From Snoop Dogg to Nelly America’s Modern Day Stepin Fetchits

…I Hopped Out of Bed to Turn My Swag on in this Post…

Let's talk about the modern day Stepin Fetchit. Wait, do you even know who Stephin Fetchin was? Don’t worry I am all about learning and unlearning here on the Change Cadet Action Network®. Lincoln Theodore Monroe Andrew Perry, an intelligent Black man, made millions playing the role of Stepin Fetchit, a Black man known as the “Laziest Man in the World.” He was the first Black actor to receive a screen credit in film, first successful Black actor, and first Black actor millionaire.

Yes he made millions making white people feel superior.

Perry was an actor and comedian during the vaudeville era of the 1900s, peaking in the 1930s. Vaudeville in America was also a time of minstrel shows where white actors used blackface to uphold stereotypes of enslaved and Black people. His profitable career stopped in the 1950s when the Civil Rights Movement stepped up and Black people realized that his character was adding to the harmful stereotypes they were actively dismantling.

Now you may see lots of folks comparing Nelly, Soulja Boy, Rick Ross, and Snoop Dogg, all who have or will perform for Donald’s inauguration events, to minstrel shows but that’s not what they are doing. They are all Stepin Fetchits. Get it? They step and fetch, they entertain, they get what the master needs. They are all talented in their own right, just like Perry was in film, with staples in hip hop and culture. I mean if you know that Kelly Rowland was using excel to text Nelly which added to the Dilemma, said “everyday I’m hustin’”or “fo shizzle,” or did the Superman dance you know how far of a reach they had.

It is important to differentiate between Stepin Fetchits and minstrel shows. Although some Black people participated in minstrel shows, they were primarily white people who painted their face Black to uphold the stereotypes of the plantation post the Emancipation Proclamation. Stepin Fetchits bring their intersectionality, their Blackness, willingly to the table to be made fun of, to comfort white people and uphold the power and control white people are accustomed to make them feel good about the white supremacy they benefit from.

This is particularly important as Donald’s (I am calling him Donald moving forward like they called Kamala by her first name to belittle her and you can join in) goal is to Make America Great Again through white supremacy. Donald can now say “I’m not racist because Snoop Dogg, Nelly, Rick Ross, and Soulja Boy celebrated me.” See what I am getting at. There is no way to defend how these Black men as these artists have chosen to harm our Black community.

Not one single thing can be done to defend their actions.

I will reiterate, you cannot defend them so just stop listening to their music now. Friendly reminder that 25% of Black men voted for Trump compared to 9% of Black women because they believe aligning to Trump will give them the same power as white men. Note, Black women are not scheduled to perform for any of Donald’s inauguration events. But I will say Snoop Dogg may be the winner of these modern day Stepin Fetchits. His reach from legendary albums to Martha Stewart is profound. He’s everyone’s mom’s favorite rapper.

See, what is interesting about this 2017 video of Snoop Dogg talking about performing for Donald is that, unbeknownst to him, he is talking about his future. A jigaboo is a derogatory term used to describe Black people who cower to white supremacy and comfort. Someone who chooses to ignore their oppression from white people for proximity to whiteness and its real and perceived power. Notice how he speaks similar to the original Stepin Fetchit. Talk about awareness of his actions.

Snoop knew exactly what our Black community would call him and he still allowed money, power, privilege, and proximity to white supremacy to win. Like the oligarchy that has formed purposely by Donald’s administration, Snoop is also invested in tech…and being the very thing he warned other Black artists about specifically with Trump.

Soulja Boy said he needed the money. Nelly said “must be the money” (I had too) that it was because he was born in a military family and they serve the president. Nelly also said he views Donald as a candidate and president as two different people…um okay. As of now there is no comment from Rick Ross. Is it getting hot in here for these rappers? Not at all, cuz they just iced themselves out of the Black community for choosing white supremacy over our community. Over dismantling white supremacy. And over the continued oppression of Black lives. This is why I say White Supremacy Is All Around.