September 29, 2005 @ 11:02 am

Opinion: Kanye West For President

by: Maurice Jamal

You’d either have to be living under a rock or participating in the Afghanistan elections to have not heard of Kanye’s comments about the President of The United States. Earlier this month, during a Katrina relief telethon, Mr. West made the claim that “President Bush doesn’t care about black people.” Comedian Mike Myers, Kanye’s co-presenter during the TV broadcast, stood there frozen by what many called “brazen and bold” comments. A week later West was a guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the host said she appreciated his honesty and added that Kanye had “the courage to say what others feel is true.” Since then, there have been articles, op-ed pieces, and news stories written about it. The White House has even had to respond to reporter’s questions about West’s accusations. And in the greatest sign of mainstream appeal, the comments have found their way onto Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show. What strikes me most is not the attention these comments have garnered, it is the lack of attention that his earlier comments about homophobia have received. Almost two weeks before, Kanye outed himself as a former homophobe and renounced his ways. Beyond that he decried the homophobia common place in hip hop, adding it was not acceptable to be hateful towards gays and extended this criticism to all anti-gay lyrical content. “Everybody in hip hop discriminates against gay people,” Kanye stated. He said the exact opposite of gay is the word “hip hop.” The Chicago rapper made a appeal on MTV, during his interview with Sway, to stop hate against gays. “Yo, stop it fam,” he said. In comparing the responses to Kanye’s remarks, I am aware that the comments about Bush were made in the context of the Katrina aftermath, but Mr. West’s statements about gays came weeks before the tragedy, and I am looking at them through those lenses. Kanye’s comments were so powerful because it didn’t come from a former artist, defunct low-level record executive or disgruntled stylist. It came from the most successful artist on the hip hop charts. A multiple Grammy winning producer/performer who stands at the peak of his game and gains nothing from saying it. Not only did he ask for an end to homophobic lyrics (far from a request of tolerance), Kanye asked for an end to homophobia itself. Not just in hip hop, but throughout the black community and across America. We expect The Wendy Williams Show and other urban radio outlets to talk about Kanye West, but the conversation never went any deeper. Mainstream black media barely seemed to notice. Black newspapers, talk radio and weekly news programs proceeded as if this wasn’t a news story at all. Maybe they had forgotten that hip hop is the single largest music form across the globe. Or that hip hop speaks directly to the minds and sensibilities of urban youth. Maybe for a week or two, they forgot that the Congressional Black Caucus itself has looked into the influence of hip hop on our community. Then came the remarks about the President and blacks, and suddenly the black media remembered again. The differences illustrate what has long been a stumbling block in the progress of Black America: our eagerness to blame white America but an inability to deal with our own issues. For generations we have consistently pointed at outside influences that “hold us down.” But when it comes time to take account of our isms we consistently fall short. Black America must move beyond finger pointing and start looking in the mirror. To that end, gay black Americans need to be more vocal. While it is laudable and encouraging that the rapper called for an end to homophobia, I was left wondering what efforts are we are making on our own behalf. If we aren’t advocating for an end to homophobia in our community, we certainly won’t be able to rely on our mainstream media to do so. After his criticism of Bush, several black comedians have called for Kanye to be President, and today I officially endorse him - but not for President of The United States. I can see him as the president of Def Jam, Bad Boy or any one of the reputable rap labels. In this role he’ll be able to do what many elect to forget rap music does: speak to our youth. While walking down the streets of Brooklyn this weekend, I heard a group of teens talking on their stoop. One of the guys remarked, “That Kanye be telling the truth, yo.” I certainly agree.

What do you think about this writer's opinion? Click here to comment. Maurice Jamal is a TV and film writer/director, comedian and social critic, his feature-film, The Ski Trip can be seen on TV’s LOGO Network. He is currently working on his next film, Dirty Laundry and resides in Brooklyn, NY. The views expressed by this writer do not represent beliefs held by VIBE. To submit opinion articles, please send completed transcripts to feedback@vibe.com (Subject: "Opinion").

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