Rapper Kanye West blasts Bush on TV benefit show

NBC's levee broke and Kanye West flooded through with a tear about the federal response in New Orleans during the network's live concert fundraiser for victims of Hurricane Katrina last night.

The rapper was among the celebs and singers participating in the one-hour special, produced by NBC News and run on the NBC broadcast network, as well as MSNBC and CNBC, because, hey, the numbers couldn't be any worse than usual on a Friday night and hopefully they'd raise a chunk of change for a good cause, the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Among the performers, Faith Hill sang "There Will Come a Time," which included the lyrics, "The darkness will be gone, the weak shall be strong. Hold on to your faith." Aaron Neville performed Randy Newman's "Louisiana 1927" with its chorus: "They're trying to wash us away, they're trying to wash us away."

West was not scheduled to perform; he was one of the blah, blah, blahers, who would read from scripts prepared by the network about the impact of Katrina on southern Louisiana and Mississippi.

West and Mike Myers had been paired up to appear about halfway through the show. Their assignment: Take turns reading a script describing the breach in the levees around New Orleans.

Myers: The landscape of the city has changed dramatically, tragically and perhaps irreversibly. There is now over 25 feet of water where there was once city streets and thriving neighborhoods.

(Myers throws to West, who looked extremely nervous in his super-preppy designer rugby shirt and white pants, which is not like the arrogant West and which, in retrospect, should have been a tip-off.)

West: I hate the way they portray us in the media. You see a black family, it says, "They're looting." You see a white family, it says, "They're looking for food." And, you know, it's been five days [waiting for federal help] because most of the people are black. And even for me to complain about it, I would be a hypocrite because I've tried to turn away from the TV because it's too hard to watch. I've even been shopping before even giving a donation, so now I'm calling my business manager right now to see what is the biggest amount I can give, and just to imagine if I was down there, and those are my people down there. So anybody out there that wants to do anything that we can help -- with the way America is set up to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off, as slow as possible. I mean, the Red Cross is doing everything they can. We already realize a lot of people that could help are at war right now, fighting another way -- and they've given them permission to go down and shoot us!

(West throws back to Myers, who is looking like a guy who stopped on the tarmac to tie his shoe and got hit in the back with the 8:30 to La Guardia.)

Myers: And subtle, but in many ways even more profoundly devastating, is the lasting damage to the survivors' will to rebuild and remain in the area. The destruction of the spirit of the people of southern Louisiana and Mississippi may end up being the most tragic loss of all.

(And, because Myers is apparently as dumb as his Alfalfa hair, he throws it back to West.)

West: George Bush doesn't care about black people!

(Back to Myers, now looking like the 8:30 to La Guardia turned around and caught him square between the eyes.)

Myers: Please call . . .

At which point someone at NBC News finally regained control of the joystick and cut over to Chris Tucker, who started right in with more scripted blah, blah, blah.

"Tonight's telecast was a live television event wrought with emotion," parent company NBC Universal said in a statement issued to the Reporters Who Cover Television after the broadcast.

"Kanye West departed from the scripted comments that were prepared for him, and his opinions in no way represent the views of the networks. It would be most unfortunate if the efforts of the artists who participated tonight and the generosity of millions of Americans who are helping those in need are overshadowed by one person's opinion."

West's comments would be cut from the West Coast feed, an NBC spokeswoman told The TV Column. (The Associated Press later reported that only his comment about the president was edited out.) The show was live on the East Coast with a several-second delay; someone with his finger on a button was keeping an ear peeled in case someone uttered an obscenity but did not realize that West had gone off-script, the spokeswoman said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090300165.html

an African American entertainer gets into trouble, because he insists upon saying what he really feels about a disaster that has disproportionately affected Africans Americans, but is cut off by white people after departing from a script written by white people

--Richard

Anyone could have called out George Bush. However, Kanye made me proud because of HOW he called out Bush. He choose the right words at the right time. Kanye could have easily said, "Fuck George Bush" but he would have come off as an asshole. He could have also plugged his album, "Late Registration in stores now." But Kanye shared his 15 minutes of fame with all of us who have been watching the television with tears in our eyes.

Thanks Kanye

And on that note, I want to make a comment to some of my readers.

You have your opinion, and I have mine, but those of you who think that race and class has nothing to do with the efforts to help the people in New Orleans are the dumbest niggas I have ever met and I'm asking that you stop coming here. Seriously. Can your brain not see how the media focused on the rapes and 'the looting' and in turn it made the relief workers - who are paid to relieve people - not want to enter New Orleans? Anyway, bounce.

http://blogs.sohh.com/mr_irreverent/past_thoughts/2005/09/kanye_west_my_m.html#

During a live Charity Concert on NBC tv, rap star Kanye West abandoned his pre-scripted comments and spoke his truth.

“I hate the way they portray us in the media. You see a black family and they say we are looting, you see a white family and they say they are looking for food. And, you know, its been five days because most of the people ARE black.

And even for me to complain, I would be a hypocrite because I would turn away from the TV because it’s too hard to watch. I’ve even been shopping before even giving a donation, so now I’m calling my business manager right to see what is the biggest amount I can give.

And just to imagine, if I was down there and those are my people down there. If there is anybody out there that wants to do anything that we can help about the way America is set up the help the poor, the black people, the less well off as slow as possible. Red cross is doing as much as they can.

We already realize a lot of the people that could help are at war right now, fighting another way. And now they’ve given them permission to go down and shoot us.”

“George Bush doesn’t care about black people.”

Finally, a ’star’ entertainer breaks the mold, risking the wrath of the corporate media and music industry, and potentially his career, to speak up about the grave injustices caused by the US government under George W. Bush.

http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=8033

"I hate the way they portray us in the media. You see a black family and they say we are looting, you see a white family and they say they are looking for food. And, you know, its been five days because most of the people ARE black ... We already realize a lot of the people that could help are at war right now, fighting another way. And now they've given them permission to go down and shoot us. George Bush doesn't care about black people."

- Kanye West, speaking to a nationally televised audience on NBC

"We've never seen anything like this before." I have heard this phrase repeated several times by newscasters describing the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina. However, as I watched the footage of all those black bodies desperately trudging through dirty flood waters, I realized that I actually had seen something exactly like this before. It was one year ago, when Hurricane Jeanne slammed against the coasts of Haiti, a country which like New Orleans is both poor and black. The floods and mud slides ended up killing thousands of Haitians. The media gave scant attention to the matter for a few days; just long enough to get some sexy footage of houses being destroyed and valleys filled with floodwater. Enough to boost ratings for a while. Shortly after that, they packed up their equipment and got out of there faster than you can say "racist indifference."

The United States rendered so little aid as to be insignificant, and before long the entire incident had faded from the minds of most Americans. There were few cries of outrage over the fact that this country couldn't care less about the deaths of thousands of black people, but devotes countless hours of TV time to the latest Missing Pretty White Girl (I believe at the time it was Dru Sjodin, not Natalie Holloway). But people dying in Haiti is one thing. Americans have always found it easy to dismiss the deaths of those from other countries, especially when those countries are full of dark-skinned people. But who would think our government would allow something equally devastating to happen to people on our own soil -- to people who are full-fledged American citizens (in theory, anyway)?

Enter Kanye West. The future of hip hop. An artist who more than compensates for his less-than-stellar skills as an emcee with his razor-sharp wit and passion for justice and equality, not to mention his bravado. It's hard to imagine any rapper since Tupac Shakur having the guts to get brolic with the Commander-in-Chief on national TV. He will undoubtedly be savaged by detractors on the right and the left for "politicizing" a fundraiser to aid the victims of the flooding. However, I have little doubt that Kanye was saying exactly what most of the black residents of New Orleans are thinking right at this moment. As Kanye said on his last album, "Racism's still alive, they've just been concealin' it," but it's in times of crisis such as this one that America begins to show its true colors, and "black" isn't one of them.

The truth is, Kanye West didn't "politicize" a damn thing. George W. Bush did. The hurricane became a political issue the second Bush decided there were more important priorities than shoring up the preventive measures in New Orleans; such as giving tax cuts to billionaires and launching an evil, imperialist war against the people of Iraq. Hurricane Ivan made it abundantly clear that New Orleans was unprepared to deal with such a catastrophe if one were to occur. If only Bush could be half the statesman Fidel Castro is. The Cuban government managed to evacuate over a million people, and didn't lose a single life to Hurricane Ivan.

In fact, I'd say Kanye was far too generous. Bush, as well as some of the other players in this affair, don't simply "not care about" black people. They have been proactive oppressors of African Americans for years. As Texas governor, Bush never met a death certificate he didn't like. As a result, he is personally responsible for the executions of numerous black men. Mississippi's governor Haley Barbour warned that all "looters" would be dealt with "ruthlessly." This is a man who has been linked to the Council of Conservative Citizens, a group started from the White Citizen's Councils of the civil rights era. These were groups committed to the preservation of Jim Crow and had intimate connections and overlapping membership with the Ku Klux Klan. And the New Orleans Police Department doesn't need a "shoot to kill" order from the governor to go about attacking black folks. New Orleans consistently ranks among the top cities in the number of citizen complaints of police brutality. Just last month, a black man named Raymond Robair died after the police brought him to the hospital. Witnesses observed the cops brutally beating him, leaving him with four broken ribs and a ruptured spleen.

But don't expect the mainstream media to tell you anything negative about the New Orleans Police Department. Their time will likely be devoted to unsubstantiated stories that play into popular white fears about blacks -- stories about wild, black savages engaging in theft, murder, rape, and even cannibalism. White folks will eat it up like candy, and the ratings will soar accordingly. In a time when we are being bombarded by so many images and statements which seem designed to bring out the worst in us, it's very refreshing to see someone like Kanye West step up and call a spade a spade. Let's make sure he still has a career to go back to after the dust settles. First and foremost we should donate money to the relief efforts, but it would also be a good idea cop Kanye's new album, Late Registration. It's a classic.

Justin Felux is a writer and activist based in San Antonio, Texas. He can be contacted at justins [at] alacrityisp.net

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=72&ItemID=8654

this file threw an error in Quicktime player but did work in VLC media player.. http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

AS we enter the celebrity telethon phase of the Katrina tragedy, NBC's "A Concert for Hurricane Relief" stands as a blueprint for its own kind of institutional failure.

By censoring Grammy-winning rapper Kanye West's remarks critical of President Bush during its West Coast feed of the program Friday night, the network violated the most moving and essential moment in an otherwise sterile, self-serving corporate broadcast.

"It would be most unfortunate," the network said in a statement defending its action, "if the efforts of the artists who participated tonight and the generosity of millions of Americans who are helping those in need are overshadowed by one person's opinion."

Excuse me, but whose tragedy is this: NBC's or America's?

NBC may have been nervous about West's comments, including the notion that America and its president are unresponsive to the needs of the poor. But you can be sure those remarks would have been cheered more than anything else in the program by the black parents and children still trapped in the New Orleans Convention Center and the Superdome if they had been able to hear them.

The line NBC stopped us from hearing on the West Coast: "George Bush doesn't care about black people."

The puzzling thing is why NBC axed that, but allowed another provocation, potentially more disturbing, to stay in: "We already realized a lot of the people that could help are at war right now, fighting another way, and they've given them permission to go down and shoot us."

West was apparently referring to the National Guard troops who were sent to New Orleans to help the flood victims and stop the looting.

The show was aired live on the East Coast, where West's full comments were heard.

There was a several-second tape delay, but the person in charge "was instructed to listen for a curse word and didn't realize [West] had gone off script," NBC spokeswoman Rebecca Marks told Associated Press.

Whether we agree or disagree with West's impassioned riff on media and government racism, the network's relentless self-promotion was by far the more offensive part of the broadcast.

It started with a welcome from Bob Wright, the chief executive of NBC Universal, which was followed by thoughts from another chief executive, Capital One's Richard D. Fairbank.

Why Fairbank?

Capital One "underwrote" the telethon, which makes you immediately ask: Was his appearance part of the underwriting deal? The fact that the question comes up at all shows you how wrong that move was.

Then we had Matt Lauer, perhaps the most famous male face of NBC east of Jay Leno, host the program, and "feel-good" scenes of NBC anchor Brian Williams walking the streets with New Orleans musician Harry Connick Jr.

Surely Connick, also known for his appearances on NBC's "Will & Grace," knew his way around without Williams' help.

The censorship of West only added to the insult.

West, a black artist who is arguably the dominant creative force in mainstream popular music right now, isn't one of the thug-life rappers who might use a moment on a telethon for shock or exploitation purposes.

The most respected newcomer in rap, he has refocused interest on socially conscious themes, as did Curtis Mayfield and Stevie Wonder in R&B decades ago. There's even a spiritual undercurrent in his biggest hit, "Jesus Walks."

His provocative on-air comments come as his new album, "Late Registration," is expected to enter the national sales chart at No. 1 this week.

Thats what happens when you watch T.V they censor.

Thats why I dont wtach T.V except for cartoons.

I have to admit i havent been watching the news a lot.. although what i do glimps now and then is pretty horrifying. Anyway some one sent me this picture and it reminds me of what Kanye West said.

"I hate the way they treat us in the media, when you see a black family it says they're looting when you see a white family it says they're looking for food." -Kanye West, Rapper on NBC live telethon.

We need to recruit all the soldiers
All of God's soldiers
We at war
We at war with society, racism, terrosism, and most of all we at war wit ourselves
(Jesus Walks)
God show me a way because the Devil's trying to break me down
(Jesus Walks with me) with me with me with me [fades]

You know who the Midwest is?
Young & Restless
Where restless [Niggaz] might snatch yo necklace
And next these [Niggaz] might jack yo Lexus
Somebody tell these [Niggaz] who Kanye West is
I walk through the valley of the shadow of death is
Top floor, the view alone will leave you breathless
Uhhhh!
Try to catch it
Uhhhh!
It's kinda hard
Getting choked by the detectives yeah yeah now check the method
They be asking us questions, harassin', arrest us
Saying "We eat pieces of shit like you for breakfast."
Huh? Ya'll eat pieces of shit? What's the basis?
We ain't going nowhere but got suits and cases
A trunk full of coke, rental car from Avis
My momma used to say only Jesus can save us
Well momma I know I act a fool
But I'll be gone till November I got packs to move, I Hope

(Jesus Walk)
God show me the way because the Devil's tryna to break me down
(Jesus Walk) with me)
The only thing that I pray is that me feet don't fail me now
(Jesus Walk)
And I don't think there is nothing I can do now ta, right my wrongs
(Jesus Walk with me)
I wanna talk to God but I'm afraid because we ain't spoke in so long

(Jesus Walk)
God show me the way because the Devil's tryna to break me down
(Jesus Walk with me)
The only thing that I pray is that me feet don't fail me now
(Jesus Walk)
And I don't think there is nothing I can do now to right my wrongs
(Jesus Walk)
I want to talk to God but I'm afraid because we ain't spoke in so long.


To the hustlas, killas, murderas, drug dealas even tha strippers jesus walks with them
To the victims of Welfare for we living in hell here hell yeah jesus walks with them Now hear ye hear ye want to see Thee more clearly
I know He hear me when my feet get weary
Cuz we're the almost nearly extinct
We rappers is role models, we rap we don't think
I ain't here to argue about his facial features
Or here to convert atheists into believers
I'm just trying to say the way school need teachers
The way Kathy Lee needed Regis that's the way I need Jesus
So here go my single dawg radio needs this
They say you can rap-about-anything except for Jesus
That means guns, sex, lies, video tapes
Jesus Walks Lyrics
Artist(Band):Kanye West

But if I talk about God my record won't get played, Huh?
Well if this take away from my spins
Which will probably take away from my ends
and i hope it take away from my sins
and bring the day that I dream about
Next time I'm in the club everybody screamin out

(Jesus Walks)
God show me the way because the devil's tryna break me down
(Jesus Walks)
The only thing that I pray is that my feet don't fail me now

Whether or not I agree with West is of no consequence, what I think is the most significant thing about his comments was that he was able to speak them. I am a white guy from Idaho, and most of my understanding of racial politics is limited to what I can research, but to me, this move by West is encouraging. While recognizing that we have a long hard road to racial equality, West, a young black male went on national tv and spoke his mind against the White House, with perhaps the most obvious consequence loss of record sales.
30-40 years ago this would have been completely unheard of. We are a nation of people moving slowly forward. Kanye West has just taken another large step.

First of all...let me say that issues (involving racism) in the south are extremely different than they are anywhere else in the United States. Even though I may be heavily criticized by the comment I am making, people have to understand that "racism" in the south only exists in the minds of those who want it to still exist. People who feel that they are still treated unfairly, even in this day and age, are those who are quick to blame racism on others. Kanye West, being from the south, shares the opinion with many others that George Bush "doesn't care about black people". How ignorant does someone have to be to make a comment such as that? I have read and read comments from those who share West's opinion but haven't come across many that refute it. To say that the media exposes black and white people in certain ways is ridiculous. With majority of New Orleans population being black...who do you think the media would show portraying acts of looting, stealing, rebelling, etc.? The citizens of New Orleans-regardless of what color they are! Race has no effect on how the remaining people of New Orleans are being treated...economic class should be considered more of a determining factor in my opinion. Most of the people who remain in New Orleans relying on goods to be brought into them are those who could not afford or do not have ways to have evacuated the city. The fact that most of those people are black should not be tied in with racism accusations. Basically, what Kanye West said were the bitter and cynical ravings of a racist in disguise and for people not to be able to see that is unbelievable. Racism only exists in the minds of those who want it to...so that they can always have someone to blame...the white man. It is sad to see that Americans today are still fighting racism. I believe that those who blame others of racism are hypocritical. It is obvious to everyone...except those who are the ones pointing fingers and shouting "racism" every chance they get. I would like to add that this is my vision on racism, being from the south. I have live here my entire life and must say that the tension between black and white people does exist in this area. But to go as far as blaming the goverment of the United States is beyond me. Not everyone is out to get you...

"racism in the south only exists in the minds of those who want it to still exist"

Where do you live? The KKK is still active in much of the country and you are trying to deny racism exists. Can you explain why white militias near New Orleans are shooting Black peopel on site out of fear they may steal food to stay alive while the same white militias are more than willing to give aid to white folk? A lot of this tragedy is due to poverty more than racism but racism is a huge problem nationwide and the main difference between the South and North is that poor Southern Whites are more open about it.

"racism in the south only exists in the minds of those who want it to still exist"

Also Bush isnt really from the South and neitehrare most of the racists who sat by as thousands died before the public outcry forced action.

Context is required to understand Kanye West's latest outburst -- criticizing President Bush on national TV during telethon

Kanye West's outspoken criticism of President Bush's response to Hurricane Katrina has become one of the most controversial statements by a popular musician since Sinead O'Connor tore up a picture of the pope on "Saturday Night Live" in 1992.

Like that incident, in which the Irish singer actually was making a complicated critique of the Catholic Church based on the teachings of the Rastafarian religion, the Chicago-born rapper's unscripted comments on live TV were no ill-considered outburst -- and they can't be understood divorced from the context of West's work.

A week after being hailed as "the smartest man in pop music" on the cover of Time magazine, and four days after the release of his second album "Late Registration," which is expected to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard albums chart tomorrow with sales of nearly a million copies, West appeared beside comedian Mike Myers as one of several entertainers who urged Americans to donate to relief efforts during a telethon broadcast live on NBC and its affiliated networks Friday night.

West did not perform, nor did he deliver the statement that had been written for him, which visibly shocked Myers. Instead, in a nervous and emotional voice, the 28-year-old rapper first criticized the media's portrayal of African Americans in the devastated city of New Orleans and the warnings issued by President Bush and Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco that looters would be shot on sight.

"I hate the way they portray us in the media," West said. "If you see a black family, it says they're looting. See a white family, it says they're looking for food. ... They've given them permission to go down and shoot us."

As Myers returned to the script, West added another impromptu and even more incendiary line -- "George Bush doesn't care about black people" -- before the network quickly cut to comedian Chris Tucker. That line aired live on the East Coast, but was cut from West Coast broadcasts.

"Nobody, especially the president, would have left people unattended on the basis of race," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the administration's highest-ranking African American, said on Sunday while touring damage in her home state of Alabama.

NBC started distancing itself from West minutes after his appearance. Telethon host Matt Lauer noted that "emotions in this country right now are running very high. ... We've heard some [criticism] tonight, but it's still part of the American way of life."

The network later issued a statement, saying, "It would be most unfortunate if the efforts of the artists who participated tonight and the generosity of millions of Americans who are helping those in need are overshadowed by one person's opinion." But West's view that the federal government is set up "to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off as slow as possible" is not merely one person's opinion.

Many prominent commentators and newspaper editorialists have made similar charges since Katrina tore through the Gulf Coast. In an article Sunday criticizing NBC's decision to "censor" West's comments, the Los Angeles Times noted, "You can be sure those remarks would have been cheered more than anything else in the program by the black parents and children still trapped in the New Orleans Convention Center."

Nor was West the only performer on "A Concert for Hurricane Relief" to make such a criticism, although others were more veiled. Another African-American performer and a resident of New Orleans, Aaron Neville, performed Randy Newman's soulful ballad "Louisiana 1927," which includes the haunting chorus, "They're trying to wash us away."

But with his comments on Friday, West emerged as its new political firebrand, with a larger audience and more access to the mainstream than any rapper since Public Enemy's Chuck D, who declared in the late '80s that rap music "is the black CNN."

Like Chuck D, West grew up in a middle-class family that did not turn its back on the harsh realities of life in the ghetto but viewed political action and education as the paths to reform. His mother, Donda West, recently retired as chairwoman of the English Department at Chicago State University. His father, Ray West, is a former Black Panther active in the South Shore neighborhood, now serving as a Christian marriage counselor.

Unlike Public Enemy, which was famously criticized for embracing some of the anti-Semitic views of the Nation of Islam, West's beliefs reflect those of millions of mainstream Americans strong on family values, the merits of hard work and Christian teachings. Indeed, the message of "Jesus Walks," the phenomenal hit from his 2004 album "The College Dropout," is that anything is possible with the help of Christ, a theme that allies him with many of Bush's core supporters.

But Friday, West's statements were much closer to those being made by critics of the Bush administration from across the racial and political spectra. And while he is being criticized by many on the right -- and will no doubt pay a price with some lost album sales and less radio play in more conservative markets -- he did Americans a service by putting the issue on the table for national debate.

Perhaps the most striking evidence of this came on Sunday during CNN's "Late Edition" when host Wolf Blitzer quoted West when asking Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson whether the response to Hurricane Katrina has been racist. Thompson, a Democrat, said the government had failed and "someone has to be held accountable." He cited the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.

The most revealing part of the exchange, however, was the fact that Thompson mistook the comments from West as a statement from Princeton University professor, theologian, author and activist Dr. Cornel West. In one fell swoop, the rapper and college dropout has earned a place in the front ranks of this country's best-known and most respected African-American activists.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/entertainment/cst-ftr-kanye05.html

Uh...my comment was about racism "in the south". I never said racism wasn't present other places...I do think that people jump to conclusions and are quick to blame racism when other factors should have been considered first, such as this case. What I said was that people in the south are quick to shout "racism" without thinking...people just automatically think that it is the cause of everything nowadays...which is crazy. Yes, poverty played a huge role in this whole thing...so why are we hearing more about racism than we are about poverty issues???

I agree 100% with Kayne West and it is undeniable that what he said is true.
Demographics and statistics show that poor people are suffering more, always suffer more - take that "lousiana" song by Nevelle.
He is describing a human experience - if you don't agree with him it doesn't really matter - because that is what life is like for many, many people.

I am not black and enjoy priviliges to speak my mind and do things that are generally supressed for poor and african americans.

I also have grown up with privilege. That priviledge allows me to take a step back, outside suffering. Because I am not suffering I have an ability responsibility to empathize and understand.
Despite all the anger and suffering , it is important to focus on the positive, to work for the positive. That's easy for me to say, its true. But it's still what I am going to do. I only hope that when I focus on the positive I don't assume that the negative is false - it isn't. It's the truth, it's just not what I want to work for.

Show your support for the truth this man speaks and DL a track or two from the iTunes Music Store, or hell buy his album, to show G.E. that this is the typ of information we desire, how else can we get the lying corprate media to listen?

You make a bold statement that " Racism only exists in the minds of those who want it to...so that they can always have someone to blame...the white man." Then you through in the fact that you are from the south, well you might be from the south but we all know that there are to different sides of the south . there always has been there is a saysing the one should not speak of what one dose not know. But then there are those who know the truth and
speak otherwise, which therefore makes them Liars!!! Before you call someone ignorant (Kanye Westand his commecnts ) know the fact about this 21st century south
I myself Live in the deep south where from 1997 - 2003(still ) there wheremore documented cases of black men being killed by MIA Police Officer. One case in particular where two young black men were murdered by 7 police officers on an highway in florida after thisthe 7 officers planted gunns on the ground next to the bodies of these dying young men then proceeded fire bullets into them while calling them niggers "YES" (THE N word) in the south in this century when witnesses told what the saw the courts still deamed the shootings justified accused the murdered men of stealing a purse which was never found on the scen. after their parents fought for 3=years to prove otherwise (and one still fighting today) the light began to shine on the corruption of racism that went high up in the Dept but not before several of the same cops other office some from different Dept. got the chance to mame and kill other black men and wound a mentally retarded Latin male. the media latched on Only publicly state what has been said by blacks living this
shrouded reality but help never came when they cried for sons that were lost. NO Racism in the South? Dear Rebeca don't make yourself a liarfor fear of stand against the tide, or is it to hide from the recognition of whats in your heart everything in my coment is and can be backed up by court documentation news coverage personal knowledge. these are just the stories thatsomeone decided to shine a lite on and there are many more
ie Amadue Dealue in NY city unarmed 41 bullets played the tune that accompanied him to his grave.
It's not about racism in the south or North its about Facts that stink with the death of people of color used to get ratings in the media while government official trn there heads while sending dozenof Americans both BLACK &WHITE to outdside countries to feed there hungry to stamp out oppression under the facade of spreading democracy. It is offten said that a man who refuses to see what is infront of his face is either a Fool or in denial. Don't allow yourself to be either?
Here's to hoping you are not black

I can't believe what I am reading. You guys are hailing Kanye West as a hero after he possibly lost the survivors of hurricane Katrina thousands, if not millions, of dollars in donated money.

It is not about *what* Kanye West said, it is about *when* he said it. Whether I agree with his statements or not, he picked the worst time imaginable to pull his political rant. That show was about providing for the people affected by hurricane Katrina. It wasn't about the black people, the white people, or the poor people, it was about *the people*. Kanye has every chance in the world to do what he feels is right, but he should pick the right time to do it. Instead, he decided a medium picked to help *all* of the people affected by Katrina was his personal soap box.

Oh yeah Kanye, I am not sure what you meant about "shoot us", but the order was given as a general order and not a "shoot black people" order. If you are going to open your trap to do something other than sing, make sure you speak the whole truth and not a buttered up truth.

Where was Kanye right after the storm? If you noticed, Kanye had yet to give one single penny to the people of hurricane Katrina's wrath. At the taping of that show, days after the hurricane and while bashing other people for lack of response, he had not reached into his very padded pockets to give one dime. Now, after making those comments he decides it is a good time to give.

During a time where anger is very evident, you do not spew more anger and hate. This was horrible timing and very irresponsible. Just help the people and once it is all said and done, say what you have to say. You have ever right to say what you feel, but use that right responsibly.

ITS ABOUT TIME THAT SOMEONE CALLED BUSH OUT...THERES ALL THIS BUZZ GOING AROUND ABOUT BUSH AND HIS LACK OF CONCERN AFTER KATRINA HIT. KANYE HAD ENOUGH BALLS TO SAY IT LOUD. HE HAS A LOT TO LOOSE BECAUSE HE IS A PUBLIC IMAGE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY TARNISH HIS IMAGE BUT THE FACT THAT HE IS PUTTING THAT ASIDE AND PUTTING A RECOGNIZABLE FACE TO THE THOUGHT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING IS COMMENDABLE!!!! BUSH NEEDS TO REALLY GET HIS PRORITIES IN LINE BECAUSE THESE ARE AMERICANS IN OUR OWN BACK YARDS THAT ARE BEING TREATED LIKE SECON CLASS CITIZENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OH MY GOD!!! LET ME GUESS YOU ARE WHITE, OR YOU ARE BLACK TRYING TO IMPRESS WHITE PEOPLE. THAT IS THE DUMBEST SHIT I HAVE HEARD IN AWHILE.

. . . . this is always a problem for liberals

[I can't believe this....
by J.G. Friday, Sep. 09, 2005 at 6:56 AM

I can't believe what I am reading. You guys are hailing Kanye West as a hero after he possibly lost the survivors of hurricane Katrina thousands, if not millions, of dollars in donated money.

It is not about *what* Kanye West said, it is about *when* he said it.]

usually, with liberals, never say anything controversial when a lot of people might be listening and hear what you have to say

now, if Kayne had said it on a public access channel with 300 people watching that might have been OK

but, participating in a forum where millions might be watching, and departing from the liberal, feel good script, that's just a brazen breach of etiquette

as for the idea that Kayne cost people money, I'm not following the concept, why his candor would have hurt contributions is not really self-evident

given that he was criticizing Bush and not the charities, people might have actually interpreted his remarks as an indication for the need to contribute

--Richard

Richard, I appreciate your comments. However, I do wish to return the favor.

[usually, with liberals, never say anything controversial when a lot of people might be listening and hear what you have to say ]

You are making an assumption I am liberal. My comments have nothing to do with political affiliation. They have to do with human study and human nature. Comments, such as Kanye's, bring strong emotion. Generally this emotion is not a good emotion. This thread proves that point. There has been nothing on this thread saying his comments will bring about good in the world. Everyone has either stated 'what an idiot', or 'you must be white! (which is apparently a negative thing.) Just the way he said it showed he was stating it out of anger and not concern. "What an idiot" would make people turn the station in a "I can't believe they let that crap happen!" kind of way. 'you must be white!' creates a racial situation which makes those saying it want to wait to give to their respective race and those to which it is directed to feel attacked. That doesn't help *everyone*, that just helps your race.

Kanye West created a racial situation on a telethon meant to help everyone harmed by the storm. The storm wasn't about race or politics and the telethon wasn't about race or politics. It was about getting money and donations to help victims of a horrible tragedy. It is a sad state of affairs when people feel that is their best timing for political rant.

[now, if Kayne had said it on a public access channel with 300 people watching that might have been OK]

It would have only been "OK" due to a more minimal negative effect on the entire situation. You hear nothing about the telethon now, you only hear about Kanye West's comments.

[but, participating in a forum where millions might be watching, and departing from the liberal, feel good script, that's just a brazen breach of etiquette]

I am not entirely sure I get where you are coming from with this comment. I mean other than making a political jab, in which case I am proving my point again. This should have never have been about politics. It was about the victims. I am not overly liberal, nor am I overly conservative. I am moderate, and that is why I can see the lack of value in his comments. I understand his feelings, but his timing is crappy. Get on a talk show and say it, get on the radio or television and say it, don't say it during something meant to help the very people he is attempting to help. It's destructive.

[as for the idea that Kayne cost people money, I'm not following the concept, why his candor would have hurt contributions is not really self-evident]

No, it wouldn't be self-evident. You would actually have to look at the numbers and then contact the entire country to find out if they were going to donate or not. I am discussing this issue in a human nature, current affairs, and community outrage sense and not in a courtroom sense.

[given that he was criticizing Bush and not the charities, people might have actually interpreted his remarks as an indication for the need to contribute]

Actually, he made one statement directed at Bush. The rest were directed at "they" as well as being directed at the lack of response. His entire rant is about him; "I hate", "I can't", "I am", "My people", etc. The telethon was not about him, or his people. It was to ask the public to help. Kanye did say "do whatever you can", but it was in the middle of an anger, hate driven, self serving rant.

Would I be correct to assume only someone overly conservative would state someone was overly liberal because they didn't agree?

I have one more statement: To say "YOU MUST BE WHITE!" because I don't agree is just as racist as someone saying "YOU MUST BE BLACK!" because someone listens to rap. Stop being hypocrites.

[The storm wasn't about race or politics and the telethon wasn't about race or politics. It was about getting money and donations to help victims of a horrible tragedy. It is a sad state of affairs when people feel that is their best timing for political rant.]

. . . . . . is about race and class

yes, it is really unfortunate that there are people like Kante West and others who are drawing attention to the obvious that many Americans want to ignore, that the people of New Orleans were left to fend for themselves because they are poor and black

and, then, found themselves trapped in the flooded city by the police departments of nearby white suburbs (conveniently built, of course, in areas that are much less likely to flood, and probably segregated through the helpful efforts of local realtors), police who fired their weapons in order to do so

now, Bush and the predominately white corporate elite of New Orleans, are already planning the future of the city, and guess they are very focused upon race and class, having already expressed the view that a rebuild New Orleans will shed itself of "the criminal element" and some "poor people", code for the black residents of places like the flooded 9th Ward

ethnic and class cleansing is the order of the day for a rebuilt New Orleans, unless, of course, people stop engaging in the nonsense of claiming that there is no racial and class aspect to the storm, as the poor, overwhelmingly black, flooded out residents are dispersed across the country

--Richard

JG just got KO'd by RWF.

(Of course taking down a moderate with a low IQ ain't that hard to do.)

umm ur wrong because kanye west is NOT from the south he's from Chicago

With all due respect, does anybody actually give a fuck what some crack smoking, silly name having rap star actually has to say?

No we seee your vehement racist remarks don't just apply to Palestinians, Muslims, Arabs--but to African Americans as well. Your rabid defending of all things Israel has a new, very bright light shown on it.

Just 'cause she thinks a rapper is stupid, has nothin gto do with race. Eminem is a moron too.

if you've seen fresca's previous postings (rather than just blindly defending him/her), you'd know that what I said was true. Also, while you can say it has nothing to do with race (even the reference to 'crack smoker') it is clear that this was a racial comment. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that one out.

Why does 'crack smoker' have to do with race? There are buttloads of white trash crack smokers out there.

Just your ability to equate crack smoker to being black shows your racism streak. Do you hate black people?

I will have to admit. It really is hard to debate someone blinded by their own anger and hatred. Especially when they like to accuse others of the same.

Your accussations of this being a white conspiracy are just as racist as the conspiracy theory itself. When you have proof this was done on purpose, I will, without reservation, side with you. Until then, I will have to side with lack of proof over conjecture. Just because a neighborhood was poor and majority black does not mean it was a great white devil plan to kill off a race in one southern city.

Maybe you can explain to me why my majority white neighborhood in Florida was flooded, why we had to wait weeks for power and why we couldn't leave our homes to get food for at least a week. Hell, I didn't even see a Red Cross truck. However, there were Cubans and Puerto Ricans in my neighborhood, so it must have been a grand plan to get them out.

How about the ice storm in North Carolina that kept people without power for a month, caused major destruction from falling trees, and electric poles. It even caused the deaths of families due to their strange need to light their gas stoves and not open a window. There were at least 3 Mexican families that died in that natural disaster, but I imagine it was the white devil trying to kill off Mexicans.

What about the huge earthquake of 1990 in San Francisco? Wait... There are Asians in San Francisco. The great white devil must have been out to get them.

Blizzards in the NE, Tornados in the Mid-West and SE.

Hurricane of 1900 in Galveston, TX. More than 8000 people died. That was obviously a plot against those people. Wait... They were majority white... that was just a mistake.

This disaster was initially handled like every disaster in the United States. Unfortunately it turned into a much larger disaster than initially thought and a lot of people dropped the ball to disasterous results. That doesn't make it racial, it makes it pure stupidity.

You are failing to realize black people aren't the only people affected by disaster, nor are poor people. Again, I will agree that poor people are generally harder hit due to their lower ability to recoup the cost. However, that doesn't imply black people. You are also failing to realize the government makes mistakes involving *every* American. This just happened to be a disaster that did affect a lot of black people in one city. It is a horrible tragedy on a human level and not just a race level. The expected disaster was the hurricane and not the flood. Although, I do agree it should have been known and has proven to be documented that the levees could only handle a Cat 3 storm. LA hasn't seen a Cat 4 or 5 storm in almost 40 years, and prior to that they had only recorded Cat 3 storms. Although the prudent thing to do, there wasn't any evidence this was going to happen, only that it could and it would be horrific. Florida has seen over twice the number of hurricanes Louisiana has seen, but it took Andrew for them to get their act together.

If this had happened to a large group of white people, would you have thought, "The government hates white people!", "The government did this on purpose!", or would you have thought "Well, they got theirs!", or "Well, it was their own dumbass fault for not getting out!" You think too much about racial levels of horror and not human levels. Am I blind to racism? Hell no. I know it exists. However, I know it exists on every side of the debate and it will always exist on every side of the debate as long as parents point out how someone is "different" than them or how someone oppresses them. Teach kids history and not anger and hatred. History breeds knowledge, anger and hatred breeds more anger and hatred.

This comment is 28 days late: and therefore totally USELESS and empty. Nevertheless I'll point out that this situation should not have been strange to anyone in the world, least of all any viewer in America, black or white.
It's sad, but no, Kanye West is not a hero for using his comments about the development... in the white house, gouvernor's office or even the mayor's office, where the critical decisions were not taken.
He risked an awful lot to do what he did, but that did not and will not change anything significantly, his remarks were and will be USELESS... Bush has already been re-elected, and he did not even need to commit fraud this time. His turn will soon be over and it will not matter as much anymore.
Words are not useful when late, and history teaches us one thing: that it has nothing to teach us.

That George W. Bush is a incapable person in every sense of the word, was and will always be clear. And so are his coworkers. But so are U.S. politics as well, and therefore he is the rightful president of this strange country and will not be brought to court for having an all too common case idiocy, simple.

all IMHO,
A.M. Bernal Sanchez.