Jay-Z Makes Tribute to George Floyd with Paper Advert

Rapper, producer and industry giant, Jay-Z, has contributed to the various tributes being made to George Floyd by taking out a full page advertisement in leading newspapers all over America. The advert is a long, empathetic tribute quoting a speech made by Martin Luther King in 1965. 

The advert begins with the words: “In dedication to George Floyd”. The dedication is further signed by Jay-Z, Team Rocnation, the Innocence Project and the legal team representing George Floyd and his family. The dedication reads: “Only way we can really achieve freedom is to somehow hunker the fear of death. But if a man has not found something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.”

The full-page advert taken out by Jay-Z and his team has already appeared in leading newspapers like The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune and more. Further, the ad is scheduled to appear in other publications in the following days. 

Jay-Z and his superstar wife, Beyonce have never shied away from taking a stand against racial discrimination, injustice and prejudice. The couple have made their stance clear all through their influential careers. During Beyonce’s Coachella stage in 2018, an event that is now referred to as Beychella, she put on a two hour long performance highlighting the need for justice and equality. 

Jay-Z and his efforts are just one among many, including the vocalisation of his wife. Beyonce took to Instagram to make it clear that she is “disgusted” by all that is going on. 

Jay-Z himself took to social media to put out a statement amid the uproar. The post read: “Now, I, along with an entire country in pain, call upon Ellison to do the right thing and prosecute all those responsible for the murder of George Floyd to the fullest extent of the law. This is just a first step.”

By: Ahalya Narayanan