Solange has always been one to speak her mind and tell it like it is, and we love her for it. Last night, she was attending a Kraftwerk show in her family when four very rude white women yelled at her to sit down and threw something at her back. She quickly took the conversation to Twitter to express her disdain for the situation and how black people are often assessed in predominantly white spaces.
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
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 ¯_(?)_/¯ 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
Of course, after her tweets, there were some people hopping in her mentions to further prove her point.
Honestly, Truly …..(again) pic.twitter.com/1yxAvf6NJq
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) September 10, 2016
We have to give Solange props for keeping her cool, because situations like that can end badly. However, it’s sad that it’s often on the onus of black people to not react when treated with disrespect because we are primarily seen as the instigator, even when provoked or confronted.