In 1992, hip-hop artist and political activist Sister Souljah was asked to weigh in on the Los Angles riots that erupted after four police officers were acquitted of using excessive force for the savage, videotaped beating of Rodney King. During an interview with the Washington Post published shortly after the six days of violence and looting, Sister Souljah commented: “if black people kill black people every day, why not have a week and kill white people?” That answer was in response to Post reporter David Mills’ questioning whether violence in L.A. was a “wise, reasoned action.” (You can read her full answer to that question here.)
Then-presidential candidate Bill Clinton pounced, condemning the remark, in an effort to differentiate himself from the rest of the Democratic field. Clinton went so far as to compare her to KKK politician, David Duke. The political critique became known as “a Sister Souljah moment.”
During an interview published on Thursday, ahead of the release of her new book, Sister Souljah told Time she stands by her decades-old comments. “If you ask me my view, even if it’s not your view, you have to handle that,” she said. It’s safe to say Bill Clinton is not her favorite, but with another Clinton White House a distinct possibility, what does she think of Hillary Clinton? Here’s what Sister Souljah told Time:
… [W]hat does she think of Hillary Clinton? She pauses for a long moment, then pulls out an unsealed envelope. “I want to control what I say so that I can be quoted properly. I have this past history of being misquoted or misunderstood.” She slides an index card across the table. It reads, “She reminds me too much of the slave plantation white wife of the white ‘Master.’ She talks down to people, is condescending and pandering. She even talked down to the Commander in Chief, President Barack Obama, while she was under his command!”
