What Happened to Kanye?

Yaasmeen Piper

Editor-in-Chief

Thirteen years ago during a live broadcast of a celebrity ridden benefit concert for victims of Hurricane Katrina, Kanye West said:“George Bush doesn’t care about black people.”

While the nation went into shock, for most of us black people this wasn’t new information.

If anything, we were happy more people were listening and Kanye was able to provide a voice for the voiceless.

Fast forward to today, with his MAGA hat and speeches endorsing a candidate that is supported by the KKK, called Mexicans rapists, bragged about being able to sexually assault women and said that there are some “fine people” who are also white supremacist and Neo-Nazis.

I’m not saying that Kanye necessarily supports all the things Trump has said and done.

However, he is still using his platform to urge his predominately black audience to support Trump.

During a performance on Saturday Night Live, Kanye gave a speech that prompted some boos, some cheers, but mostly awkward silence.

In parts of the speech posted in an article by CNN, Kanye talked about how the Democratic plan is taking fathers out of their homes and promoting welfare.

He claimed he was bullied into taking off his MAGA hat before going on stage then called his hat a Superman cape. 

He said that white people come up to him and asking why he supported Trump when Trump is a racist.

“If I was concerned about racism,” Kanye replied.

“I would have moved out of America a long time ago.”

This quote (and of course the millions of other things he said) strikes me as odd.

Is he saying that racism is no longer apart of America or that he’s not concerned about it anymore?

He didn’t stop there.

After the show, he took to Twitter and Instagram posting a picture of his ever-present MAGA hat with the following caption:

“this represents the good and America coming whole again.

We will no longer outsource to the other countries.

We build factories here in America and create jobs.

We will provide jobs for all who are free from prisons as we abolish the 13th amendment.

Message sent with love.”

Abolishing the 13th amendment? The same amendment that ended slavery?

In his defense, in a later Tweet, he clarified that he didn’t mean abolish, rather amend the amendment which he called slavery in disguise.

All of this comes not long after his “slavery was a choice” comments on TMZ, which he later apologized for also.

If this were anyone else it would have been chopped off as another pro-Trump Tweet.

But, for it to be Kanye, someone who has made such a staple in the black community, it hurt. It still hurts.

The comments sound like they came straight from Trump’s mouth and on to Kanye’s social media. It feels as if I’m mourning the old Kanye. That voice we thought we had? Gone.

That being said, Kanye West is not the voice for all black people.

Often, black officials or Hollywood elites are prompted to speak for all black people and give back to their “community.”

You never hear about a white person having to represent all white people.

However, to grow up with such an amazing artist that seemed to care about black issues and black people and then to turn around and support someone who so clearly does not care about black issues, it hurts.

People will still listen to Kanye’s music and maybe even buy his clothing and shoes, which is fine. but it wouldn’t be the same.

It’s looking like it will never be the same.

To Kanye, I really want you to look at Trump, look at everything he says, who supports him and what he stands for.

Do you really think this is the guy that is going to make America great?

Email at Yaasmeen at:

ypiper@live.esu.edu