Adam Yauch in 1998: America Really Needs to Think About Our Racism

When the Beastie Boys accepted their Video Vanguard award at the 1998 MTV Music Video Awards Yauch introduced millions of young viewers to Islamophobia.

By Jorge Rivas May 04, 2012

Adam Yauch, a member of the seminal hip-hop trio the Beastie Boys, has passed away. He was 47 years old.

When the Beastie Boys accepted their Video Vanguard award at the 1998 MTV Music Video Awards Yauch introduced millions of young viewers to Islamophobia.

"That’s another thing that America really needs to think about is our racism, racism that comes from the United States towards the Muslim people and towards Arabic people and that’s something that has to stop and the United States has to start respecting people from the Middle East in order to find a solution to the problems that have been building up over many years, so I thank everyone for your patience, and letting me speak my mind." 

  – Adam Yauch, Beastie Boys, MTV Music Video Awards 1998