Killer Mike Faces Backlash For Telling Black Child “Not To Dream Big” In “Trigger Warning” Clip

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Trigger Warning with Killer Mike debuted on Netflix in 2019. The docuseries has recently become a topic on social media again after an old clip from the show began making the rounds.

In an episode of Trigger Warning, Killer Mike addresses a classroom of children. The scene features one Black student talking about wanting to be “a president” in the future.

“You owe your parents not to dream big. You owe it to your parents to dream practical and start making money as soon as you can. You’re not going to be able to be president,” Mike told the young boy.

Killer Mike Reacts To Complaints About His Trigger Warning Comments

Those comments from the Atlanta-raised Michael album creator did not sit well with many social media users. For example, one self-described educator called out Killer Mike on X.

“Did this man tell a Black child and other Black children in the room that he didn’t owe their parents to dream big?!!? Don’t ever tell [me] what he is doing for the community again! I’m so livid right now that if I said what I truly wanted to say, I would be banned!” read a tweet from the Thee Shawn Roberts account.

Killer Mike responded, “Ohhh Shawn b4 u get ya self banned lemme say ‘Thank U for being an educator.’ It is truly a noble profession. Lastly, as an educator, it is important u know all the facts. That beautiful Black boy is Canadian and he can NEVER be POTUS however he can be Prime Minister of Canada.”

Netflix Pitched Trigger Warning As An Examination Of Cultural Taboos

Another X user named Dane Weeks wrote, “[Thoroughly] engaging with a white child about their future while lecturing Black children not to dream big, is nasty work.”

Those remarks also got a response from Killer Mike. He tweeted, “Gotta get u hooked up with the white folks that saw my engagement with the white as bad for him [because] of my allusion to his privilege. That way all u ‘stupid s####’ can learn about ‘Satire’ together.”

Trigger Warning with Killer Mike ran for six episodes on the Netflix streaming service. The expressed purpose of the series was to examine cultural taboos and explore the human condition using nontraditional approaches.

“Not everyone will agree with my methods (and some of what we’re putting out is f###### crazy), but this show is about embracing your freedom to challenge societal expectations and conformity. This show is if an anarchist determined the status quo,” Mike explained in 2019.