M.I.A. Claims Artists Never Say “Muslim Lives Matter,” Black Lives Matter Activists Respond

In a not entirely surprising turn of events, outspoken artist M.I.A. told London’s Evening Standard, “It’s interesting that in America the problem you’re allowed to talk about is Black Lives Matter. It’s not a new thing to me — it’s what Lauryn Hill was saying in the 1990s, or Public Enemy in the 1980s. Is Beyoncé or Kendrick Lamar going to say Muslim Lives Matter? Or Syrian Lives Matter? Or this kid in Pakistan matters? That’s a more interesting question.”

She continued,”You can’t ask it on a song that’s on Apple, you cannot ask it on an American TV programme, you cannot create that tag on Twitter, Michelle Obama is not going to hump you back.” So is M.I.A. joining the ranks of “All Lives Matter”? M.I.A. clarified her statements in a series of Tweets:

A#blacklivesmatter B#Muslimlivesmatter. I’m not Muslim . My criticism wasn’t about Beyoncé. It’s how u can say A not B right now in 2016.

— M.I.A (@MIAuniverse) April 21, 2016

My question was,on American platforms what do they allow you to stand up for in 2016. This has been the number 1 question for me.

— M.I.A (@MIAuniverse) April 21, 2016

DeRay Mckesson and Johnetta Elzie, two activists who are prominently associated with the Black Lives Matter movement, have responded to M.I.A.’s comments:

.@MIAuniverse, I’m not sure “allow” is the right word here. Remember, we were teargassed for standing up. https://t.co/b8hUBlU0Kc

— deray mckesson (@deray) April 21, 2016

MIA really has no clue. America didn’t “allow” black folks to talk about anything. Aug 9, local news barely even cared about Mike Brown.

— Johnetta Elzie (@Nettaaaaaaaa) April 21, 2016

MIA ain’t tryna discuss the obsession with property, now that black people aren’t slaves (property to be sold, tortured, raped, killed).

— Johnetta Elzie (@Nettaaaaaaaa) April 21, 2016

MIA showed her hand by letting us know she sees being black and being Muslim as two different things. She should check that.

— Johnetta Elzie (@Nettaaaaaaaa) April 21, 2016