Lizzo Calls Out Institutional Racism During Global Citizen
Lizzo appeared at New York City’s Central Park stage for the Global Citizen Live event this past Saturday (September 25), dressed in a leather hot pink cat suit with removable ruffled sleeves.
The Grammy award-winner wanted to share more than her hits with the audience during her set, using her voice to bring attention to institutional racism — not only in the U.S. but around the world, as Global Citizen was being broadcast from six continents.
“Thank you so much to Global Citizen for having me,” Lizzo, 33, started. “You know, big Black girl from Detroit by way of Houston, Texas, doing big a– 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.”
“And now I’m a rich b—h, that’s exciting, that’s never happened. I’ll be like, ‘What kind of rich b—h 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.”
Lizzo then explained that Central Park is set in the location of a former community called Seneca Village, an area that was known as a thriving Black neighborhood in the mid-19th century. Residents were forcibly removed, and their homes were demolished to create the park tourists and New Yorkers alike enjoy every day.
“Before it was Central Park, it was Seneca Village. And if you don’t know what it is, that was an affluent African American community that lived here in the early 1900s, and they were evicted and bulldozed so they can build this park.”
“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 continued. “And if we don’t talk about our history constructively, how can we build a better future?”
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.
— FOLLOW @YITTY (@lizzo) September 26, 2021
Have you been to a Lizzo show? #Liztalk pic.twitter.com/43x0XqzIuz
Lizzo then posted her performance of “Truth Hurts” on Twitter.
CAN U BELIEVE THIS SONG IS STILL IN THE GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS🤪 ?!?
— FOLLOW @YITTY (@lizzo) September 26, 2021
Have you been to a Lizzo show? pic.twitter.com/Aup0pOyOL8
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