Faith in Action

…I said out loud when I got the word that Grammy Award-Winning rap artist, Kanye West, had once again spoken from his un-politically correct heart and shared his views on the atrocious response to those left in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Friday, September 2nd, the NBC stations decided to air a live broadcast hosted by numerous tv, movie, and music stars in an effort to raise funds for the American Red Cross Relief Effort. In the days leading up to this broadcast, Americans all over the country and, in fact, citizens from all over the globe had been watching the travesty of bad government in the face of human need unfold. Many viewers by then had seen dead bodies covered by blankets sprawled on the lawns of what used to be a public park…they had seen senior citizens parked out front of the Superdome dead in their wheelchair…they had seen the tears of mothers beckoning for someone to help them find their lost children…they had seen government officials hold press conferences relaying that things were now under control when graphic images and interviews suggested otherwise. Apparently, Kanye West had seen this too.

During the NBC Special on Friday night, it came to the point in the broadcast when Kanye and funny man, Mike Myers (from movies like Austin Powers and Shrek) took center stage and were supposed to read the scripts prepared for them. Mike did a wonderful job of reading someone else’s words on live TV. However, Kanye, failed miserably. Instead, Kanye chose to speak his own words and that’s when the viewing audience received something that they didn’t expect. Visibly shaken and emotional, Kanye West waits his turn then unleashes a barrage of comments the brunt of which were directed toward the American Media and Government. Kanye started by criticizing the media about portraying Black people as looters and White people as searching for food then he said ( I paraphrase): America is set up to help the poor, the Black people, the less well off - as slow as possible. Now remember this is live TV. After Kanye delivers a stinging jab to the American System; he decides to follow with the haymaker. He said, “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people“. (If you haven’t seen it already - VIEW IT HERE!)

And that’s when I, with hands lifted, shouted with joy “NOW THAT’S HIP HOP!“…quite the same expression with which I reacted to the, now deceased, Ol Dirty Bastard’s interruption of the Grammy’s when he and fellow members of the WU Tang Clan didn’t win the Grammy for Best Rap Album.

You must understand - Kanye West isn’t the most articulate orator, however, in his emotional tirade on live tv he gave voice to the millions of Americans who wish they had 2 minutes to give President Bush or the American Government a piece of their mind. Despite the criticism hurled his way, Kanye affirmed the perceptions of people across the country who believe his comments wholeheartedly. I believe that the phrase - “Perception is reality” has some validity and while Kanye obviously lacks skill in the oratorical department, one of the greatest orators to walk the earth said it like this:

Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is in an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob, and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe.

Frederick Douglass, Speech, April 1886
US abolitionist (1817 - 1895)

So, Kanye I applaud you for finding the courage to speak your heart knowing full well that criticism would come. I encourage you to be prayerful and continue on that path - for then Hip Hop…true Hip Hop will be reinvigorated. If you continue you’ll follow the path of Hip Hop Ambassadors who broke rank - left (or never visited) the green grass of MO MONEY that comes to those in the rap game who glorify guns, girls, and drugs to leave a legacy of community empowerment or lyrical political activism. Rap artists who refused to poison their own people with vicious words and images designed to maintain the status quo. Persons like COMMON SENSE (before he was COMMON), IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE, Dead Prez, Chuck D and Public Enemy and even local Bmore artists like Eze Jackson and For The People Entertainment’s SQUADRE COMMITTEE.

I pray for the day when more and more rap artists and “HIP POP” aficionados will shake the shackles from their eyes - the chains from their brains and find something bigger than themselves to rap about.

Thanks Kanye for reviving my hope in mainstream Hip Hop and its artists.