So not only did Kanye find the courage to say what he was feeling on national tv, he's been telling the truth about some other stuff lately as well. On Late Registration, which is all the way around a great album, be sure you check out Track 13, "Diamonds Are Forever". Kanye dares to talk about the moral conflict that "conflict" or "blood" diamonds pose to people of conscience, even when reactions were cool. He's also recently called for an end to homophobia in rap music. I would love to see him get rewarded for taking these stands by having his album go platinum.

Edited because google is my friend.

Thanks for posting this Grant. It definitely made me think and I keep coming back to it when the issue of race and the evacuation comes up in the media. I've heard a number of smart journalist types who I respect quickly denounce Kanye West's view including Tim Russert on The Imus Show (you can see the whole interview which is long but good at http://movies.crooksandliars.com/Imus-Russert-Katrina.wmv). Russert tried to brush away "George W. Bush doesn't care about Black people" by saying Kanye West "can't say that" and "there is no evidence of that." Well, I do believe it's possible Bush could care for black people but there is in fact a whole crap load of evidence that he doesn't. The federal government made no attempt at a comprehensive plan for getting the poor people (who are predominantly black) out of New Orleans despite having the resources and the authority to do it well in advance. If I have the resources to help someone in need and I don't do it, that is because I don't care about them, despite whatever self satisfying rationalizations I come up with (ie '...but I'm on vacation right now'). Even if you don't find that compelling because you insist on giving poor Bush way too much of the benefit of the doubt as to how much he cares you have to admire what Kanye was really saying- THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS FAILING AND EVERYONE NEEDS TO DONATE SOME MONEY. Even if you insist Bush and FEMA director Brown love all black people from the bottom of their hearts you have to admit they screwed up big time and are not to be relied upon. That was pretty effective on me at least and I found myself making a donation.

Thanks for posting this Grant. It definitely made me think and I keep coming back to it when the issue of race and the evacuation comes up in the media. I've heard a number of smart journalist types who I respect quickly denounce Kanye West's view including Tim Russert on The Imus Show (you can see the whole interview which is long but good at http://movies.crooksandliars.com/Imus-Russert-Katrina.wmv). Russert tried to brush away "George W. Bush doesn't care about Black people" by saying Kanye West "can't say that" and "there is no evidence of that." Well, I do believe it's possible Bush could care for black people but there is in fact a whole crap load of evidence that he doesn't. The federal government made no attempt at a comprehensive plan for getting the poor people (who are predominantly black) out of New Orleans despite having the resources and the authority to do it well in advance. If I have the resources to help someone in need and I don't do it, that is because I don't care about them, despite whatever self satisfying rationalizations I come up with (ie '...but I'm on vacation right now'). Even if you don't find that compelling because you insist on giving poor Bush way too much benefit of the doubt as to how much he cares, you have to admire what Kanye was really getting at- THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS FAILING AND EVERYONE NEEDS TO DONATE SOME MONEY. Even if you insist Bush and FEMA director Brown love all black people from the bottom of their hearts you have to admit they screwed up big time and are not to be relied upon. That was pretty effective on me at least and I found myself making a donation.