Rihanna has disclosed that racism in the United Kingdom is as rife as it is in the United States, stating that black people across the globe are suffering from the hands of the police. The business mogul opened up in a recent interview with British Vogue where she spoke about a wide range of topics including racist behaviors in both countries.
“I think police brutality is probably extremely severe in America, but racism is alive everywhere, ” the Barbadian singer explained. “It’s the same [in the United Kingdom].”
“It’s either blatant, which is becoming more and more of a norm, or it’s underlying, where people don’t even know they’re being obvious about it, ” she added. “It’s just a subconscious layer that’s embedded from their entire core.”
Rihanna, who has been living in the United Kingdom for almost three years disclosed that she is “invisible” whenever she walks the streets of London. She insists that the locals of the St. Johns Wood area, where she reportedly lives in London, are “too boogie” to worry about her.
“I like it because they’re too boogie to give a sh*t about me,” the star smiled. “When I walk into places, I am invisible. And nothing makes me feel better than being invisible.”
Rihanna has made it part of her mandate to amplify the plight of the underprivileged in society, more especially, people of color. In February this year, her NAACP Image Awards acceptance speech went viral after she encouraged everyone to ”pull up” to help under-served communities and those facing injustice regardless of their background.
A long time philanthropist and social justice advocate, Rihanna has in her own way contributed towards the fight against coronavirus. Late last week, her foundation donated $5 million to various organizations assisting with coronavirus relief efforts, CNN reported.
“When we first began this year, never could we have imagined how (the coronavirus) would so dramatically alter our lives,” the foundation said.
“It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from, this pandemic will affect us all. And for the world’s most vulnerable, the worst may be yet to come.”
The foundation donated the money to Direct Relief, Feeding America, Partners in Health, The World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and the International Rescue Committee, among others. The foundation said its goal is “to immediately mobilize a broad response working with on-the-ground partners.”
