I found this post on a web-site that I will sometimes check out. Although some of the posts on this site are unsavory, this one was certainly worth a look. It shows Mike Meyers (of Saturday Night Live fame) and the rapper Kanye West. When Kanye speaks, it shows you exactly who the young black men in our country have to look up to.
NBC Hurricane Relief (Mike Meyers and Kanye West)
Kanye's remarks are completely irresponsible and outrageous to be spoken anytime, but especially during a telethon for the victims of Hurrican Katrina. People are dying, black people, white people, latinos, and other ethnic persons. This is not a race issue.
The fact that this has become a race issue shows me that we can never get past this issue. It saddens me, almost more than the loss of life. Yes, the plan was failed. Yes if there was a plan, it was executed poorly. But the people trying to help have given their all, and done all that the situation would allow.
Kanye West is the most popular black artist at this time, right off his MTV awards show wins, and his second fast selling album. But his behavior in the face of this crisis only demonstates the role models the African-American community choose to hold dear. However, other succesful black men and women are criticized. Colin Powell, Condi Rice, Barak Obama, Harold Ford, Morgan Freeman, and many other blacks have faced down racism and turned it on it's back. But lifting up individuals like Kanye West only digs up a issue we desire to see end.
UPDATE..... 9/9/2005
It seems that the American public my be sensible after all. Last night Kanye West appeared at the opening of the first NFL game of the year held in Foxboro, MA. He was greeted with a rather loud response the Drudge Report tells. Maybe white people hate Kanye West? But more than likely, all citizens, black, white, etc., hate stupidity.
September 04, 2005
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Over at Stop The ACLU (www.stoptheaclu.com) Jay posted a message that says Sen Kennedy is trying to use Katrina/racism as an issue to stand in the way of the Judge Roberts conformation.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless America, God Save The Republic
Over the Kanye West ordeal... Kanye spent time in prison, he is a horrible public speaker, and his music is about immoral things like stealing, and such. I am a college student and yeah, I listen to his music but I don't think he is a great role model. If you ask children and teenagers, their response of who is your role model will normally be a parent or family member or teacher. Famous people like Kanye West are just idols. We idolize them because they are famous and rich. So, really, Kanye West is not a role model. Duh.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sus for reading,
ReplyDeleteI agree that he is a horrible public speaker, and when placed next to Mike Meyers, it really looked painful to watch.
But the truth is, kids do look up to him. They do idolize him, but they also seek to be like him.
He does try to talk about other topics like in his song "Jesus Walks" which I do find quite rivoting for today's music scene.
But when personal attitudes border hate speech, that is when these "role models" need to remember who they speak to.
Again, thank you for stopping by, be sure to check back again.