Civil rights activist DeRay Mckesson believes Kanye West was partially right when he commented on slavery being a choice.
On Tuesday (May 1), speaking with TMZ, Mckesson objected to Kanye’s statements calling slavery a “choice," suggesting that the only individuals who chose to continue the practice were “white people.”
“The only thing I can think of when he said is slavery was choice of white people. It was the choice for white people to not let people read, to put people in cages, to take their children from them, and to extend that for centuries. That was a choice.”
Mckesson says the systemic problems facing African Americans like the “wealth gap” and “mass incarceration” are a direct result of “choices of white people,” concluding that oppressed people don’t choose their oppression.
“Oppressed people didn’t choose that.” Mckesson said. ”White people chose to do these things that led to these outcomes. That's where the choice was”
Mckesson went on to give Kanye some advice should he continue to speak out publicly on topics.
“Find a place where you can learn and read and be in a place where your ideas are also challenged,” he explained. “You need some time to reflect and learn more before you start making public statements.”
Source: youtu.be
