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Home • Awards & Events

Queen Latifah Addresses Racism During VH1 Hip Hop Honors

Queen Latifah has always been one for change, and things were no different during last night's Hip Hop Honors as the legendary MC addressed racism and the need for change.
Queen Latifah: 'Racism Is Still Alive And Kicking'
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for VH1
By Sydney Scott · Updated October 27, 2020

Queen Latifah was one of the music pioneers honored at last night’s VH1 Hip Hop Honors and during the event the rapper and actress not only praised her fellow female artists, but spoke out about racism and change. 

Latifah told the audience, “All of these queens in this building, we built hip hop. We built hip hop. And there’s no way that I can allow us to be erased from the history or the future of hip hop.” Latifah, Missy Elliott, Lil’ Kim and Salt-N-Pepa along with DJ Spinderella, were all honored last night. 

Hip Hop Honors Red Carpet Was Totally Lit, Here’s Proof

But, the queen wasn’t done. Latifah also spoke out about racism, saying, “I don’t care how much or things I have, or Puff has, if I go outside and try to hail a cab and he passes me for the white woman standing right there, that racism is still alive and kicking. And we have to change that. And I’m not blaming the white lady, she needed a cab too.” She added, “Listen we all know the world, that our world, is really tense right now. I’m hoping that we can somehow manage to channel all of these emotions that we have in a positive way.”

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TOPICS:  Queen Latifah