "White Spaces" After Being Harassed at a Concert
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Solange Knowles is standing up to her haters. On Friday, Beyoncé's younger sister took to Twitter to tell her fans about a horrible encounter she had at a Kraftwerk concert with husband Alan Ferguson and son Daniel Julez Smith Jr. in New Orleans. In a series of tweets, Solange explained that she and her son were enjoying the electronic dance show when four white women yelled, "Sit down now! You need to sit down now!" After refusing to acknowledge them, they proceeded to throw something at her, which her son later confirmed was a lime.
She then went on to explain why black people don't feel safe in "many white spaces," writing, "But in this moment, I'm just going to share my experience . . . So that maybe someone will understand, why many of us don't feel safe . . . in many white spaces . . . We don't 'bring the drama' . . . Fix yourself." She ended her account by sharing screenshots of the racist responses she received on Twitter, and writing, "And last thing . . . I see folks saying 'Well u live in Louisiana' . . . but I say I live in a city w THE most incredible, beautiful black. folk." Perfectly said, Solange.
Let me tell you about why black girls / women are so angry....
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) September 10, 2016
I took my son, his friend, and my husband to see Kraftwerk in New Orleans...
Was very excited to dance and enjoy a band I love.— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) September 10, 2016
We are 4 of about 20 black concert goers out 1500 here.
4 out of maaaybbe 20 out of 1500.— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) September 10, 2016
We walk in, and one of my favorite songs, Machine, is on. I'm excited to tell my son about how hip hop sampled Kraftwerk. We are dancing.
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) September 10, 2016
4 older white women yell to me from behind, "Sit down now" . I tell them I'm dancing at a concert. They yell, "u need to sit down now"...
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) September 10, 2016
We are at an ELECTRONIC and DANCE music concert and you are telling...not asking me...to sit down. In front of my child.
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) September 10, 2016
They proceed to throw something at my back....
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) September 10, 2016
Now the old me......
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) September 10, 2016
But in this moment, I'm just going to share my experience...
So that maybe someone will understand, why many of us don't feel safe...— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) September 10, 2016
...in many white spaces...
We don't "bring the drama"....
Fix yourself.— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) September 10, 2016
Nobody goes to the Kraftwerk show with their kid "looking for "drama"
But that's how u guys like to spin this.— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) September 10, 2016
Now back to me & my husbands favorite song
"Autobahn" ....& not giving a fuck about you lovely ladies so mad this lil black girl having fun😘— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) September 10, 2016
Bye haters pic.twitter.com/YPCRu75AFL
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) September 10, 2016
My son just confirmed it was a lime. Smh https://t.co/5HnUOP85db
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) September 10, 2016
Cuz chile they are standing up dancing now ,moving on w their lives....so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ https://t.co/V47tl3E0pE
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) September 10, 2016
Peeps try to give POC, a "u can only speak out racism 3 strikes...or U r the problem" card.
Some can kind of trust u the first 3 times...— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) September 10, 2016
But surely after that, YOU are the problem.
😱😱😱 Surprise guys! 🎉🎊
It happens to us ALL summer 16 🙋🏽 🌞🐬— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) September 10, 2016
And last thing...
I see folks saying "Well u live in Louisiana"....but I say I live in a city w THE most incredible, beautiful black. folk.— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) September 10, 2016
Honestly, Truly .....(again) pic.twitter.com/1yxAvf6NJq
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) September 10, 2016