Comments on: Was Kayne West Right??

By: Edwin

Edwin — Thu, 17 May 2018 22:57:04 +0000

Not only do I think Kanye had a point I also believe his words were taken out of context. He implied a metaphorical sense on his words, and although many interpreted as a direct disrespect to slavery and black history he had more of an underlying meaning. Adding on to the article I saw an interesting point made on social media, it was a direct rebuttal to the outcry and backlash on Kanye; The point made clear that during slavery many slaves were prohibited from learning to read and to write and now many kids and teens today refuse to read or to write any chance they can either in school or in their spare time. Also how during slavery many slave families were torn apart due to trading or running away & now many kids or teens living in urban communities want to run away from their parents home or want to leave when they have family responsibilities. Driving home the point that although the circumstances have changed the same things still persist and no one wants to strive to change anything or change the way things are.

By: Arthur

Arthur — Thu, 17 May 2018 14:23:35 +0000

Jill, talking about alarms and waking up, even a broken clock gives the correct time twice a day. Everything you say about Kanye is correct. I am no fan of the man or his music. I automatically dismiss everything he says and does. But when a friend who is a fan demanded that I read the interview, and I reluctantly did so, this one statement stood out.

And I gave it some thought separating the message from the confused and manipulated messenger. So, yes, everything you say about him is right. But take that phrase, yes, out of context for sure, but look at it and think about it. Can we, shouldn’t we, stop funding the people that are destroying us?

Obviously we can. But the revolution will not be televised. No one that the media shines the spotlight on will tell us this. It is up to us to see this and say this ourselves, and DO IT.

By: Jill

Jill — Wed, 16 May 2018 18:03:22 +0000

Y’all! “Kanye West” is a corporate product. When he does interviews, he’s at work, same as you or I wake up and go to an office, a factory, or a job at Mickey D’s. What he says during a planned interview is what he is allowed to say by his corporate bosses. PERIOD.

Last, don’t clean up what he said. West wasn’t talking about mental damage caused by racism. He said SLAVERY WAS A CHOICE. Slavery. You know, the kind with whips, chains, selling human beings, splitting up families, and making women the master’s whores? THAT WASN’T A CHOICE. But Kanye’s corporate handlers used him YET AGAIN to hurt black people. That is why they make black hip hop “stars.” To destroy black people. Get it yet? No? Then set an alarm for one minute from now and WAKE UP.

By: Daisy B

Daisy B — Wed, 16 May 2018 16:18:31 +0000

I am just reiterating what everyone else has probably said. This was a great article Professor Lewin. Mental slavery is what we continue to suffer from. That is why I cannot be mad at expressions like “being woke.” Only problem with that expression is what people take it to mean. Urging people to wake out of mental slavery sounds ‘woke’ to me. Maybe the outrage surrounding what he said was his choice of words, not to mention this is a sensitive topic. Especially now, given our political climate.

By: Rachid

Rachid — Tue, 15 May 2018 03:58:41 +0000

Nice article professor. I was telling my friends the other day that somehow he still have a good point but just didn’t know how to formulate. But I’m sure that the black man situation can be solved 80% by black people but most of us still waiting for the white man and God to save us. So I think that if most of us still saying that we can not do nothing unless the white man help us cause he put us in this situation I think most of us are still suffering from mental slavery. That’s why I think Kanye did had a point. But I’m not defending Kanye for saying that slavery was a choice. As an African that will be an insult to my ancestors who was forced to became inferior human beings. Most black people have been thought to think a certain way, so to conclude the problem is more mental and the situation can be solved if we start thinking differently.

Thank you for the article.

By: Arthur

Arthur — Mon, 14 May 2018 04:41:51 +0000

In the immortal words of Bob Marley, “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; None but ourselves can free our minds.”

By: H. Lewis Smith

H. Lewis Smith — Mon, 14 May 2018 04:16:37 +0000

Moment of truth: Our ancestors were both physically and mentally enslaved. Mental enslavement is far worse than physical chains and this is because the chains are invisible. Why is it the mental enslavement of our ancestors is NEVER, EVER mentioned or discussed? Who benefits from this lack of discussion, and who is at a disadvantage? These are rhetorical questions as the answers should be obvious.

Another question should be when were our ancestors ever mentally emancipated? The answer is NEVER! For contemporary African Americans to remain…mentally enslaved…it would indeed be by choice. The oppressor has no intentions of ever liberating our minds…this we must do ourselves or else remain eternally enslaved…which would be by choice.