Racism, Antisemitism, and Hate: Is an Apology Enough?

Kanye West’s apology and mental health

6 min read

Just now

Kanye West from Wikimedia Commons by Jason Persse

“I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state, and am committed to accountability, treatment and meaningful change. It does not excuse what I did, though. I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.” -Kanye West

Kanye West was once one of my favorite musical artists. I considered his first three albums classics, but as his music changed, so did his personality. The man who once said George Bush didn’t care about Black people on national television was now taking shots at Harriet Tubman.

My relationship with musical artists from my youth has changed in recent years. I expect all of them to turn away from the social issues they once deemed important. Their meaningful music was nothing more than a persona they put on to obtain their financial goals.

I noticed Kanye doing this before anyone else, and he is still the most extreme example. He became a literal Nazi, swastika and all. He was beyond the “Hitler had some good ideas” level of hate. He even wore Ku Klux Klan robes. Yes, Kanye West, a Black man, was representing the Klan. By this time, it was hard to separate Kanye’s real beliefs from possible marketing ploys or his desire to be edgy even at his very grown age.