When I heard that Kanye had said "400 years of slavery, sounds like a choice." I felt compelled to watch the video and assess whether Kanye had truly fallen off the ledge of sanity.
Here are my initial thoughts:
Watching the TMZ interview, the first thing that struck is that Kanye was struggling to articulate what he was thinking.
When he made the slavery comment it was clear (to me at least) that he misspoke. As when asked to clarify he stated 'right now we're choosing to be enslaved.' People whose ancestors were slaves have a choice of how they use that as a frame of reference. I think this was the point he was trying to make albeit badly.
I also want to comment on his friendship/ admiration or whatever he has for Trump.
If he classes Trump as "his boy", a 'dragon energy' kindred spirit or whatever that's on him.
We all have a friend that believes some shit we might find outlandish. I'm sure Kanye himself has friends that oppose his views on Trump but still stand by him. I think Kanye is taking a similar stance, however ill-advised it may or may not be. This idea that he should be shunned because he admires the guy that America elected as their president seems over-the-top. Sure debate whether you think he is misguided but some of the hysteria has been jarring.
We live in a time where it is fashionable to polarise and sensationalise everything in exchange for likes shares and retweets.
Whether you agree with Kanye's views or not, do they really warrant the overraction and vilification that ensued? The problem with today's social media culture is that people want to digest their information in 140 character soundbites and respond with two word expletives. The art of conversation and debate and agreeing to disagree is lost in favour of shutting people down, name-calling and internet memes.
The lesson I take away from Kanye's comments is we need to learn to listen and challenge (rationally) what we hear and what we believe. Being able to truly listen to views you disagree with is one of the most powerful tools you can have on your arsenal, no matter what your colour or political inclinations.
Yeah, and some of my best friends are Nazis... NOT.
Too much moral relativism is how such forces rise to power. The only thing we need to be intolerant of is intolerance itself, so when someone espousing intolerance as the current US president does (who was NOT fairly elected as current investigations will eventually show) that person needs to be denounced. As a people we need to speak up and say that this is NOT what America stands for, or at least not what we personally stand for. To do otherwise is to be complicit with the harms that result from racism, religious oppression, etc. that this administration stands for.
No one is forcing West to espouse his political views publicly. Just because he's a popular musician that doesn't mean he owes the public an expose on his political views. But when he voluntarily offers that he supports a neo-Nazi president, then tops up with a comment about slaves "asking for it," I say it is right for the people to speak up and treat him as if he is a nazi himself. That's truly being color blind.
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you really got to break down the quote to understand what he said is not what most think he said.
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Whether you agree with him or not, Kanye has every right to think for himself and express his views. I respect him for taking a stand even though his comments are stongly disfavored by most of his friends in the entertainment industry. Freedom of speech doesn't just mean that you get to say what you want and hear things that are consistent with your views. It means you have to allow others to say things you don't want to hear.
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I actually watched this TMZ interview yesterday. Kanie just lost it. The worst thing is he blame everyone else for his mistakes, his missteps. Not mentioning his phrase “400 years of slavery, sounds like a choice." At the end he cooled down, but still, it’s not the first time he made such a controversial statement. I have no idea what goes through his head, but to me it seems like he needs a professional help.
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I think he has shown some real metal standing mostly alone in the black community supporting Trump. So, my hat is off to him! As far as him needing professional help... is there any musicians or actors that don't?
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Occam's razor says Kanye is just a twat, but don't discount the possibility that there's more going on here. He was $50 million in debt in 2016. Then he cozies up to Trump. Now he's saying stuff like this and appearing on Alex Jones? That's damn suspicious.
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2+2=4, - 1 that's 3. It's not even suspicious it's plain obvious. I wager he's going to be a billionaire very soon if Trump manage to secure his next term.
If there's a way to go margin long on him, I'll take all my assets and be all in.
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I have not actually listened to what he said i have noticed a lot of people losing their shit though lol...i don't think anyone should take what Kanye West says too seriously anyway.
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I think Kanye West is hitting the nail at the head. You say you want freedom, yet you are not free to choose who you want to associate with. I don't think that is freedom.
Kanye West is correct, he just wants to be free. That is not a bad thing.
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Well, what do we have here :D
I don't know how I've gotten here but I feel compelled to let you know I found this video very amusing. Looking foward to more of your input.
Greetings from Kenya Nanzo! (Such as interesting name, just like your opinion)(:
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Kanye West statement was taken out of context, what he is trying to say and explain is that been free is a state of the mind , that freedom is something you have and not something you ask for. If you think you are free then truly you are free @nanzo-scoop
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As far as I'm concern, people are just making a big deal out of nothing. We are all at liberty to choose our friends and people we support. If Kanye West admires, Trump, that is his choice which we all have to respect after all this is a man that contested and won an election in the USA
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I don't think Kayne west may have just miss it with that statement. Thanks for sharing
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It's great to enjoy your incredible video of slavery. What a remarkable language in narrating about slavery. Greetings of peace!
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i think your points are really well articulated and i appreciate reading them. while i find kanye's favor of trump baffling and distasteful, you're right it's no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater.. i see kanye as a performer! first who says outlandish things just because. we take everything so seriously (but you know i wouldn't be caught dead loving trump!) ... and he shows us this other outlandish side... not always sure where he's going with things, but why should we care so much?
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I think he is just interested in putting people into so many qualms about himself.thanks for sharing this video sir @nanzo-scoop
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Well said. Nuance is an aspect of discourse that we have largely lost in modern society.
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With his recent comments about slavery, Kanye West may have just waded into his biggest controversy yet.
During a Tuesday appearance on TMZ Live, the rapper talked about his relationship with President Donald Trump and mused on a number of different subjects. Then he made a claim that was shocking even for him.
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I couldn't agree more @nanzo-scoop. There has been many a time when I assumed I knew what another person was thinking based on their views and was surprised to find that, when looked at from their perspective, it made total sense that they believed what they did. I still didn't agree but I could see where they were coming from.
What I find hard is when people just take what they're told as truth and have no desire to investigate it for themselves. It's a challenge not to get irritated and polarised with them!
And on a completely different matter, thanks as always for your continued support. I appreciate it! 😊
Have a fun Bank Holiday!
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What is the one thing that connects Kanye's remarks with Connor McGregor's attack on that bus ?
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There are lot of things behind the stage that we do not seem to understand, the is a sudden love between trump and west
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Oh, very interesting!!!
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Thanks dear sharing this post .I alwys see your post and resteemit done.
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I believe that we are all human and we make mistakes we have virtues, good and bad things, in the end, only respect for the world of others should matter, each head is a world and I can't leave a friend behind because he thinks different, I think I would be left without friends! tolerance and respect... unfortunately some more famous than others and now the boom of social networks and their influence and lack of culture, cause a lack of control
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I agree there. It's how social media sites like Twitter and Facebook that got people caught in their own echo chamber, not paying mind to the things they post and succumbing to groupthink time and time again.
It's unproductive and dangerous.
Just because someone is famous doesn't mean every single word he says matters. If Simon Cowell one day says "The Higgs particle is a fabrication" im pretty sure no one gives a hoot. Why should it be different when a fashion designer talks about politics? Would people care if one day Jimmy Choo says "Brexit is a good idea"? Yea, I'd ask him to stick to making shoes too.
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Thanks for making this, cause I saw stuff here and there about Kanye and something about being black, but I didn't know what it was, and I didn't take the energy to look into it! I live in Brittany world which is free from 99.9% of pop culture references (besides my passion for reality shows! 😆) Most people are completely reactionary, and their egos love to choose a side just for the fun of it and to belong to the preferred group. So I appreciate you taking a step back and using your own intellect and judgment about something that obviously has people all riled. Boy, when you get those masses going! Whew!
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Kanye has always been a controversial figure, making outlandish statements for attention and hiding under the guise of being misunderstood, while his fans and sympathizers will sit trying to interpret his miscommunication, but this time around I think he has bitten more than he can chew, people are losing patience with his media tactics, I heard he has an album coming up, how convenient.
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What Kanye West said may or may not be true but he has been on these positions lately because he decided to reveal his political votes views and they differ from the standard of what the public thought he should believe or follow and now everytime he open his mouth it makes it to the news.
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Kanye West is a fashion designer, music producer, rapper, and a Hollywood celebrity. Not exactly the kind of guy people should take political commentaries from. IMO the people that joined the hate bandwagon got too easily swayed by Twitter sentiments and not stopping to think "why the hell should I take THIS Guy seriously".
Just imagine what would people's reaction be in a truly hypothetical scenario if Senator Ted Cruz were to suddenly say "Hip Hop isn't real music" in a interview. Yea, they'd all ask him to stick to politics.
Speaking of which, while we've all heard the president telling sportsmen to knelt to stick to sports, so far no one told Kanye to "stick to Hollywood" eh?
I love how America is tearing itself apart. Makes me feel not as bad to the nevertheless messed up situation my own country is in.
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I actually agree with Kanye to an extent. He speaks the truth, but I don't think the people are ready for it.
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It was one the news that was almost the day long on English speaking television, as the nature of modern journalism and social media, they all look for sensations and the news that can polarize, sometimes the words or thoughts you express was not really well done and could have double meaning is the worst. it is like in old proverb" the word is not a bird, once it is out you can't catch it" That is why it is really a difficult situation for promis when they asked to comment on one or other things, they have to be very careful when choosing what to say and expressing their thought. As journalists those people have to be aware that they transmit the information therefore, it is a great responsibility how they bring the information to readers or listeners and the most important they have to be neutral in their relationship to the subject or person.
As an artist, for us it is may be easier, we just show what we want to show the the people interpret it how they think, some people love it some not.
Thank you @nanzo-scoop for the chance to be able to know your view and was interesting to read what other people thinking.
Have a lovely weekend,
Cheers.
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Dude I appreciate your input.
I'm hearing 400 years and that brings us to now, right?
And I think he means that phrase "400 years of slavery" is a bought and paid for term so he is calling it out for debate, albeit in the strangest way.
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