Why Were #AMAsSoWhite?

Nov 22, 2017

The 2017 American Music Awards were missing something this year…oh yea, black people.

Even though the annual awards show was hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross it was awfully light on POC.

The fact that hip hop had such a big year in music made it even more puzzling that the entire genre seemed to be MIA.

Diana Ross received the Lifetime Achievement Award and hit the stage, but aside from her, there was only one other black performer during the 3-hour event (Khalid) and he was featured alongside Imagine Dragons.

Drake wasn’t there. Cardi B wasn’t there. Nicki Minaj? Nope. What about RiRi? Ghost.

Was Breezy busy?

Where were all the black folks?

Twitter was wondering the same thing.

Is this the #AMAs doing its version of #OscarsSoWhite . This is crazy. #AMAsSowhite

— Smokestack Lightning (@O_lando57) November 20, 2017

Can’t take #AMAs seriously when it’s so #whitewashed. I’ll come back for @DianaRoss tribute. I know @TraceeEllisRoss will do well. #AMAsSoWhite

— TAMIKA MORRISON OKELEKE -FOUNDER, 1STLADYRULES.COM (@1stLadyofPR) November 20, 2017

Do we have an #AMAsSoWhite this year or nah? This has been a very Caucasian awards show.

— Uno Out👋🏾..Mamba4Ever (@NEHeartBreakKid) November 20, 2017

Like how do we got Kelly Clarkson and Pink performing when we have queens like Rihanna and Cardi B, and where TF is Beyonce? #AMAs #AMAsSoWhite

— 🪬 Mai oh My 🪬 (@missmichellemai) November 20, 2017

#AMAsSoWHITE
where the fuck is Diana Ross…so i can stop watching this mess

— 🌈 Blue Rhonda Latrec🏳️‍⚧️ (@DiamondStylz) November 20, 2017

https://twitter.com/mocha_carter/status/932416819486269440

#WHITNEYxCHRISTINA u gonna sing I'm Every Woman and NOT have Chaka Khan?!? #AMAs yall gentrifying & colonizing AF #AMAsSoWhite

— ¡Azúcar MO Negra! (@AZUCAR_Mo_Negra) November 20, 2017

https://twitter.com/shonufftite/status/932446552572006400

A rep for the American Music Awards said, “We reached out to many artists in the hip-hop community but for different reasons they were unable to attend. We of course look forward to them joining us in the future!”

Hmmm….

Are we buying that explanation or nah?