From the plantation until today, this country has ALWAYS made room for Black people who are willing to do the bidding and work of white supremacists. ALWAYS.

And more than anything, it gives moral and emotional cover for racist and bigoted white people to feel comfortable about their own racist ways. It's a strategy that is literally hundreds of years old. And while 99% of Black people never opt for these roles, 1% of Black people take the self-hating bait and then bask in the protection they then receive from operating with the adoration and approval of the worst white people in our midst.

That's where Kanye is right now. And it's where he's been for a long time.

And it's not as simple as ignoring him. I have to say what I am about to say again and again - either hip hop culture is CRAZY influential in the world - and it actually influences people good, bad, and ugly - or it's not that influential and we can end this conversation.

The truth is that hip hop is SUPER influential in the world. And when that influence is used for evil and foolishness - it must be confronted and called out.