NBC’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Terry Crews appeared to respond on Monday to the backlash he received over the weekend after posting a warning that black and white Americans need to work together or risk more division and misunderstandings.
“I believe it is important we not suffer from groupthink,” the Expendables actor tweeted, adding, “and we keep minds of our own, and be allowed to ask difficult questions to each other. I believe this dialogue is important as we get through this trauma together. I love you.”
I believe it is important we not suffer from groupthink, and we keep minds of our own, and be allowed to ask difficult questions to each other. I believe this dialogue is important as we get through this trauma together. I love you.
— terry crews (@terrycrews) June 8, 2020
The quick explanation came on the heels of a tweet posted on Sunday that raised the hackles of supporters of Black Lives Matter. In the much-derided tweet, Crews said, “Defeating White supremacy without White people creates Black supremacy. Equality is the truth.”
He concluded the Sunday tweet writing, “Like it or not, we are all in this together.”
Defeating White supremacy without White people creates Black supremacy. Equality is the truth.
Like it or not, we are all in this together.
— terry crews (@terrycrews) June 7, 2020
Crews — who plays Detective Sergeant Terry Jeffords on the hit NBC comedy series Brooklyn Nine-Nine — was excoriated by a tidal wave of Twitter users on Sunday and into Monday. Many responded with a host of expletives and name calling and Crews was called every despicable name commonly used against blacks.
The former NFL player struck back against the mob, calling them out for having the temerity to decide who is allowed to be black. “Any Black person who calls me a coon or and Uncle Tom for promoting EQUALITY is a Black Supremist, because they have determined who’s Black and who is not,” Terry Crews said.
Any Black person who calls me a coon or and Uncle Tom for promoting EQUALITY is a Black Supremist, because they have determined who's Black and who is not.
— terry crews (@terrycrews) June 8, 2020
Crews also responded directly to some of the more civil criticisms of his original Sunday tweet:
I understand, Tyler. I was not saying Black supremacy exists, because it doesn't. I am saying if both Black and Whites don't continue to work together– bad attitudes and resentments can create a dangerous self-righteousness. That's all. https://t.co/YLWGnpj8fl
— terry crews (@terrycrews) June 8, 2020
That's not what I'm saying Kevin. At all. https://t.co/RTaz9YInZ3
— terry crews (@terrycrews) June 8, 2020
I agree. I'm not discussing white people here. there are "gatekeepers of Blackness" within our own community who decide who's Black and who's not. I have often been called out for not being "black enough". How can that be? https://t.co/Tt9Og866x6
— terry crews (@terrycrews) June 8, 2020
Kevin, I've learned that people will take anything you say and twist it for their own evil. Anything. https://t.co/FszLI1pYbu
— terry crews (@terrycrews) June 8, 2020
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