On Kanye Posting Antisemitic Tropes

As a Black Jew with friends and family who have a variety of identities and mental health diagnoses, I empathize with Ye and his family. Before discussing his news headlines this past week, we must name two things: 1) Even the United Nations recognizes that Black men currently suffer in unique and horrific ways in the US, separate and apart from their inter-generational trauma. 2) While there is some debate, there are increasing findings that link racism to mental health disorders.

Though many of us understand that Ye suffers from those issues, he also has an audience and remains an idol to many, which makes his “White Lives Matter” fashion, and claiming that “going death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE” isn’t antisemitic “because black people are actually Jew(s) also” problematic.?

Those who claim they are a “Semite” as an excuse for why they aren’t antisemitic is a false narrative that must end. Antisemitism was a term invented by Jew haters specifically to cleave Jews from society. Just as Blacks can absorb white supremacy and espouse those values, Jews can also be antisemitic and spout antisemitic rhetoric. So let me be clear.

Antisemitism is antisemitism no matter who says it.?

“White lives matter” is an established white supremacy response to Black Lives Matter and is “all lives mattering” the issue. So, Candace and Ye can keep their shirts and perhaps, ironically, make money from white supremacists, but that doesn’t make it right.

The fact that he and others do this immediately following one of the holiest times in the Jewish calendar is hopefully coincidental, but still unnerving and disruptive. I should be celebrating right now with my family, which may be why this sounds a bit more like a rant.

If you would like to learn why what he said is a well-worn trope used to terrorize and exterminate Jews, I invite you to explore in this must read article by #YairRosenberg.

Chag Sameach.