Activist DeRay Mckesson Details His Conversation With Macklemore About "White Privilege II"

Macklemore's new single is the subject of heated debate on social media and elsewhere. Upon hearing "White Privilege II," Black Lives Matter activist and famed Twitter persona DeRay Mckesson called the song "important." He also apparently DM'd Macklemore and asked if he would be willing to get on the phone and talk about the track. Macklemore agreed, and the following morning, the two of them talked for an hour about some of the issues covered on "White Privilege II." Mckesson proceeded to share details of the conversation to his Twitter followers.

He reveals Macklemore was prompted to write "White Privilege II," the sequel to a song he put out in 2005, after the non-indictment of Ferguson officer Darren Wilson and the protests that ensued. He notes that Macklemore recognizes the song as a new "beginning" for him, and that "he will (rightly) be judged by the actions that follow." 

Mckesson also told Macklemore how the infamous apology text he sent to Kendrick Lamar after his album with producer Ryan Lewis, The Heist, beat out Lamar's good kid, m.A.A.d. city at the 2014 Grammys, "informs a reading of the current song," and that Macklemore "reflected on how he's grown since" the incident. 

"I left the call with Macklemore w/ a deeper understanding of his intent and his commitment to actions that reflect his awareness," wrote Mckesson. Read his entire series of tweets below.