Kanye West has a niche, and he has an audience and he is building a legacy. He is making his marks and has found a place in history within his circle of influence and it is as wide as it is. You can't take that away from him or anyone who has achieved many of their goals. You can say that about people full of fears who die unfulfilled.
It is a bit frightening reading the comments written by white men here in the States and abroad. One man, Jeffrey Vince, said, "Come here, "BOY" and get to pickin' that cotton before I whip you and then hang you!"
There was one white cat (Tim Moore) who had a bit of gentle insight that could bear civil scrutiny. He said, "If you read his comment, unlike the others, Its all about Kanye. Look at me , Im busy Making History. Hey Idiot Boy, history made you Didnt your mamma teach you how to Appreciate where you come from? You didnt get where you are without history Or all by Yourself. I think thats why people dislike you! When in the public eye."
Others raged and ranged between calling Kanye West an asshole male and an alpha female to an 'ass clown sissy bitch!' It was brutal, but it showed a deep sense of the history of white men's sense of outrage against Black manhood defined outside of the range of expectancy white men deem to be the totality of a Black man's masculinity, strength, and voice.
But, on another hand the words Kanye West said, "I feel like I am too busy writing history to make it." is full of reprehensible holes in his thinking. He misrepresented his race, and skirted away from his cultural legacy of excellence. In earlier times before Blacks had the right to vote, and lynching was outlawed most Colored folks would have been embarrassed at any Negro visible in the white man's world saying something that made him look less than. It would be better if he'd accompany any boast with a deep sense of being well read in history. It would have made him scholastically relevant. After all he is a wordsmith, and the responsibility of working with words and having a voice and being thoughtful about the responsibility his position holds, and his gifts accord him is serious.
Maybe he did deserve the backlash from white men themselves manipulated by rich white men who have historically ruthlessly manipulating poor and poorer whites for their comfortable gains with skill and consistency. But, that is a history lesson white men without power have to unearth for themselves before any of us can sit down as men and begin to reconcile what needs to be reconciled within us, and between us. - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 9.17.13
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| Kanye WEST |
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