Defending their trend of ignorance and reaching, Hotep faux-revolutionary Twitter took to the social media forum last week in protest of the Montgomery County prosecutor’s decision to charge comedian Bill Cosby with sexual assault. The legal action is the result of Andrea Constand’s 2004 allegation that Cosby assaulted her after drugging her at his home in Philadelphia. Despite the dozens of similar stories presented by other women, some remain steadfast in their belief that Cosby is innocent and simply the victim of the [white] man’s complex scandal to bring down prosperous black celebrities.

How do we know someone ain’t paying these women??? We only know wut THEY market and promote #Fact https://t.co/00t7Kv6e5q

— Waka Flocka (@WakaFlocka) January 5, 2016

Fuck what y’all talking bout I’m on #BillCosbyside there’s now way in hell in believing this #propaganda pic.twitter.com/WLY6FxlWFN

— Waka Flocka (@WakaFlocka) January 4, 2016

I really feel like somebody is framing Bill Cosby

— Waka Flocka (@WakaFlocka) January 1, 2016

These defenses are very obviously the result of misogynoir, a desire to elevate racial issues over sexism, blindness to intersectionality and general misinformation. Although I definitely understand the need to cape for a black person who’s been important to the community, Cosby is just not the guy to fall on the sword for. Luckily, I have a replacement; granted, one that might sound a little crazy, but bear with me.

This might be a #controversialopinion, but the guy black people should be defending in 2016 is Meek Mill.

Yes, that’s right. The same Meek who made 2015 his year of the L. This is a story we all know well. He was the obvious loser of a very public rap beef with Drake, which stemmed from Meek’s Twitter accusations that Drake does not write his own raps. Yet, instead of quietly fading into the background and accepting defeat, Meek, as he tends to do, got louder — ignoring the devastating meme slideshow Drake unleashed at OVO Fest, and the fact that everyone had “Back to Back” on replay. Instead, he made threats to Drake fans at his concerts and recent reports claim that on his upcoming tape, Dreamchasers 4, the rapper threatens, “I can’t wait to run into ya/I’m a put a gun in ya,” an obvious reference to Drake.

Rap beef and embarrassment aside, I want to make a Case for Meek Mill in 2016 — one that overshadows the petty slander he earned last year, and instead positions the rapper as a person deserving of our support, rather than continued disrespect. Recently, a judge found Meek guilty of violating the terms of his 2009 probation sentence, a lasting imprint of the charge Meek caught for possession of guns and drugs in 2008. Notably, Meek has already served time for that 2008 conviction, and the basis of the court’s probation violation claim is centered on his unauthorized attendance at the American Music Awards, an accusation that seems rather insignificant in comparison to the potential jail time Meek might face for the infraction. This latest incident is reminiscent of Meek’s 2014 run in with the law, whereby Meek went back to jail for violating the same 2009 probation sentence after he posted a photo in which he was holding a gun (a prop, according to his lawyer), performed at concerts outside of his restricted jurisdiction, failed to have a working cell phone, and insulted the judge and prosecutor on Twitter. Aside from the gun photo, none of Meek’s infractions appear at all related to his original crime (possession of weapons and drugs) or any other illegal activity for that matter. As such, within the nation’s larger discussion of criminal justice reform, Meek’s situation stands out as an example of how the stamp of criminality lasts way beyond time served and can darken with even any offense. Moreover, Meek has recounted, on multiple occasions, his experience with police brutality, a reality we all know disproportionately affects black and brown Americans.

Lips swollen …. Stitches in both swollen eyes! One of my braids ripped out! I weighed about 130 at the time And I was found guilty of assaulting cops! It's clear 2 see I was punched and stomped by a few cops! If I wasn't blessed the way I am I still would have hatred in my heart towards cops but I forgave bcuz I know all cops ain't the same! 2 "black cops" got on the stand and lied and cried about how I chased them down with a gun and tried to kill them! I caught that case at 18 and was stripped of my freedom and taken away from my family 4 times for the same case and still on probation.. 1 step away from jail if I make one mistake! I can't blame my judge because the law labels cops as "expert witnesses" and it was cops against a black kid and she's suppose to believe a cops testimony first!! I never got a chance to speak to my judge about this from young man to woman and I hope she sees this to help other young men that won't b able to make it thru what I made it thru! After I caught the case I had no choice to hustle in the streets to get a good lawyer aka a good liar to help me get my freedom!

A photo posted by Meek Mill (@meekmill) on Apr 28, 2015 at 2:14am PDT

So when looking for someone to protect against the system, Meek is a much better candidate than Bill Cosby. Instead of developing the intricate, unbelievable conspiracy theories necessary to legitimize support for Cosby, it would be much easier to use Meek’s very real struggle as a representation of the legal system’s flaws. Yes, Meek is annoying, largely immature, and makes questionable decisions, as further evidenced by the fact that he apparently submitted cold water as urine during a drug test (smh), but there remains something unjust about his interactions with the criminal justice system. Something more important, and significantly more serious than a few memes and a laugh at his expense, which is what some Drake fans took too far by calling Meek’s prosector and begging for his arrest. Meek’s rap downfall is one thing, but we shouldn’t enable or facilitate the destruction of his life for sport. In fact, I think we should consider defending him in 2016 — not against Drake or his self-stimulated music drama, but from the judges, prosectors and entire court network that operationalize and profit from the myth of black criminality and the continuation of its effects.

Inequality

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