Chance the Rapper Ties Ben & Jerry’s to Reparations & Palestine

On September 17, Likelihood the Rapper weighed in on the surprising resignation of Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield. He framed the transfer as a flashpoint in broader debates over company activism and accountability.

Greenfield’s departure was introduced by Ben Cohen, his longtime enterprise companion. Cohen instructed that Greenfield’s “legacy deserves to be true to our values, not silenced by @MagnumGlobal.” Cohen referenced Unilever’s subsidiary Magnum, a part of the conglomerate that owns Ben & Jerry’s.

Likelihood responded with a tweet underscoring the corporate’s distinctive function in company America. “Ben & Jerry’s is the one main firm I do know of that has repeatedly lobbied for Black American Reparations,” he wrote.

He linked Greenfield’s resignation to the corporate’s historical past of taking polarizing stands. “Two older males with entry who haven’t any incentive apart from justice, at the moment are being punished and silenced for his or her unwavering assist of Palestine,” Likelihood mentioned.

That activism has fueled controversy. In 2021, Ben & Jerry’s halted gross sales in Israeli-occupied territories, a transfer that ignited lawsuits and political pushback. The founders, recognized for many years of outspoken advocacy, defended the choice as a part of a broader dedication to human rights.

Likelihood argued that Greenfield’s exit displays makes an attempt to suppress voices that problem highly effective pursuits. “I’m not heartbroken, I’m galvanized. We proceed to battle the nice battle,” he added, framing the second as a name to collective motion slightly than a setback.

The episode underscores the bizarre place Ben & Jerry’s has occupied within the company panorama. Few manufacturers align themselves so intently with progressive causes. By drawing connections between reparations for Black People and Palestinian rights, Likelihood highlighted what he views as a unified battle for world justice.

For supporters, Greenfield’s resignation is greater than a enterprise transition. It represents a check of whether or not company leaders can keep activist commitments underneath strain. Likelihood’s response means that whereas an period could also be closing at Ben & Jerry’s, its legacy of linking commerce with conscience stays a rallying level for ongoing actions.