In light of protests and tensions following the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore, The Album About Nothing rapper Wale recently spoke at a high school in Baltimore.
According to Missinfo.tv, Wale joined Rev. Jamal Bryant to talk to students at Fredrick Douglas High School this morning, April 29.
The D.C rapper spoke passionately to the students of Fredrick Douglas High and relayed that he was also "there to listen".
"I've been harassed by police, even in my state now, I'm a millionaire, they harass me regardless..."
The rapper also added a personal anecdote about his and his family's bad experiences with the TSA.
In another clip, Wale joined Rev. Bryant to speak to Fox 5 on their thoughts on the current state of Baltimore.
"We are excited to have Wale here, who is a role model for many kids not just in Baltimore but around the country. What we're finding is that this is a new breed of leadership. Leadership for this generation is not an elected official or a title, but somebody who has influence. Wale has proven himself to be a leader for the hip hop generation, hip hop culture."
Rev. Bryant explained that Wale was "outraged" at the thought of these students being called thugs or hoodlums. Wale chimed in,
"These are the young leaders of tomorrow, they have to look in the mirror and see something better than what they're being perceived as on TV."
Wale insisted that this incident shows "it's about us" and that "we're all brothers and sisters." The rapper shared understanding towards why people who are oppressed, respond passionately towards incidents like the death Gray.
Gray was arrested April 12 and died one week later on April 19 at age 25. Gray suffered one or more broken vertebrae and died at shock trauma. The mystery behind his death under police custody has evoked public outrage.
