1. Kanye's views on racism have proved highly controversial. It's worth nothing, however, that other rappers have been criticizing elements of the woke consensus on racism for some time.
2. Remember when The Game said "F**k Jesse Jackson cuz it ain't about race now" (I listened to this song everyday as a 13-year old)?
3. And remember when Lil Wayne refused to criticize the police (pointing out that a white cop once saved his life), and suggested that racism was no longer a problem?
4. Or more recently when the late xxxTentacion, speaking of the Netflix show "Dear White People," pointed out that a show called "Dear Black People" would be considered offensive, and argued that we should get rid of the racial double-standard?
5. Regardless of the merits of any of the above views, it's troubling that these arguments all got crowded out or passed over by the woke brigade. Kanye, for all his insane narcissism, lack of careful study, and unscrupulousness, is refusing to be ignored.
6. In the cost-benefit analysis of Kanye's recent escapades, I put his massive character flaws and his Trump support in the cost bin. But I put his voicing his views on racism––and thereby taking a crude sledgehammer to the woke consensus––in the benefit bin.
