Hip-hop vocalist and producer Kanye West took actions that threaten to make him a symbol of the racial divide between blacks and whites, Media Assassin reported Sept. 14.
At the MTV Video Music Awards ceremony last Sunday, West interrupted young female country star Taylor Swift during her acceptance speech for the “Best Female Video” award. West seized the microphone and announced to the audience that Taylor’s competitor Beyoncé “had one of the best videos of all time.”
West was asked to leave the awards show soon afterwards.
An outburst of posts by Twitter s has surfaced since the incident, with many postings using racially-charged to dishonour West and his actions.
West’s choice to interrupt Swift’s speech was inappropriate and shows an arrogant lack of respect for both the young artist and the awards show.
Despite its insensitivity, West’s interruption doesn’t come close to meriting the abrasive outpour of racial slurs Twitter s have been tweeting his way. Viewers are justified in calling West out for his belief the urgency of his personal views trumps respecting the choice of an award show’s jury, but racist comments are intolerable. Responding with hatred is a far cry from a constructive search for mutual respect.
It’s deplorable for people to hide behind the anonymity cloak provided by technology while promulgating objectionable, racially-charged opinions. The use of ugly language with an ugly history to sensationalize trivial discontent with a pop artist is inexcusable.
However off-putting, West’s actions aren’t surprising. As a rising star in the tough rap music culture, West has learned to inhabit the persona of a self-made man who speaks his mind without fear.
At the end of the day, teen VMA viewers are likely to care less about who wins the award than the thrill of sensational gossip from stars acting out of line. Kanye’s secret to mainstream success may be combining his producing talent with a knack for keeping himself in the news.
We should be able to initiate widespread, constructive dialogue about racism without having it be a reaction to some conflict sparked by a rapper and a country star.
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