Lizzo Addresses Institutional Racism at Global Citizen Live: “It’s Time to Make a Change”
Lizzo hit the stage at Global Citizen Live on Saturday night, where she performed a killer set including “Truth Hurts” and “Juice” and also used the platform to address institutional racism.
“Thank you so much to Global Citizen for having me,” Lizzo said. “You know, big Black girl from Detroit by way of Houston, Texas, doing big-ass things with my life. I’m just so grateful every time I can step on the stage and sing for y’all. Thank you so much.”
She continued, “And now I’m a rich bitch, that’s exciting, that’s never happened. I’ll be like, ‘What kind of rich bitch do I want to be?’ And I decided I want to be a philanthropist. I want to give back. Why would God give me so much if I can’t give it back? So thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to give back.”
AS WE TALK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, SOLVING HOMELESSNESS, AND MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.. WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM THAT HAPPENS IN THIS COUNTRY ALL THE TIME.
Have you been to a Lizzo show? #Liztalk pic.twitter.com/43x0XqzIuz— ALL THE RUMORS ARE TRUE (@lizzo) September 26, 2021
Lizzo went on to explain that the location of Global Citizen’s event was an area previously known as Seneca Village, a predominantly Black neighborhood that was demolished to develop what is now Central Park. According to the National Parks Service, the police forcibly removed everyone living in Seneca Village in 1857 and “historians know very little about what happened to the former residents.”
“As we talk about climate change and making the world a better place and solving homelessness, we also have to talk about the institutionalized racism that happens in this country all the time,” Lizzo said. “And if we don’t talk about our history constructively, how can we build a better future? It’s time to talk about things, and it’s time to make a change. And it starts within. You got to better to yourself, so you can be better to others.”
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