Remember when Kanye West went rogue after Hurricane Katrina and told America, “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people?” Well after years of outbursts, Confederate flag jackets, and questionable life decisions, it seems that Yeezy wants Black people to get over our nation’s problematic history on race.
During a concert in San Jose, West told the crowd he wanted to talk about race and the recent presidential election.
“Before I get out of here I want to talk about race and the idea of racism in America and the world,” he said before talking specifically to Black people.
“Stop focusing on racism,” West said directly to his Black fans. “This world is racist, OK? Let’s stop being distracted to focus on that as much. It’s a f***ing fact. We are in a racist country.”
Kanye West tonight speaking on racism in America. "Specifically to black people, stop talking about race so much." pic.twitter.com/HTWlJgdq7E
— Brandon Patterson (@itsmebrandonp) November 18, 2016
Yeezy’s charge to Black folks to “stop talking about race so much” is in direct contradiction to his comments about the fashion industry, which he claimed was racist against him and other designers of color.
While his comments on race and racism got the crowd hype, it was his admission that he would have supported Donald Trump (if he had voted) that caused many to turn on him.
"I would've voted for Trump" – @kanyewest pic.twitter.com/XtyUteCgUZ
— albertoreyes (@albertoreyes) November 18, 2016
After scuffles and boos broke out, West attempted to clarify his comments about Trump, insisting that his support for the president-elect, a man who used racist and divisive language throughout the campaign, doesn’t mean he’s against things like the Black Lives Matter movement or the fair treatment of women.
Kanye just said if he had voted (which he didn't) he would've voted Trump. pic.twitter.com/g2HyFz6KPD
— Justin (@justin_yang) November 18, 2016
While West is known for making controversial statements, his rant about Trump only further normalizes the rhetoric and actions of a man who picked a white nationalist to be his chief White House strategist and has apparently tapped Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions, who’s been hostile to civil rights groups and once allegedly said he was fine with the Klu Klux Klan “until I found out they smoked pot,” to be the Attorney General.
During his rant, Kanye claimed neither Clinton or Trump would end racism, and he’s right. But only one of them seems to be actively appointing those who harbor racist, sexist, xenophobic, and homophobic views to the most important jobs in the country.
