Kanye West
*On this date in 2018, Kanye West, in an extended interview conducted by the Power 105 morning show host Charlamagne Tha God, talked about American slavery.
After an April 18th, 2018 interview was published, West made the taped appearance at TMZ headquarters, touching on many points at a higher emotional frequency, including several statements about slavery that inspired reaction on social media. West began the criticism of race by citing new lyrics. “I got this rap that says: Parents are the strippers/strip they kids of their confidence/teach white dominance/question your common sense/I’ve been washed in tradition, now I’mma rinse/hopped off the Amistad and made ‘I’m a God.’”
He explained that the conversation about putting Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill “was the moment that I wanted to use Bitcoin,” adding: “It’s like when you see all the slave movies. Why you gotta keep reminding us about slavery? Why don’t you show us, put Michael Jordan on a $20 bill.” About Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, he added: “Man, I know this is going to cause an uproar, but certain icons are just too far in the past and not relatable, and that’s what makes them safe.”
Regarding American slavery, West was more scattered on the subject; he said, “When you hear about slavery for 400 years — for 400 years?” “That sounds like a choice. You was there for 400 years, and it’s all of y’all? We’re mentally in prison.”
