“When you hear about slavery for 400 years … for 400 years? That sounds like a choice,” Kanye said during an appearance on TMZ.
Many of us see slavery as a tale of two choices. Rebel and die or acquiesce and die. It really was about two choices. No one can doubt that. So when Kanye made that statement during the interview, we were all appalled. Did he go too far this time? Maybe, maybe not. That’s up to you.
Leaving aside our readings on Rosa Parks and Harriet Tubman, slavery is by far one of the most disturbing things to ever face mankind. In Yeezus’ opinion, black people didn’t get themselves in chains by free will. However, the fact that it was sustained for 400 years is a bit alarming. I say the man has some truth. Who are you to doubt the mighty Kanye? It’s true we did have the numbers on our side. In actual sense, man to man. We were a far superior breed when it comes to body build. We had Kunta Kinte and Black Panther. Sounds to me like we were invincible. So 400 years? Someone explain that to me as I take some water.
The American rapper goes ahead to preach the gospel of ‘Free thought and expression’. Why is it wrong for a black man to express their support for whomever they want, even if it is Trump? That’s the slavery he alludes to in his ‘controversial’ statements. We shouldn’t let this sort of slavery continue for another 400 years.
I will not bore you with the effects of slavery and oppression like apartheid. Or take you on a journey with Apolo Kivebulaya and his pygmies.
Flash forward to 2018, slavery to us Ugandans has never ended and sadly, it’s a choice just like Kanye says. We freely pay for air tickets to go to the Middle East to do odd jobs. Not a bad idea, until we get there and get treated like slaves. This is a choice we make willingly, even after all the despicable things done to our peers already there. We still go hoping for better. We continue to sell our bodies through prostitution. How is that not a choice? Some of us are in abusive relationships, but we hang in there because society looks down upon a woman that walks out of a marriage. Is that not a choice? We’re always on social media ranting about government letting us down, yet we continue voting it back into power. How is that not a choice?
Slavery is not just the chains and the constant singing of “Amazing Grace “ as we get sold to the highest bidder. It’s the bondage we’re still in where we get maligned and can’t fight back. As long as such things still happen, unfortunately, we’re still slaves. The Americans fought for 400 years across the Pacific. How long did we? Are we still better people than Chief Awich? I think not. What we have is modern-day slavery, and it’s a choice we choose to make.
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