Black community’s response to Takeoff’s death

Just two days ago, Migos Rapper, Takeoff, was shot dead in a suspected murder in Houston, Texas. His last moments of life were captured in a cell phone video and have spread across social media like wildfire. Most notably, ‘TMZ” posted videos depicting the mortally injured rapper with his Uncle and bandmate Quavo panicking beside him.

Takeoff’s death is just one of many that have been recorded and spread on media sites like TMZ and throughout social media platforms. Rappers like Nipsey Hussle, King Von, and PnB Rock’s murders were all caught on camera and were subsequently shared on social media.

Online sharing of the graphic last moments of these rappers’ lives has often been a point of controversy. Many of these videos come without trigger warnings, and are played on a repeated loop. Terence Fitzgerald, teaches at USC’s Dworak-Peck School of Social Work says that these gruesome videos of violent black death simply confirm the biases and stereotypes many people have about black people.

Terence Fitzgerald: “It’s like I already have these thoughts. Like, like if there’s evidence, there’s this evidence right here that’s supporting my preconceived thoughts, stereotypes and beliefs, right? This false narrative of people.”

For members of the black community, some have also pointed to the handling of Takeoff’s death as the exploitation of black trauma. Seeing images and videos on repeat like this can be triggering and upsetting as many people do not want to see prominent black figures being dehumanized. Cameron Cole, a black senior at USC who studies Computer Science and Business Administration, says that he has noticed a pattern in how black death has been portrayed in the media since the death of Kobe Bryant.

Cameron Cole: “It just seems like there’s a pattern of because these people are such popular figures that the entire society is entitled to, you know, the first information about their lives rather than, you know, talking to their family, understanding the full context, and then providing that to the public.”

Another black USC student, Jamil Mohammed, who studies business calls for more humane treatment of black death.

Jamil Mohammed: “Well, I think you have to first start with a genuine intention to want to treat humans humanely. Like I feel like that is what it all boils down to. If you don’t think that everyone if you don’t think that black people deserve that, then you’re not like even if it’s something that’s subconscious, like then you’re not going to handle it in the same way that you would white celebrities, death or whoever else.”

Takeoff’s death is all the more tragic when listening to an interview he gave a few days ago with the “Drink Champs” podcast. He discussed the steps he took to avoid being targeted as a black public figure, like so many others had been before him.

Takeoff: You gotta watch what you post because even though you’re just trying to show off and show your fans stuff, it’s people that follow you and watch you that [have] bad intentions and don’t want the best for you.