Kid Rock accepted the controversial Great Expectations Award at the Detroit branch of the NAACP‘s 56th annual Fight For Freedom Fund Dinner. It’s controversial because Kid Rock has been known to use confederate flags during his live shows and videos.
But, as he accepted the award, this happened:
Rock announced $100,000 in donations — five $10,000 grants to Motor City-based organizations and $50,000 to the American Red Cross for tornado victims in U.S. Southern states. Many in the crowd announced at more than 10,000 gave Rock a standing ovation, diffusing a bit of the controversy that surrounded the award.
The NAACP President said that they weren’t presenting the flag the award, but rather the man for his works in the community and charity. But that didn’t stop a few dozen protestors outside the venue from trying to express their disdain for awarding someone who uses the flag in any context.
Here’s what Kid had to say about it:
“I’ve never flown that flag with hate in my heart, not one ounce.” He explained that his use of the image was an “homage” to Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, who he’s name-checked in his songs and whose “Sweet Home Alabama” was an ingredient in his 2008 mash-up hit, “All Summer Long.” Rock explained that he made the donations to “turn a negative into a positive,” and concluded his speech by saying that, “I love America, I love Detroit and I love black people!”
Honestly, we don’t think Kid Rock is racist. We do think using the flag is insensitive, no matter the context, but we really do think he’s not doing it as a slight against anyone.
It’d be nice to see him not use it anymore after accepting this award, that’s for sure, regardless of his impressive donations!
Make it right, Kid!
[Image via WENN.]
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