Justin Timberlake has joined a growing cry for the removal of Confederate statues in the Unites States with a lengthy Instagram post on Tuesday.
The 39-year-old Tennessee native said on social media that the monuments ‘must be taken down’ and that doing so is ‘a symbol of respect for Black people in America.’
Just last month, fellow popstar and Tennessean Taylor Swift, also called on lawmakers to remove the ‘despicable’ Confederate emblems which she said ‘celebrate racist historical figures who did evil things.’
Using his platform: Justin Timberlake has joined a growing cry for the removal of Confederate statues in the Unites States with a lengthy Instagram post on Tuesday
In his social media essay, Justin pointed out that Tennessee, the state where he was born and raised, is home to ‘many many confederate monuments.’
‘When we protest racism in America, people think we are protesting America itself,’ Justin penned. ‘Why is that the reaction? Because America was built by men who believed in and benefitted from racism. Plain and simple.’
‘This is when you hear “But that’s all in the past”,’ he continued. ‘So let’s be clear… those men who proudly owned and abused Black people are STILL celebrated all over the country.’
The popstar went on say that he found it ‘unacceptable’ that of the approximate 1,850 confederate monuments in the U.S. more that 50% are located in southern states. ⠀
Speaking out: The 39-year-old Tennessee native said on social media that the monuments ‘must be taken down’ and that doing so is ‘a symbol of respect for Black people in America’
Knowledge is power: Along with his post, Justin shared a video created by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) about the history of the emblems that featured the organizations legal director Jeffrey Robinson
‘No one should be protecting the legacies of confederate leaders and slave owners,’ Justin wrote. Adding that the monuments ‘must come down’.
‘Removing these statues does not erase our country’s vile history of oppression — removing them is a symbol of respect for Black people in America and it’s a step towards progress and actual equality for all,’ he concluded. ⠀
Along with his post, Justin shared a video created by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) about the history of the emblems that featured the organizations legal director Jeffrey Robinson.
‘Removing these statues does not erase our country’s vile history of oppression — removing them is a symbol of respect for Black people in America and it’s a step towards progress and actual equality for all,’ Justin said (Pictured: statue of a Confederate soldier in Georgia)
In the video, Robinson explained that the 10 states with the most confederate monuments accounted for ‘over 4,000 lynchings in 73 years.’
In a recent poll by Quinnipiac poll, 52% of those polled were in favor of removing Confederate monuments from public spaces – 44% opposed.
Last month, Taylor Swift, who is also from Tennessee, called for the monuments to be removed, calling them ‘despicable.’
‘I’m asking the Capitol Commission and the Tennessee Historical Commission to please consider the implications of how hurtful it would be to continue fighting for these monuments,’ she wrote on Instagram.
Stars speaking out: Last month, fellow popstar and Tennessean Taylor Swift, also called on lawmakers to remove the ‘despicable’ Confederate emblems which she said ‘celebrate racist historical figures who did evil things’
‘When you fight to honor racists, you show black Tennesseans and all of their allies where you stand, and you continue this cycle of hurt. You can’t change history, but you can change this.’
Meanwhile, country star Faith Hill implored the Mississippi legislature to vote to change that state’s flag which contained a Confederate flag in its design, calling it a ‘symbol of terror.’
Two days after Faith’s message, the legislature passed a bill to removed the emblem from the Mississippi stat flag.
Symbols: Meanwhile, country star Faith Hill implored the Mississippi legislature to vote to change that state’s flag which contained a Confederate flag in its design, calling it a ‘symbol of terror’