Twitter divided on Democrats Kente stoles; photo-op or not?

17:41 - 08 June 2020

Here are beautiful Kente photos from George Floyd's memorial by Congressional Democrats

The Congressional Democrats on Monday, June 8, 2020 paid their respect to George Floyd.

Having observed an 8 minutes 46 seconds moments of silence while taking a knee, Nancy Pelosi and her colleagues addressed issues of racism and police brutality in the United States of America.

One significant notice during the memorial was the wearing of Kente.

Kente photos from George Floyd's memorial by Congressional Democrats

Kente has become an iconic symbol for the Black race and used on special occasions including graduation ceremonies, political statements as it also connects to its African roots.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the Democrats wearing Kente for the occasion.

If there was every a time for Ghana to enforce their intellectual property copyright of protection over kente + adinkra textiles the time is NOW cuz................ pic.twitter.com/FlNW3uj1Ff
— Shelby Ivey Christie (@bronze_bombSHEL) June 8, 2020

Ghanaians🇬🇭 kindly requesting back the Kente. Plsssss 😭🤷🏿‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/WP8xY9ExkY
— Joshua Kissi (@JoshuaKissi) June 8, 2020

I really wish people did a little research before they bashed our Congressional Leaders for wearing Kente Cloth 🇬🇭 today --- This wasn't a photo op. Democrats passed legislation banning police chokeholds --- and many of these members WENT to Ghana last year 🤦🏿‍♂️ #Stayfocused pic.twitter.com/pTajSo3aYm
— Emanuel (@EAdjekum) June 8, 2020

House and Senate Democrats unveil their expansive police reform bill wearing Kente cloth handed out by the Congressional Black Caucus pic.twitter.com/vs7eG562YR
— Leigh Ann Caldwell (@LACaldwellDC) June 8, 2020

How is this pandering Democrats draping themselves in the Kente cloth not defined as cultural appropriation by every single standard of the modern left? pic.twitter.com/XBgrllaKHf
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) June 8, 2020

How is it not "cultural appropriation" for Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, & Jerrold Nadler to show up to the Capitol wearing West African "Kente Cloth"

Can you imagine if a Republican showed up in this for a publicity stunt?

🤔
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) June 8, 2020

I need to know who passed out the kente cloth?? pic.twitter.com/6aoM42DNk2
— Scottie (@ScottieBeam) June 8, 2020

They’re doing the work, they’re fighting for us, and that is literally THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS. I don’t give a damn what you think of the Schumer and Pelosi wearing kente, and no, I don’t think it’s a “stunt.”

Always trying to find *something.* 😑

pic.twitter.com/8er1PxLXkl
— 💛🐝 Lauren-Ashley Arts (@LaurenAshley087) June 8, 2020

Standing in front of a church and holding up a bible you never read for a photo op is no different than kneeling in Kente cloth you never wear for a photo op. Politicians (right or left) who use props as a shortcut to connect with human beings: Stop it. Your photo ops are gross. https://t.co/JXP9UYoen7
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) June 8, 2020

White people are doing the most while still somehow refusing to do the bare minimum.

The Kente cloth has sent me to the upper room.

Exhibit A: pic.twitter.com/bDJQHycges
— David Dennis Jr. (@DavidDTSS) June 8, 2020

I know we are in unexpected times and anything is possible but listen man I did not have "Pelosi in Kente cloth" on the bingo card
— Hanif Abdurraqib (@NifMuhammad) June 8, 2020

Oh for crying out loud, just pass some laws. AND KENTE KENTE CLOTHS?! Who’s idea was that?! Jus... just get some policy goin shesh pic.twitter.com/YKp2uXoLS9
— Prop (@prophiphop) June 8, 2020

y'all think they had that box of kente cloths laying around the office already or this was a special order? they had to be on deck, right?
— bomani (@bomani_jones) June 8, 2020

These Democrats are taking a knee wearing Ghanaian 🇬🇭 kente cloth. You can’t make this symbolic silliness up.

We’re #ADOS. And this stunt doesn’t make us whole. It’s not redress. pic.twitter.com/OvXN0Mtmx2
— Yvette Carnell 🇺🇸 (@BreakingBrown) June 8, 2020

why did I just see a picture of dems wearing kente cloth & kneeling pic.twitter.com/u4Aln1vuI9
— Aaron West (@oeste) June 8, 2020

I Kente believe what I’m seeing pic.twitter.com/VbbF8XPl5m
— Salim Kikeke (@Salym) June 8, 2020

Beautiful Kente cloths.

Now let’s discuss the reparations package for Foundational Black Americans https://t.co/0dvPL1CAWk
— Tariq Nasheed 🇺🇸 (@tariqnasheed) June 8, 2020

Logged in to see democratic congressmen taking a knee in kente graduation stoles so imma try twitter again in a little lmao
— ike (@ikeonic) June 8, 2020

Since some folks are brand new, @TheBlackCaucus has long worn kente cloth at major events like the SOTU (see below) and today's INTRODUCTION OF POLICING REFORM LEGISLATION (tribute+work = walk+chew gum) spear-headed by the caucus & supported by Dem leaders in the House & Senate. pic.twitter.com/TMGUH03D8E
— 🇺🇸🇭🇹 Only4RM 🇭🇹🇺🇸 (@Only4RM) June 8, 2020

Kente just minding her business and all of a sudden she on the news in the middle of some performative activism. pic.twitter.com/SCLGtVhrm9
— 🌻 (@OfficiallyVex_) June 8, 2020

Nancy Pelosi in Kente cloth.

2020 is showing its ass. pic.twitter.com/EvXW6UHyKn
— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) June 8, 2020