The Roots of Jay-Z’s ‘Black Capitalism’

The flap over Jay-Z’s controversial, kinda puzzling business dealings with the National Football League heated up over the weekend, following reports that the rapper/entrepreneur is now also a part-owner in an NFL team (which one hasn’t been revealed). The grievance: Prior to the news about his new team ownership stake, many people were upset about Jay-Z entering into a business partnership with the NFL to deliver social justice-entertainment programming, despite the fact that no NFL team has signed the quarterback Colin Kaepernick since he fell out with the league over his national anthem-timed police brutality protests three years ago.

Carolina Panthers safety Eric Reid—a friend of Colin Kaepernick’s and a fellow protester—recently blasted Jay-Z, accusing him of aiming to “make millions ... by assisting the NFL in burying Colin’s career.”