“This is BIGGER than BLACK and WHITE” Nas Pens Open Letter After Charleston Church Shooting

Legendary rapper Nas recently expressed his outrage for the senseless violence that has afflicted the black community.

Following the recent hate crime in Charleston, South Carolina where nine African American attendees of Emanuel AME Church were slain at the hands of Dylann Roof; Nas used Instagram to express his frustrations.

READ MORE: DOUBLE STANDARD: Why Won’t The Media Call Charleston Shooter a Terrorist?

“America has spent so much time, money & resources fighting wars abroad and completely fell asleep at the wheel of the war brewing within our cities, neighborhoods & blocks” he began.

“Now we’ve obviously progressed since the inception of this nation but we took our eye off the ball and it feels as though things are moving backwards.”

READ MORE: Nas Donates $100,000 To Help College Grads Get Jobs

The Illmatic artist also shared his displeasure with the way America appropriates black culture but lacks respect for black lives.

“The people in the streets… The way the world dresses, talks, what they listen to, what they watch… That all comes from us. How can we be the ones responsible for America’s biggest export & fear for our lives like we shouldn’t belong here.”

Nas joins fellow rapper Lupe Fiasco who also took to social media to address the disparaging inequalities in America.

READ MORE: Lupe Fiasco BLASTS Dylann Roof & White Supremacy In 3-Part Open Letter: “You Are Regular”

Read Nas’ full letter below and let us know your thoughts on how we can improve race relations in America.

America has spent so much time, money & resources fighting wars abroad and completely fell asleep at the wheel of the war brewing within our cities, neighborhoods & blocks. We are supposed to stand for freedom & equal opportunity. That's supposed to mean MORE than just words but the actions of late just don't speak to what we are supposed to stand for. This is BIGGER than BLACK and WHITE. This is about America selling a false dream. Now we've obviously progressed since the inception of this nation but we took our eye off the ball and it feels as though things are moving backwards. As a black man, I find it difficult to understand that our biggest export (our American culture) comes from us. The people in the streets… The way the world dresses, talks, what they listen to, what they watch… That all comes from us. How can we be the ones responsible for America's biggest export & fear for our lives like we shouldn't belong here. I don't have all the answers nor do I believe anyone does, but we need to have conversations around how to improve as a nation. How do we show any ounce of progress that keeps hope alive. This is too big of a problem to be solved overnight but there needs to be some questions answered to get things back on the track of righteousness. Amazing people died for this country. We owe it to the past, present & future to come together and move this country in the right direction. This is my home just like it is anyone else's. RIP CRISPUS ATTUCKS. FIRST MAN TO DIE IN AMERICA's FREEDOM WAR & HE WAS BLACK! GOD BLESS EVERY OUNCE OF INNOCENT BLOOD SHED FOR THIS NATION & MY FAMILY.

A photo posted by Nasir Jones (@nas) on Jun 22, 2015 at 3:18pm PDT