Kan it!
Rapper’s ‘slavery was a choice’ claims blasted Support for Trump ‘helps to fuel racism’
KANYE West has been blasted for being “ignorant” and “uneducated” after making “harmful” claims that slavery was “a choice”.
The star gave a bizarre interview in which he said: “When you hear about slavery for 400 years... for 400 years? That sounds like a choice.
“Like, you was there for 400 years and it’s all of y’all? It’s like we’re mentally in prison.”
Will.i.am led the backlash against the rapper’s comments, saying: “That statement was one of the most ignorant statements that anybody who came from the hood could ever say about their ancestors, that slavery is a choice. What are you talking about?”
The Voice star, 43, said his “grandmother’s grandma” was a slave, and told Good Morning Britain: “When you’re a slave, you’re owned. You don’t choose if you’re owned. When you’re a slave you’re deprived of education. That’s not choice, that’s by force.”
He added [to Kanye]: “I hope it’s not to raise awareness so you could sell some records and some shoes, because that would be the worst thing to do – to stir up this very touchy race situation and you be the benefactor from it.
“That is harmful. I will not throw my ancestors under the bus to profit.”
Hollywood film director Spike Lee accused West of making “uneducated” comments and urged him to “wake up”. During the slavery rant on TMZ Live, West was confronted by reporter Van Latham.
Later the Gold Digger rapper, 40, who is married to reality star Kim Kardashian, attempted to clarify his comments, tweeting: “To 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.” In the interview he also spoke of his support for President Donald Trump. But US civil rights activist DeRay Mckesson, tweeted: “Kanye’s rhetoric continues to fuel the racist right-wing folks who believe that black people are responsible for their oppression.”
West also revealed he became addicted to opioids following liposuction, admitting he had the procedure because, “I was trying to look good for y’all”.
When you hear about slavery... for 400 years? That sounds like a choice KANYE WEST SPEAKING IN WEBSITE INTERVIEW It was one of the most ignorant things you could say on slavery WILL.I.AM RESPONDING TO WEST’S COMMENTS