Kid Rock Is BFF's With The Blacks (PHOTOS x VIDEO)

This past Sunday, the Detroit NAACP honored Kid Rock with the Great Expectations Award at their annual Fight for Freedom Fund dinner for his charitable contributions to the city of Detroit. Michigan-native Kid Rock has been known to use the highly-controversial Confederate flag at his performances, an act which has ticked off people who consider the flag to be a symbol of slavery, racism and hate. About 50 people gathered outside Detroit’s Cobo Center on Sunday and burned the Confederate flag during their protest of the event.

Kid Rock has stated that his use of the flag has nothing to do with racist views but rather his love of the South and southern rock groups like Lynard Skynard, a group known to fly the flag at their shows as well. Kid Rock told the crowd, “I love America. I love Detroit, and I love black people,” after accepting the award. “I’ve never flown that flag with any hate in my heart. Not one ounce.” NAACP President Wendell Anthony defended giving Kid Rock the award stating, “We’re not lifting up the flag. We’re lifting up a gentleman who has worked very hard to be a booster for Detroit.”