Epic Beard Man
Bearded Philosopher
Kanye West appeared on TMZ headquarters and said the following:
"When you hear about slavery for 400 years...400 years? Sounds like choice."
He then went on to say:
"You were there for 400 years and it's for all of y'all. It's like we're mentally imprisoned."
Van on TMZ confronted him by saying the following:
"While you are making music and being an artist and living the life that you've earned by being a genius, the rest of us in society have to deal with these threats to our lives," Lathan said. "We have to deal with the marginalization that's come from the 400 years of slavery that you said for our people was a choice."
Lathan added, "Frankly, I'm disappointed, I'm appalled, and brother, I am unbelievably hurt by the fact that you have morphed into something to me, that's not real."
Kanye cleans up his remarks by saying the following after a barrage of social media backlash:
"[T]o make myself clear. Of course I know that slaves did not get shackled and put on a boat by free will. My point is for us to have stayed in that position even though the numbers were on our side means that we were mentally enslaved."
Kanye went on to add:
"[T]he reason why I brought up the 400 years point is because we can't be mentally imprisoned for another 400 years. We need free thought now. Even the statement was an example of free thought. It was just an idea. [O]nce again I am being attacked for presenting new ideas."
See:Kanye West just said 400 years of slavery was a choice - CNN
My comment:
Kanye's opinion at least contextually comes from a position of celebrity privilege who is not subject to the extent that some of us in the inner city are, to the marginalization we experience daily. Just the other day I used a payphone (my cell died and I needed to make an emergency call) to make a phone call this being at night, had a spot light on me and asked me if I was on parole or probation. Of course this leads me to say neither and inform the cop I was making an emergency call. Judging by their behavior they were looking for someone so they're trying to identify me. Now, I didn't have to answer their question and could have went on my way but this is but a small example some of us black non-celebrities go through that Kanye does not understand. The problem with Kanye's remarks is the context he used which made him sound like a fool.
The fact that Kanye couldn't acknowledge the impact of subsequent systemic racism in society even as a black man, is the prime example of someone who (he himself coming from the hood as Van on TMZ pointed out) has disassociated himself with the common black experience. Sure, there is mental slavery, and yes people must begin to alleviate themselves from the mental complex of victimhood, however perpetual systemic racism which still exists in society makes the issue a cyclical effect which Kanye doesn't understand. Of course living in a house of luxury away from the dregs of society and not having any compassion will make you think like this....And doing pain pills which Kanye admitted to.
"When you hear about slavery for 400 years...400 years? Sounds like choice."
He then went on to say:
"You were there for 400 years and it's for all of y'all. It's like we're mentally imprisoned."
Van on TMZ confronted him by saying the following:
"While you are making music and being an artist and living the life that you've earned by being a genius, the rest of us in society have to deal with these threats to our lives," Lathan said. "We have to deal with the marginalization that's come from the 400 years of slavery that you said for our people was a choice."
Lathan added, "Frankly, I'm disappointed, I'm appalled, and brother, I am unbelievably hurt by the fact that you have morphed into something to me, that's not real."
Kanye cleans up his remarks by saying the following after a barrage of social media backlash:
"[T]o make myself clear. Of course I know that slaves did not get shackled and put on a boat by free will. My point is for us to have stayed in that position even though the numbers were on our side means that we were mentally enslaved."
Kanye went on to add:
"[T]he reason why I brought up the 400 years point is because we can't be mentally imprisoned for another 400 years. We need free thought now. Even the statement was an example of free thought. It was just an idea. [O]nce again I am being attacked for presenting new ideas."
See:Kanye West just said 400 years of slavery was a choice - CNN
My comment:
Kanye's opinion at least contextually comes from a position of celebrity privilege who is not subject to the extent that some of us in the inner city are, to the marginalization we experience daily. Just the other day I used a payphone (my cell died and I needed to make an emergency call) to make a phone call this being at night, had a spot light on me and asked me if I was on parole or probation. Of course this leads me to say neither and inform the cop I was making an emergency call. Judging by their behavior they were looking for someone so they're trying to identify me. Now, I didn't have to answer their question and could have went on my way but this is but a small example some of us black non-celebrities go through that Kanye does not understand. The problem with Kanye's remarks is the context he used which made him sound like a fool.
The fact that Kanye couldn't acknowledge the impact of subsequent systemic racism in society even as a black man, is the prime example of someone who (he himself coming from the hood as Van on TMZ pointed out) has disassociated himself with the common black experience. Sure, there is mental slavery, and yes people must begin to alleviate themselves from the mental complex of victimhood, however perpetual systemic racism which still exists in society makes the issue a cyclical effect which Kanye doesn't understand. Of course living in a house of luxury away from the dregs of society and not having any compassion will make you think like this....And doing pain pills which Kanye admitted to.
