Now, Auntie Regina is feeling conflicted about Kanye. Sure, he seems a bit “ticky ticky boom boom” at times, but his underlying message often carries some truth. Kanye West, who transitioned from producer to rapper to fashion designer, has become an international superstar. However, in recent years, many people have distanced themselves from him due to his constant antics and controversial statements. Today, we’re going to discuss some of his most infamous moments that continue to stir up controversy. Are y’all ready to explore how Kanye went from “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people” to “You hear about slavery for 400 years. For 400 years? That sounds like a choice”?
In America, the Confederate flag has been a heated topic of debate for a long time. Supporters of the flag argue that it honors those who fought in the Civil War and serves as a symbol of pride. The Confederate battle flag, however, has been misused by neo-Nazis and other hate groups, causing significant offense. Some believe it should be left alone because it represents history and shows where we come from. Conversely, many see it as a symbol of hate and oppression, as it was once flown by those who fought to preserve slavery. Critics also note that the flag was rarely flown from the end of the Civil War until the 1950s when it began to be used by some Americans and Southern state governments in protest of the civil rights movement and desegregation.
So, what does all of this have to do with Kanye? Well, in 2013, Kanye tried to rebrand the Confederate flag by wearing a jacket with the flag patched on the sleeve. But he didn’t stop there; he even released merchandise featuring the flag. Clearly, Kanye isn’t from the South. Has he ever even stepped foot in Alabama, Georgia, or Mississippi? Imagine dropping him off in one of those deep Southern states, on a back road where you pass houses barely standing, with roofs in disrepair, yet proudly displaying Confederate flags. Let’s see how they’d feel about his rebranding efforts then.
Why did he use the flag? Kanye told AMP Radio that to him, the Confederate flag represented slavery. He said, “So I wrote the song ‘New Slaves.’ I took the Confederate flag and made it my flag. It’s my flag now. Now, what are you going to do?” Well, we’re going to call you foolish, just like we have for years. Hip-hop historian Professor Dave Cook told KTLA 5 News that Kanye risked endorsing something overtly racist instead of using it as a chance to educate people on the flag’s symbolism and the racism attached to it. To make matters worse, Kanye launched his Confederate flag merchandise just months after white supremacist Dylann Roof killed nine Black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina. This tragedy sparked discussions about racism and white supremacy in America, including the fact that the South Carolina state capitol was still flying the Confederate battle flag at the time of the shooting. The flag has since been removed.
In the end, Kanye’s attempt to rebrand the flag left people wondering about his true intentions. Was he making a historical statement, or was it all for clout? I’ll take doing it all for clout for 200, Alex.
In a 2016 interview with Clique TV, Kanye West shared his thoughts on racism in America. He said he didn’t like the term “racism” because he felt it no longer applied. “Racism is a dated concept,” Kanye explained. “It’s a silly idea people use to separate, alienate, and exploit. It held people back in the past.” While it’s clear that racism is wrong, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist anymore, Kanye. He went on to say that class and economic inequality are now the main barriers holding people back.
Fast forward two years to May 2018, and Kanye made headlines again with a controversial statement on TMZ. “You hear about slavery for 400 years. For 400 years? That sounds like a choice. Like you were there for 400 years and it’s all of y’all?” This sparked outrage. He then doubled down on his statement by tweeting a quote supposedly from Harriet Tubman: “I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.” This tweet suggested that Tubman believed many slaves chose to remain in bondage. However, historians and scholars, including a writer from Vox, have debunked this quote as fake. The writer pointed out, “This particular fake quote emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s, used by white and Black conservatives to criticize young Black men.”
The writer also explained that claiming slavery was a choice is ignorant because enslaved people knew they were slaves. Their inability to love freely, work for their own benefit, travel without restriction, raise their children, and determine their futures was not a mental state. Slavery took away their choices, leaving them with only two options: live or rebel and die. This topic is deeply personal and infuriating, so let’s dive in and get educated. Class is in session, so sit down and pay attention.
Psychological warfare is very real, and that’s a big reason why many of our ancestors stayed in slavery. When you see your fellow man beaten down mentally, it breaks your spirit and fills you with fear. People wanted to stay where they were because the first priority is to stay alive. On the other hand, there were enslaved individuals who thought, “One day, I’m going to die anyway, but I’d rather die trying to be free.” This was the mindset of Harriet Tubman and those who followed her. They chose to risk everything for freedom, despite the fear and brutality of slavery. So yes, staying was a choice, but it was a choice rooted in fear and psychological manipulation.
In another instance, it took someone about three months to offer a half-hearted apology after causing hurt and disappointment during an interview with a Chicago radio station. Many people questioned if he was sincere.
Back in 2006, he told Essence magazine that without race-mixing, video vixens wouldn’t exist, referring to mixed-race individuals as “mutts.” This statement caused a lot of backlash. Then, before his 2016 Yeezy fashion show, he put out a casting call for “multiracial women only,” which many saw as a sign that he had issues with unambiguously Black women.
During his failed presidential run in 2020, he argued with a Black woman who disagreed with his views on guns, criticizing her for wearing a face mask. He also criticized other Black women who spoke up, but when a white woman voiced her disagreement, he praised her bravery. Despite all this, his die-hard fans kept defending him. But when he wore a “White Lives Matter” shirt with Candace Owens at his Yeezy fashion show, it was too much for many people. They saw it as the final straw, and it led to widespread condemnation.
The Anti-Defamation League says that “White Lives Matter” started as a racist reaction to the Black Lives Matter movement in 2015 and has been supported by white supremacist groups ever since. Kanye later said he wore the shirt simply because “white lives do matter.” But come on, no one’s arguing that white lives don’t matter—we’re just focusing on Black lives right now. Ironically, Kanye couldn’t even sell the shirts because the “White Lives Matter” trademark is actually owned by two Black people. That’s checkmate right there.
Millions watched in horror as George Floyd was killed by police officer Derek Chauvin in May 2020. By June 2021, Chauvin was sentenced to 22 years in prison for murder and another 21 years for violating civil rights. Yet, Kanye, appearing on Drink Champs in October 2022, questioned the cause of George’s death, suggesting it was due to fentanyl use—a claim often parroted by right-wing outlets to shift blame away from Chauvin. Kanye cited Candace Owens’ statements from a documentary to back up his claim. Despite a medical examiner ruling George’s death a homicide and Chauvin being convicted of murder, Kanye had the audacity to spread this lie. His comments drew widespread backlash, and George’s family’s lawyers drafted a cease and desist letter, planning to sue him for harassment, misappropriation, defamation, and infliction of emotional distress. Civil rights attorney Lee Merritt nailed it with a tweet: “Claiming Floyd died from fentanyl, not the brutality established criminally and civilly, undermines and diminishes the Floyd family’s fight.”
After making several anti-Semitic remarks, Kanye finally faced consequences. His appearances were canceled, his bank severed ties with him, and both Balenciaga and Adidas ended their partnerships, causing his net worth to plummet. While many were glad to see him held accountable, others were frustrated it took so long. One online user tweeted, “Fact: Before Kanye West was the face of anti-Semitism, he was one of the hip-hop faces of misogynoir, anti-Blackness, Trumpism, and slavery denial. And y’all still gave him contracts, documentaries, endorsements, clothing deals, and millions that became billions. Shame.” Couldn’t have said it better. Mic drop, please.