Rapper Talib Kweli and some of his more than one million social media followers repeatedly attacked Breitbart News reporter Jerome Hudson with racial epithets on Twitter, but faced no disciplinary action from the platform.
The 40-year-old Brooklyn rapper began his attack on Hudson by writing: “Who’s this clown writing for Breitbart? My coon senses are tingling.”
Who's this clown @JeromeEHudson writing for Breitbart? My coon senses are tingling. pic.twitter.com/oBHNiE0LpX
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) July 1, 2016
Hudson responded, “Why are you so quick to resort to name-calling, my brother? Can you not respect me as a man and attempt a civil conversation?”
.@TalibKweli Why are you so quick to resort to name-calling, my brother? Can you not respect me as a man and attempt a civil conversation?
— Jerome Hudson (@JeromeEHudson) July 1, 2016
To which the rapper responded, “No. I do not respect you as a man. You are here to enable white supremacist lies abt ppl of color. You suck.”
No. I do not respect you as a man. You are here to enable white supremacist lies abt ppl of color. You suck. https://t.co/TD8vv16DPd
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) July 1, 2016
Kweli, an ardent Black Lives Matter support, and a featured member of President Obama’s Spotify “Summer Playlist,” was reacting to an article written by Breitbart News’ Sonnie Johnson and tweeted by Hudson.
Over the course of several days, hundreds of snarling Twitter trolls, led by Kweli, repeatedly referred to Hudson as a “coon” and attacked Breitbart.com, calling the news organization a “piece of sh*t”.
.@evanFmoore but of course @JeromeEHudson was too busy Tom'ing for and being a Black mascot to the racists over at Breitbart. LOL
— Hercules Mulligan (@johnvmoore) July 1, 2016
Many of Kweli’s followers began responding to comments Hudson made about Grey’s Anatomy star Jesse Williams’s standing ovation-garnering speech at the BET Awards about racial justice and white appropriation of black culture.
Several of Kweli’s followers took umbrage with a Breitbart News Network video, which showed Hudson calling out Williams for decrying racism while ignoring the self-sabotage in black America.
@JeromeEHudson naw @TalibKweli right. You's a #coon!!! Look at those books??? No W.E.B., Marcus, Langston? 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/T4jqVwtwxW
— The Public Offender (@publicoffender) July 1, 2016
@JeromeEHudson plus what you said was #coontastic!!! You either cooning for money or attention or both.
— The Public Offender (@publicoffender) July 1, 2016
@JeromeEHudson after he comes out with this ridiculous critique of @iJesseWilliams he's shocked and appalled 2 b called a coon?
— The Public Offender (@publicoffender) July 1, 2016
cc @jeromeehudson last train to coonville leaving nah https://t.co/8XMx5pQHQX
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) July 1, 2016
These are the people who show up when u diss your own @jeromeehudson this is why we call you a coon. https://t.co/sPhVi1MSiP
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) July 1, 2016
cc @jeromeehudson stop telling lies about black ppl you coon https://t.co/xkifcZBMFy
— Talib Kweli Greene (@TalibKweli) July 1, 2016
@wlnash2ndjd @JeromeEHudson fucking breitbart writer. Clown.
— Ken_I_Kick it (@LFC_YNWA_77) July 1, 2016
@JeromeEHudson wait for it.. He's probably gonna bring O.J. soon like a typical coon/white supremacist
— What about WS (@sentinelisland) July 1, 2016
.@evanFmoore but of course @JeromeEHudson was too busy Tom'ing for and being a Black mascot to the racists over at Breitbart. LOL
— Hercules Mulligan (@johnvmoore) July 1, 2016
Days later, Kweli’s Twitter trolls were still hurling racist epithets at Hudson.
@bill_henson @JeromeEHudson Yup, I live for reading @TalibKweli timelines hurts to read the coons fight so valiantly, but #facts
— huneyduluvit (@huneyduluvit) July 3, 2016
Much news has been made about Twitter’s policies about harassment, as the social media platform recently suspended Breitbart Tech Editor Milo Yiannopoulos. But weeks after Talib Kweli repeatedly called a Breitbart reporter a “coon” and goaded his goons to relentlessly heckle Hudson, no actions have been taken against the rapper.
Follow Jerome Hudson on Twitter: @jeromeehudson
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.