On October 3, Kanye West shocked the world with a politically motivated runway show during New York City Fashion Week.
His show, originally marketed as a surprise show, included models, primarily black, wearing shirts with ‘White Lives Matter’ plastered across the back.
Initially, the ‘White Lives Matter’ campaign was created as a counter to the Black Lives Matter Movement (BLM), in attempt to diminish and discredit the traction the movement was gaining and the change it was creating. It has been labeled as hate speech by the Anti-Defamation League.
The Black Lives Matter Movement was started in 2013 as a response to the gun violence perpetrated against Black Americans, typically, though not always, by police officers. The movement gained traction in 2020, following the murder of George Floyd.
Later that week, Kanye posted on his Instagram, stating: "EVERYONE KNOWS BLACK LIVES MATTER WAS A SCAM. NOW IT’S OVER. YOU'RE WELCOME."
Kanye’s decision to feature anti-black hate speech in his runway show raises bigger issues: If the biggest celebrities and influencers of today are comfortable perpetuating hate, why would everyday people refrain from indulging in hate speech as well?
This is not the first time Kanye’s been in the spotlight for his statements regarding race and civil movements. The first incident was in 2013, when Kanye was spotted wearing a confederate flag on his jacket. The confederate flag continued to make appearances on his apparel throughout the year.
Kanye claimed that by wearing the confederate flag he was claiming it as his own, attempting to make it a symbol that supports the black community. While his intent was good, many still disagreed, claiming that by wearing the flag he was embracing the racist, anti-black and pro slavery ideas it originally stood for.
Following that event, he then made perhaps his most controversial comments surrounding race to date. On May 1st, 2018, Kanye had this to say regarding slavery:
“When you hear about slavery for 400 years — for 400 years! That sounds like a choice," He said in a TMZ interview.
In 2020, during his short-lived campaign for the presidency, Kanye found himself in hot water after claiming Harriet Tubman never freed any slaves. He justified this comment, saying “[S]he just had them work for other white people.”
By discrediting one of the biggest figures within Kanye West’s past, and the lack of accountability for the impact of his actions, demonstrates the overall mindset of ignorance. His words will likely have little impact on his life and well-being, considering how far removed he is from everyday society.
The same cannot be said for the little kids across America, watching their idol disregard the very serious race issues that plague America. West’s actions may have little direct impact on him, but it will be felt across the world.
Photo by Axel Antas-Bergkvist on Unsplash
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