Kayne West Speech during A Concert for Hurricane Relief - George Bush doesn't care about Black People
I decided to TiVo the NBC Fundraising Show because I knew I wanted to watch it, but figured something better might be on at the time. Instead I didn’t change the channel; I surfed the internet while the show played on in the background.
All of the sudden I hear Kayne West and Mike Meyers and look up. Then without a second thought Kayne West begins to deviate from the teleprompter and speak from his heart. He discussed my exact sentiments in my post White People Find Things Black People Loot. How the media portrays black people negatively (as looters) and white people in a positive light (finding items). His voice was a little shaky like on verge of tears, some of his thoughts got a little mixed around, but his points were made. He ended by mentioning now they (US) have permission to kill us (the army is authorized to shoot looters). This went on for about 1 – 2 minutes and I’m watching with my mouth WIDE open. This brother is amazing. He actually had the guts to go on LIVE NATIONAL TELEVISION and speak from the heart. All the while, Mike Meyers is standing nervously next to him.
BUT…
Then he said the words that made my heart beat extremely fast, I started to shake, I could NOT believe what I heard, he stared into the camera and said “GEORGE BUSH DOESN’T CARE ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE.” I felt proud, overwhelmed and smiling ear to ear because Kayne West just said what every/most Black People were thinking. Especially me.
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Transcribed by BlackGirl - Don't you love TiVo!
[Mike Meyers reading teleprompter]
“I hate the way they portrays us in the media. When you see a black family it says they are looting, when you see a white family it says they are looking for food. And you know it’s been 5 days because most of the people are black, and even for me to complain about, I would be a hypocrite because I tried to turn around from the TV b/c its too hard to watch. I’ve even been shopping, even before I’ve given a donation. So now I’m calling my business manager, right now to see what is the biggest amount I can give. And just to imagine if I, if I was down there and those were my pp. down there. So anybody who out there that wants to do anything to help with the set-up, with the way America is set up to help the poor, the black people, the less well off, as slow as possible. I mean this is, the Red Cross is doing everything they can and we already realize a lot of the people who could help are at war right now. Fighting another way, and they’ve given permission for them to go down and shoot us."
[Mike Meyers reading teleprompter]
"George Bush doesn’t care about black people.”
[ Cut to Chris Tucker ]
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LINKS
[ Fox News Article ]
posted by Camille @ 9:53 PM
9 comments
9 Comments:
You don't have to be a blackgirl to understand the historic significance here. I'm a white dude in early 40s who barely knows who Kayne West is. Some bloggers have dared to suggest this is Kayne's jump the shark moment.
Wrong. He just gained a lot of friends.
Here's what I had to say on the subject:
http://macliberals.com/wordpress/
Wow...
black-girl,
Thanks for your comments on my NuNation blog. I have answered you back.
As I peruse your blog I sense a great deal of anger at the white man. Your comments about Kanye West and his comment regarding Bush hating blacks is astounding to me. It displays the complete depth of his ignorance. You obviously agreed with the comment.
Let me pose a hypothetical question to all blacks. What if the President were black? Would we still be hearing these same remarks? Did Katrina know to hit where a predominantly black population lived? I, along, with most whites are growing very weary of constantly being blamed for the plight of Black America. Here's a news flash. The vast majority of the millions and millions of dollars being given to the relief effort is coming from the same "white devils" that many blacks accuse of "indifference". Most of the money that goes to black welfare recipients comes from the "white devils". It is getting old.
I weep for those people, black or white. I have given my money to help. The race-baiting needs to stop!
SHOCK,
Thanks for checking out my blog and commenting!
“As I peruse your blog I sense a great deal of anger at the white man. Your comments about Kanye West and his comment regarding Bush hating blacks is astounding to me.”
I regret that you feel that I have a lot of anger at “the white man”. I do not have anger at the white man, I do feel anger and outrage at the Hurricane Katrina disaster. I do not have anger at any group of people, that’s just wrong and I don’t support anyone who doesn’t like a particular group of people.
Kayne West did not mention Bush hating anyone; he said “George Bush does not CARE about Black People.” Care and Hate are very different things.
To be quite honest, Kayne West just voiced what most Black People were thinking. As much as we would like to be "Politically Correct", we have a high tolerance for Black Suffering. This has cause many of us (Black People) to feel our lives are not as worthy as that of a white life. I can only assume this is one of the legacies of slavery and the civil right movement, when we as Americans are/were use to seeing black people whipped, killed, sprayed with water hoses, attacked by dogs and lynched regularly. We even had postcard depicting lynching until 1930’s, this just shows how accustomed we are of black dying. Hopefully over time this apathy can change.
This indifference we feel in this country has caused many of us to honestly feel America does not care about Black People, which I’m sure you can understand. It’s just that the images on television of thousands of Black people dying and left to fend for themselves in a natural disaster has caused emotions to run high.
“It displays the complete depth of his ignorance.”
Please explain how this shows his ignorance? What was he ignorant of?
“What if the President were black? Would we still be hearing these same remarks?”
Good question! What I would like to stress is that when people like music artist Kayne West makes statements like “George Bush doesn’t care about Black People” (A Concert for Hurricane Relief telecast on NBC), rather, when I say I agree with statements like this, I am not literally speaking of George Bush personally, I am agreeing that the U.S. Government does not care about black people. George Bush is synonymous with the U.S. Government. This is what you must realize, so even if Colin Powell or Condi Rice, a black man and black woman respectfully, was President, honestly I would feel the same way.
Now, I would be foolish to think President Bush personally doesn’t care about black people, I’m sure he does, as the cliché goes “he has Black friends”. I do believe though, President Bush does not identify with poor people in the U.S., who are in a majority black, but this is mainly a class issue, not necessarily race.
“I, along, with most whites are growing very weary of constantly being blamed for the plight of Black America.”
I completely understand this statement. Of course you have never owned slaves, nor did your parents and grandparents; therefore you ought not to be held accountable for the plight of blacks in America. But effects of slavery, reconstruction era, and the civil rights movement have left ingrained marks into American culture/society. Even though you are not directly the cause, your forefathers’ errors are imprinted in the next generation. What’s that old saying “the sins of the father...”?
I’m not sure how old you are, but during the 1960’s numerous people both black and white were killed/lynched during the civil rights movement. The 1960’s! What we tend to forget is that the mistreatment, murder, and constitutional infringements of black in the US was still going on in the 1970’s. During our lifetime.
Even though you, personally, did not perform, participate or condone this horrible treatment, the U.S. Government did play a role in these activities. Recently, June 13, 2005 to be exact, the United States Senate formally apologized for its failure to provide anti-lynching laws and protect its citizens. Of course, many of us were not aware of this event because Michael Jackson was found not guilty in his child molestation trial on the same day.
This action by the United States Senate just shows how even the government is starting to acknowledge their hand in the plight of Black Americans.
Of course, I do not consider white people a scapegoat for the problems which affect the black community. That would just be silly, but I do say some of the prejudicial attitudes in America have a direct effect on the plight of Black Americans. (i.e. finding job, housing opportunities, etc.)
“Here's a news flash. The vast majority of the millions and millions of dollars being given to the relief effort is coming from the same "white devils" that many blacks accuse of "indifference". “
Well, thanks for the news flash, but it was not necessary. I am aware many white people are donating millions of dollars to help with the relief, along with black people, numerous countries, and private corporations.
Where did “white devils” come from? First I never referred to anyone as a devil, nor would I ever do something like that. Secondly, you stated how you are not to be blamed for the plight of blacks because of pass actions, yet, you used the term “white devils”, a term that was used in the 1940’s – 60’s. Did someone recently refer to white people as devils? Do you think all black people view white people as “white devils”? I’m really interested!
Most of the money that goes to black welfare recipients comes from the "white devils".
First, why did you separate the black welfare recipients from the white recipients? Statements/thoughts like this just helps to perpetuate the separations between two groups of Americans.
Please continue to share your thoughts!!
I am not trying to be an ass, buy everyone keeps spelling Mr. West's mname wrong. It is Kanye, not Kayne. Sorry to be picky. Any way, you are right. Kanye used the word "like", not "hate". His ignorance is displayed in many ways, but mostly in not understanding that politicians, Republican or Democrat, pander for the "black vote" at election time like clock work. He "likes" anyone he can get a vote from. The Republicans could have used a "quick response" effort to pander to blacks during the next election. Don't think that the oppotunity to do this has escaped them. Kanye, along with Jesse Jackson, the Congressional Black Caucus... have completely obfuscated the issue by inserting the non-issue of race. Who decides what an "appropriate" response time is? What is "logical"? Who decides? Who is right? To what do we compare the response time? Nothing this vast has ever happened. Kanye, along with others, is insinuating that the "slow response" is because of race. That is ignorant!
My use of the term "white devil" comes from stements made by Louis Farrakhan, Wallace Fard, Malcolm X... I know they are extremists and maybe I apply the term too loosely. Maybe not all blacks feel that way. You tell me. It sure feels that way, especially in light of the black community's charge of racism in the response to Katrina.
I only mention "black" welfare recipients because that it what all this discussion is centered around- black/white. I think you took my bait and made my point! I know the facts. There are actually- in sheer numbers- more white people on welfare. I am merely following the line of logic profered by many in the black community. It's a race thing.
Sorry for the typos and misspellings. Had to type fast and go!
Two cents time: Being in the United States Navy, the most important thing that I recognized with what happened with Mr. West is that he exercised the right of Free Speech. Everyone is allowed to have their opinions and express them in the United States without the fear of reprisal. This is due to the fact that the founding fathers were persecuted for their views.
In the Navy we have a saying, "If you lose respect for the person, respect the uniform.” I suggest both sides look at the common ground. 1. Free Speech was exercised. 2. Both sides of this argument seem to care about the people who are going thru this. The support issue is now 20/20 hindsight. What I can tell you from doing humanitarian assistance in South East Asia is that many countries that see the same horrors as us do not receive the same care and rights as us.
Final thoughts: If we disagree with a politician, we can vote and use our free speech. Unfortunately, this right of the American people is not used in the strength or the spirit it was and still is fought for. Do I agree with Mr. West? Yes and no, but I onlknow life from my perspective; a white middle class perspective. Therefore, I respect citizens right for exercising Free Speech and will enjoy my career in Japan.
Respectfully,
Drew Craft, USN
I really enjoyed this article. Their are a lot of people saying that he did this as publicity stunt because he has a record coming out. But the truth is that he was just talking on emotion as you can see.
Was it inappropriate what he said wrong? Yes! But was he wrong for expressing his views? No! He like so many other Black American feel that way. Like they are second-class citizens and when you turn on the news you see your kind on there drowning, on root top and no one they’re to help them. He just had a platform at this time to speak from his heart. He is not politician he is an Musician his views are just like the average Americans are “WE” the public make him a politician when we take what he is saying more than at face value and look at the things that we know considering the situation that we know as well as what we don’t know happen.
Besides, ARC and I think I view it on MSNBC got Kayne for this event to raise money but also get rating. So they asked Him to come and do this event to draw people viewer to their channel to donate money for a good cause yes but also bring viewers to their channels. He like so many other Americans was going through their own copping with it the situations.
You can’t please people ( Americans) for anything Political (Whites) people are complaining about Kayne statement he made and emotionally attached people (Blacks) are complaining evacuee being called Refugees. This cause can and will be debatable for years on out we will never know why he made the statements. He could have just gone off into his own thing cause he didn't like the script that they wrote and he want to free style < which he is not all that great at>. The issues defiantly need to be address.
Drew,
Thanks for taking the time to comment! You brought up a good point I neglected to discuss Free Speech! Mr. West’s comments immediately bring to mind the famous quote, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”. You are right, we can disagree or agree with his comments, but he should be free to say anything he wants.
I guess the real issue is "should he have spoken his opinion at the telethon"? I have mixed feelings about that, but I am sure he was full of emotion and felt compelled to speak from the heart.
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