Legendary singer/songwriter/pianist and all-around one-of-the-men-most-loved-around-the-world Stevie Wonder is calling out embattled rapper Kanye West for his recent remarks on TMZ that slavery sounds as if it could have been a “choice” for Black Americans.
“There’s been a lot of talk about what was said by Kanye,” the Detroit-born artist said during an interview in West Hollywood, Calif., the Associated Press is reporting. “I want people to understand that the truth is the truth and a lie is a lie.”
Set The Record Straight
“We all know that slavery was not a choice,” Wonder continued. “So I just think that people need to understand that if you know your history, if you know the truth, you know that’s just foolishness.”
West, who has been front and center across the country for the last couple of weeks for a series of disjointed tweets that some have suggest are signs of mental breakdown, made the slavery remarks on May 1.
“When you hear about slavery for 400 years, for 400 years, that sounds like a choice,” West said.
That comment set of a national wave of criticism and derision across social media, television and print. Wonder said in his interview that West’s comments were similar to comments made by those who insist the Holocaust did not happen.
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Words of Compassion
Wonder, whose modus operandi is a voice of reason and peace, expressed himself in his typically soft speaking tone. He said he felt sorry for West, who lost his mother in 2007 after she experienced complications from cosmetic surgery.
“You know, he lost his mother, the horrible thing that happened,” Wonder said. “I don’t know if he had a chance to mourn all that.”
The Associated Press sought comment from West but he did not respond to the request.
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Detroit radio station 105.1 The Bounce announced recently it would pull West’s music off the air in response to the slavery comments.