By: Amanda Anderson-Niles
Kanye West claims that he’s taking the confederate flag and making it an uplifting symbol for African Americans. So the rapper has been rocking a jacket with the flag’s symbol and he’s even been selling confederate flag merchandise at his concerts. His close friend and Hip Hop legend Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest made it clear on his Twitter account that he cannot support Kanye’s latest draw of controversy, and many others in the African American community have voiced their anger with the “Yeezus” artist on social media. But now it appears another big figure of the African American community is also not impressed.
Rev. Al Sharpton has expressed in a statement that he thinks Kanye is wrong to try to start a movement encouraging African Americans to start rocking the confederate flag. Sharpton specifically wants all African Americans to boycott Kanye’s concert merchandise. He teamed up with the National Action Network and says:
“The Confederate flag symbolizes dehumanization, injustice and pain. It is a stark reminder of an era in our history that was defined by the abhorrent practice of slavery. And it is representative of a mentality that looked upon blacks as inferiors who needed to remain in the shackles of subservience.”
Najee Ali, political director of the Los Angeles National Action Network says:
“Kanye West already has several pieces of merchandise from his Yeezus tour that are emblazoned with the controversial Southern Cross at his tour store in Los Angeles. Our organization is determined to shut down that and any other store that decides to sell this merchandise. For African-Americans the confederate flag is symbolic of the hurt and pain of slavery in the South and the legacy it has left for those still living under those ideologies. When Kanye embraces and adorns this confederate flag, He also embraces the ignorance and racism that goes along with it.
“I challenge Kanye West to create a clothing line of merchandise featuring swastikas if he’s sincere about his beliefs . But we all know Kanye doesn’t have the courage to do that. The Jewish community would run him out of town if he did and so should the African American community.”
This is exactly what Kanye wants. If people started ignoring his attention whoring antics, he’d go away and stop trolling.
I don’t think Rev. Al Sharpton should boycott this because Kanye is just looking for attention. He knew he would get people talking when he started to wear that confederate flag. I never thought I would see the day when Kanye would resort to things like this for attention because his music sucks nobody cares about him and Kim or even little Nori anymore. Kanye is truly morphing into a real Kardashian anything for attention. This is pathetic.
Amen!
I’m sure Kanye is loving all the attention he’s getting. That’s what this was really about anyway.
He’s not worth a boycott! Sorry! Lol.
Kanye just wants to troll. I’m starting to think he’s panicking because he feels like he’s falling off.
When Al Sharpton and Q-Tip come after you, you should probably quit while u are ahead.
Kanye is just trying to get up those album and ticket sales. LMBO!
This will only boost Kanye’s unwarranted ego. Smh
Al Sharpton needs to have a seat. He is not a black leader.
No one needs to take Kanye seriously anymore.
I’m over Kanye. I don’t even get mad anymore. It’s obvious he just wants attention and his music has taken a back seat to attention whoring. Oh well.
Where was Sharpton when Russell Simmons made that Tubman video? Why didn’t he call for a boycott on that? I am tired of black people picking and choosing what is offensive. It is ALL offensive. Kanye is gone, and frankly, I don’t care to bring him back. He’s dying off (literally) and that’s what the majority of us want.