NuTTieZ

9.03.2005

Rapper Kanye West on Live TV: "George Bush doesn't care about black people."

First, go see it yourself, unscripted, from the Concert for Hurricane Relief.

The full video is here, halfway down the page.
There’s a partial clip here if that one’s not working.

My favorite part is when Mike Meyers realizes what just happened…

From Sohh.com, the full transcript:

"George W. Bush doesn't care about black people," said Kanye West as he ended his speech during the Concert for Hurricane Relief on Friday night.
Alongside actor Mike Myers, Kanye West diverted from his pre-prepared script to offer his feelings on the Hurricane Katrina. Kanye started off with how the media portrayed white people as seeking food and blacks as looters.

"I hate the way they portray us in the media. You see a black family it says they're looting. You see a white family is says they are looking for food," referring to Yahoo! and other media outlets reported that Blacks people were looting while White people seemed to find supplies. Yahoo later removed the images and offered a public apology.

West, whose grandparents were heavily involved in the civil rights movement and father was a member of the Black Panthers, looked nervous as he stumbled through his words.

"It's been five days because most of the people are Black; and even for me to complain about it, I would be a hypocrite because I tried to turn away from the TV because it's to hard to watch. I've even been shopping before even giving a donation. So now I'm calling my business manager right now to see what's the biggest amount I can give; and to just imagine if I was down there and those are my people down there."

Kanye continued, in an almost rambling fashion as Mike Myers stood beside him, at this point shaking his head in agreement.

"To anybody out there that wants to do anything that we can help with the set-up that America's set up to help the poor, the Black people, the less well off - slow as possible. The Red Cross is doing everything they can. We already realized how a lot of the people who could help are at war right now fighting another war. They've given them [The U.S. Army] permission to go down [to New Orleans] and shoot us."

Mike Myers, now visibly stunned, continued on with his pre-written speech until Kanye interrupted him saying, "George W. Bush doesn't care about black people." MSNBC immediately cut to Chris Tucker who sat looked bewildered. [Watch the video (1 | 2)]

From Duluth’s “News Tribune”:

Others had a harsher assessment. The Associated Press reported that rapper Kanye West, appearing on "A Concert for Hurricane Relief" simulcast Friday night from New York on NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, and Pax, said America was set up "to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off as slow as possible."

Comedian Mike Myers was paired with West for a 90-second segment that began with Myers speaking of Katrina's devastation. Then, to Myers' evident surprise, West began a rant by saying, "I hate the way they portray us in the media. If you see a black family, it says they're looting. See a white family, it says they're looking for food."

From Britain’s “The Globe and Mail”:

In a statement, NBC said, "Kanye West departed from the scripted comments that were prepared for him, and his opinions in no way represent the views of the networks.

"It would be most unfortunate," the statement continued, "if the efforts of the artists who participated tonight and the generosity of millions of Americans who are helping those in need are overshadowed by one person's opinion."

Juicee News Daily headlines their crappy article: “Kanye West Ruins Relief Show”

And, as everybody could have predicted, it’s getting worse…
Google News Search: Kanye West concert hurricane relief "Bush doesn't care about black people"