
JAY-Z is facing backlash on social media for the announcement that Roc Nation is helping dish out $300 million in scholarships to Philadelphia students in grades K-12 through the PASS program (Pennsylvania Award for Student Success). Throughout June, the company will be hosting a series of events to educate the public about the program. While it seems like a worthy philanthropic effort on the surface, critics feel its true mission is to undermine public school funding in service of further privatizing education.
"Just to be clear for those not in Pennsylvania, the legislation Jay-Z is supporting here is a Republican-led effort to gut public education, spearheaded by future Trump cabinet member Jeffrey Yass," one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Another added: "Whether Jay-Z or the upper middle-class family on the block: if you have resources and don't allocate them to local public schools, you are making a moral and political choice. Taking children out of public schools in favor of private IS PRECISELY what hurts the most vulnerable."
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Roc Nation announced the move earlier this week. "We have enjoyed such a special connection with Philadelphians, so we've made it our mission to invest in the long-term success of the city's changemakers," Roc Nation Managing Director of Philanthropy Dania Diaz said in a statement caught by Billboard. "Impact starts with the students and with awareness. We want to empower the youth and families with the knowledge to pursue their scholastic dreams, make their voices heard and become the leaders of tomorrow."
JAY-Z Faces Backlash Online
Most of the social media backlash came in response to XXL's coverage of the news. Check out some of the posts below. Be on the lookout for further updates on JAY-Z on HotNewHipHop.
Or he could help fund the public schools and all the kids win
— Bobi Peralta (@CositaStudios) June 7, 2024
Said differently:
As Pennsylvania is on the verge of transforming the most inequitable school funding system in the nation, an out-of-state billionaire is pairing with a suburban Philadelphia one to try to destroy public education instead. https://t.co/4VucsDiMCw
— Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg (@Dan_UA) June 7, 2024
Just to be clear for those not in Pennsylvania, the legislation Jay-Z is supporting here is a Republican-led effort to gut public education, spearheaded by future Trump cabinet member Jeffrey Yass. https://t.co/BURqIa3sJZ
— Phil Gentry (@pmgentry) June 7, 2024
Whether Jay-Z or the upper middle-class family on the block: if you have resources and don't allocate them to local public schools, you are making a moral and political choice. Taking children out of public schools in favor of private IS PRECISELY what hurts the most vulnerable.
— Karlie Hustle (@THEkarliehustle) June 7, 2024
The $300 million ain't coming from Jay-Z nor Roc Nation. The $300 million is coming from the state's tax payers and could be used to help turn around those low-performing schools instead of giving a windfall to unaccountable private schools. No. https://t.co/LxpMP5FIsP
— Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) June 7, 2024
I don't think people realize that private schools aren't inherently better. Also how this further hurts those underprivileged schools because they're getting funding relative to attendance smh. Not all help is good help.
— Rise AceDolo(@AceDoloX1) June 7, 2024
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The post JAY-Z Comes Under Fire For Educational Campaign In Philadelphia appeared first on HotNewHipHop.
via: https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/813318-jay-z-under-fire-educational-campaign-philadelphia-hip-hop-news
