I think I speak for most of us when I say that we went into Kanye’s speech expecting another round of laughter at his iconic offbeat speeches. But what we heard was entirely unexpected. Amid shoutouts to audience members, he delivered a beautiful perspective of institutionalized racism.
Kanye West has been known to have some controversial views in the past, like comparing the fashion industry to slavery, but I’m ecstatic to say that I couldn’t find much, if anything, to disagree with over the course of his 4 minute speech.
The first issue he called major attention to: the burden placed on the poor of our country. His anecdote about a teenager approaching him shows just how psychologically taxing life in poverty can be. The teen in his story told him how growing up surrounded by death, he finds that it can be a struggle to simply move forward. He effectively made his point that living in a biosphere of death and disaster, toil and monotony, with very few means of escape can begin to weather away at one’s value for their own life.
On to his next point: systemic impoverishment. It’s no secret that colored people are at a disadvantage in America. From the job market to education to the criminal justice system, black people have to face more obstacles to escape poverty. And that’s what makes his biggest quote from the night so powerful. “Three steps to keeping people impoverished: Take away their esteem. Take away their resources. And take away their role models.” Powerful and simplistic to the point where further explanation can do no justice.
Kanye came to this year’s VMA’s with a speech that was thought provoking while remaining entertaining. Kanye is truly a better public speaker than he receives credit for. He and the other VMA performers have left me speechless. That being said, I’m going to take another page from Kanye’s book of quotes and just “Shut up and enjoy the greatness.”
