BBB: Jay-Z was just widely photographed wearing an Occupy Wall Street T-shirt while performing at Madison Square Garden. You jumped on Twitter and quickly remarked, “Jay-Z just took #OccupyWallStreet to a whole new level. wowowowowowoow.” [After receiving criticism for selling these T-shirts without donating any of the proceeds to the movement, the shirts were pulled from the Rocawear website.] Would you say this is an example of how capitalism can encourage positive change, even potentially allowing someone to profit from a social movement while helping to move it forward?
Simmons: What’s wrong with selling goodness? There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s not the most preferred. In yogi scripture, at least, the highest form of giving is giving without expectation. Selfless. But a lot of people need incentive.
You should sell things you’re happy about. You should sell products that you’re inspired by, that promote lasting and stable well-being. Give the world something or sell the world something that you’re proud of. Jay-Z didn’t make a T-shirt [that said] “F— the Bums on the Street.” He wrote a T-shirt “Occupy All Streets” – I’m happy, it furthers the movement, it inspires the movement.
Full Interview: Billboard.Biz
Is the already rich, Jay-Z, wrong for capitalizing off of the, “Occupy Wall Street,” movement?
