After investigating the Palestinian-led call to boycott, divest and sanction Israel, US rapper artist Talib Kweli announced on twitter that he would respect BDS. Kweli was supposed to appear in an international hip-hop, funk and groove festival planned for mid-August at Hadera.
“As much as I want to play Israel, I have decided not to in solidarity with Palestinians who will not have access to my show. After days of discussions with many, I’ve decided to try & visit Israel & Palestine with those who fight to end the state of apartheid rather than use my art to force the issue on those who would rather not deal with it.”
As much as I want to play Israel, I have decided not to in solidarity with Palestinians who will not have access to my show…
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) July 2, 2014
After days of discussions with many, I've decided to try & visit Israel & Palestine with those who fight to end the state of apartheid…
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) July 2, 2014
…rather than use my art to force the issue on those who would rather not deal with it…
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) July 2, 2014
Further, Kweli added:
“at the end of the day, whether I agree with boycott or not, it is my duty to respect it as a tactic. Hopefully it works…”
@shinberger at the end of the day, whether I agree with boycott or not, it is my duty to respect it as a tactic. Hopefully it works…
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) July 2, 2014
Kweli, who is well-known for the political content of his work, proved unresponsive to the usual calls from Israel’s propagandists that ‘music isn’t political’ and that ‘music is above politics’.
RT @shinberger: (oh how I truly wish I lived in a world where I could) also important to distinguish music from politics.
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) July 2, 2014
Other Israeli hasbara agents wondered why Talib would support the Palestinian-led boycott but not boycott Russia or the US.
RT @ArtieShmu: (show me the international boycott against Russia) Are you going to cancel your show in Moscow in solidarity with Ukraine?
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) July 2, 2014
Talib identified three main reasons why he decided to support BDS:
(1) Discussions with members of DAM, Palestinian Israeli rap group.
RT @shinberger: (a few things. 1, talking with members of DAM, Israeli based Palestinian hiphop group) what changed your mind?
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) July 2, 2014
(2) ‘the responses on twitter from BDS supporters were compassionate, measured, informed an respectful for the most part’
@shinberger 2, the responses on twitter from BDS supporters were compassionate, measured, informed an respectful for the most part
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) July 2, 2014
(3) ‘reading abt Paul Simon recording Graceland in SA in defiance of boycott & how he thought Mandela was a terrorist back then…’
@shinberger 3 reading abt Paul Simon recording Graceland in SA in defiance of boycott & how he thought Mandela was a terrorist back then…
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) July 2, 2014
Ultimately, Kweli decided “being in solidarity with those who live it would be a stronger statement…”
@MikeShakes23 I decided being in solidarity with those who live it would be a stronger statement…
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) July 2, 2014
Talib Kweli’s thoughtful, principled solidarity with Palestinians and their call for boycott of Israel is deeply appreciated, particularly at this time when Israel is engaged in a racist rampage of collective punishment against Palestinians, incited by Israeli leaders.
@tariqyx the oppressor always has a problem with mirrors
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) July 2, 2014
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