Rapper Killer Mike Goes To Jail After Winning Three Grammy’s: The Story Of The Black Man in America

I was not at all surprised to see Killer Mike being hauled off to jail right after he won three Grammy Awards — sweeping the hip-hop category with three awards at the widely-viewed music awards show.

We have seen this before, I have seen this before. Even when we think we have won America’s graces as human beings, as a people in this country, an atrocity like Killer Mike being arrested at the Grammy’s puts us right back in our place.

Add Michael Render aka Killer Mike to the other Michaels and Mikes who have been treated the same way: Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson, and Mike Tyson. No matter how high we get in the circles of American fame and fortune, the system, the law, finds a way to snatch us back down, making us understand we can only get so high before we are drug back down by white supremacy and white jealousy. Those names, those amazing Michaels, wound up back on the ground after achieving fame and fortune.

It is slap in the face to all of us — including these Michaels. All of these individuals have worked hard in their respective fields to achieve what they have achieved. Each one of them have undeniable talent and work ethic. But when you think you have risen higher, that you have reached a certain level of respect, this country, the police, the system overall, will say to you “Who do you think you are boy?!”

Imagine having won the accolades these men have in their lives and being treated in the ways they have. How would you feel?

We Black men could be the angriest people on the planet, but most of us are not. We know what many in this country think of us. We know how some white people feel about us. We know there is always a ceiling when it comes to our talents, gifts and abilities. That ceiling is the judgement and jealousy of any white American who still sees us as three-fifths human. In their eyes they are superior and we Black men do not deserve to be treated like royalty. We have not been royal on this planet since we lived in African villages years and years ago.

There are videos circulating on the internet where either you see Killer Mike being hauled off in handcuffs to jail with police surrounding him, or you see Black celebrities and everyday people addressing the situation. I saw on Instagram rapper and actor T.I. calling Killer Mike’s arrest “an atrocity.” That is exactly what it is. Killer Mike is loved and adored by the city of Atlanta, where he is from, and loved by millions of fans for his amazing lyrical ability. Despite him being lyrically stellar, the police did not consider this when they hauled him off for a misdemeanor.

Yep, a misdemeanor.

This is what happens to you when you are Black and young.

This is what happens to you when you are Black and gifted.

This is what happens to you when you are Black.

This is Black History Month. Killer Mike just made history by sweeping the Grammy Awards in the hip-hop categories.

The police did not care.

They took his Black ass off to jail.