Anthony Mackie Says ‘Black Men With Dreadlocs’ Comments Taken Out of Context [VIDEO]

soundbites. He would let the entire conversation live. And he didn’t. And that’s what frustrates me…Mr. Witherspoon really pissed me off because I trusted him and he lied.

Clarifying the root of his remarks, the actor promises that he only used locs to better paint the picture of police misjustice due to hairstyles.

I said ‘my nephew came to me and he said I’ma grow dreadlocks…So speaking as someone who had dreadlocks, I sat my nephew down. I turned on ‘First 48’ because it’s one of my favorite shows. So there are all these young black men being arrested, being killed. The majority of them have dreadlocks. It’s a phenomenon now. Young men want dreadlocks because it’s cool.

He continued to argue his point, also acknowledging that he too had dreads but it’s all about appearance in America—especially in this day in age.

So I told him ‘You will be perceived as this. If you wear your pants hanging off your behind, if you wear your shoes a certain way, if you got tattoos all up your neck. I’m not saying that’s what you are, but you will be perceived as this’. And with perception comes profiling.

Outside of his most recent interview, Anthony Mackie has been silent on the issue, but TheGrio…not so much. The site played the unedited version of the interview and backed their writer (Mr. Witherspoon) up, assuring readers

Witherspoon and theGrio have no interest in harming Mackie’s reputation. When he sat down with Mackie, it was not under the pretense of friendship but as a reporter and subject.

Press play to watch both interviews and let us know if you’re feeling Anthony’s rebuttle.

The Grio

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