Kanye West lost more than a few fans on Tuesday after making a controversial statement about slavery. The musician said that 400 years of slavery “sounds like a choice,” igniting public outrage.
Celebrities and fans alike haven’t held back from commenting on Kanye’s words. Most recently, a white man shared his opinion on the matter at a Harlem barbershop, and his statement has the Internet talking.
https://twitter.com/RafiDAngelo/status/991487311656480768
A Twitter user who goes by the name of RafiDAngelo took to social media on Tuesday to say that he usually gets his haircut on Thursdays, but this week, he went in on a Tuesday. “… so, you know, there’s a different group of regulars there. Apparently, Tuesday has a white dude.”
RafiDAngelo said that when someone in the barbershop brought up Kanye West, the white man, whom he refers to as Chad, jumped in. “…the SILENCE that befell the shop! Like, Chad…do you really wanna do this? Here? I was not ready to see that little white man get thrown out with half a haircut.”
“Kanye Is Throwing You Under the Bus by Aligning with White Supremacy”
https://twitter.com/RafiDAngelo/status/991487313376137216
https://twitter.com/RafiDAngelo/status/991487314944757761
https://twitter.com/RafiDAngelo/status/991487320175063040
https://twitter.com/RafiDAngelo/status/991487322293186561
But what Chad had to say next had everyone floored. “I understand what you’re saying about protecting your community, but Kanye is throwing you under the bus by aligning with white supremacy, and to say that ‘he’s going through something’ is in direct contrast to his own claims and his wife’s claims that he’s just fine.”
Chad didn’t stop there. He continued, “Kanye’s biggest problem isn’t that he’s ‘going through something’ but that he doesn’t listen. Kanye decided Kanye is a genius and Kanye decided Kanye has all the answers, and he lives in a bubble of his own making. The only thing he’s going through is being an asshole.”
https://twitter.com/RafiDAngelo/status/991487324268695558
https://twitter.com/RafiDAngelo/status/991487325304709125
https://twitter.com/RafiDAngelo/status/991487327041130497
After what RafiDAngelo says was five seconds of silence, everyone in the barbershop applauded Chad, saying “yooooo” and “my man Chad.”
RafiDAngelo summed up his story by describing the incident as a very tiny victory for gentrification.
https://twitter.com/RafiDAngelo/status/991487328056115205
https://twitter.com/RafiDAngelo/status/991487330048512000
https://twitter.com/RafiDAngelo/status/991487332204367872
https://twitter.com/RafiDAngelo/status/991487333206765568
The Twittersphere Reacted Strongly to the Man’s Statements
Everyone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief:
https://twitter.com/DanaProphet/status/991820647742558209
https://twitter.com/FlyandtheMighty/status/992044366901346306
I was holding my breath the entire thread
— Daniel Summers (@WFKARS) May 3, 2018
Twitter was clearly loving this “Chad” character:
https://twitter.com/SnarkySteff/status/991488364057686016
https://twitter.com/josie_sparks_/status/992009861272690688
https://twitter.com/MzwaMbedu/status/992003691505909760
Chad is invited to Wakanda
— sneakfreak (@SnkrFrkr87) May 2, 2018
There were, of course, some who thought that the man expressing his opinion shouldn’t have anything to do with his race:
Since when can people express opinions abt only those of same race, religion, ethnicity, gender. People really have to stop thinking like that. Unless people are talking about a culture or experience they know nothing about, we should be open to opinions & free to disagree
— Native Puma (@nativepuma) May 2, 2018
Cultural appreciation and understanding is important. Removing SOME of the red tape and stereotypes of each other would make it easier to get to know each other. I’ve been lucky to have people take their time to help me understand not only their culture, but their perspective.
— 𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖗𝖑𝖎𝖊 (@BbCharX) May 3, 2018
It just goes to show that you can’t always just a book by its cover:
https://twitter.com/TsumiMusic/status/992026791920504832
https://twitter.com/bttmdaegu/status/991845452344508416
https://twitter.com/Pat_Urns/status/991875039678029824
H/T: Twitter