See Kip Moore’s Powerful Message on Racism
Beyond the obligatory thoughts and prayers reaction posts, few country stars have made statements about the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile at the hands of police and the deadly attack on police a Black Lives Matter protest in Dallas. But in typically outspoken fashion, singer-songwriter Kip Moore has released a video addressing racism and its insidious nature.
“I had a mom and dad who would’ve kicked my ass if I used a derogatory term to describe another person of color,” wrote the Valdosta, Georgia native in the post. “As I got older, I looked around realizing what a rare thing that was.”
In the clip below, children of different races are seen enjoying some outdoor playtime together, seemingly oblivious to the conflicts currently raging. Moore appears next, shooting basketball and laughing with a pair of African-American friends and observing the kids’ interactions. “It’s a beautiful thing, how when kids are born they don’t see color. They don’t feel hate,” he says. “It’s a really sad thing that we teach them how to do both.” The video closes with a hashtag version of Mahatma Ghandi’s oft-quoted charge to “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Moore also points a finger at the media for further fomenting the racial conflict, pointing out that the abuses of power by a few officers do not necessarily reflect the attitude of the profession as a whole. “[I] believe that the majority of our officers (my brother included) want to protect all races and fight for what’s right every day,” he writes. “I know his heart and i know he’s not the only one. The media will always pit us against each other. They know race will always drive ratings.”
This weekend, Moore will play a July 15th supporting slot on Miranda Lambert’s Keeper of the Flame tour in Rogers, Arkansas, as well as Madison County Fairgrounds in Nebraska.