Dear Kanye, I'm Holding You Accountable!
Dear Kanye,
I’ve been a fan of yours since your first album, The College Dropout. I had the bootleg version of All Falls Down before Ms. Lauryn Hill denied your sample clearance. I knew, and still know, every lyric to every song on the album. Late Registration, and Graduation were no different.
I still think 808s and Heartbreak was one of your best albums, as we heard you explore loss and grief. The Preacher and I both agree that My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy broke the mold in a way that solidified your position in our minds, as one of the most talented MC’s…PERIODT!
Note: Yes, The Preacher and The Preacher’s Wife are huge hip hop fans.
By the time you released Yeesus, you were pushing the boundary. I mean, you were making seemingly sacrilegious statements by comparing yourself to Jesus. Yeah…that’s a NO. But, I rocked that album late nights as I sweated away the pounds on the elliptical machine in Planet Fitness. And let’s be honest, Blood On The Leaves using the Nina Simone sample was BRILLIANT!
Life Of Pablo was…a mess. I mean, you described it as a “gospel album with a lot of cussing”. That made zero sense friend.
But, lyrically and musically, I have been a true fan!
As a Kanye supporter, I’ve watched and listened to you as you spoke truth to power lyrically and literally.
In 2005 when you went off script to tell the American people the ugly but necessary truth during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and boldly declared, “George Bush Doesn’t Care About Black People”, we cheered with you, because you said what we all thought.
When your mom, Dr. Donda West passed in 2007, we mourned with you. We surrounded you with love and support during what must have been the most challenging time of your life.
Even when you married Kim, we didn’t understand the rationale, but hey…you love who you love, and we rode for you.
When you released those Adidas Yeezy’s, which at the time, looked like NASA space boots, we still rode for you and supported. Ok, well I didn’t, because I ain’t paying that much for shoes.
Note: The Preacher is giving me the side eye, so let me clarify. I will pay for designer shoes, but not sneakers. Judge yourself!
Anyway, we were with you. But then friend, you started doing some things that made us question your wellness, both mentally and spiritually.
And as Black folk, we recalled everything you went through in years past, and we empathized with you. We waited and prayed for the day the “Old” Kanye would return.
That didn’t happen.
In 2016, white women (let’s just keep it real), Tina Campbell, and possibly you, voted to elect a person (who is currently in the process of being impeached as I type), who ran a campaign targeting already oppressed groups of people, incited fears about Mexicans and Blacks, and reignited fears against our Muslim brothers and sisters.
Quite frankly, the president’s behavior (and sometimes yours) were not reflections of the Jesus we confess as Christians. That aint got NOTHING to do with Jesus!
You appeared unbothered and oftentimes proud as you paraded around in your red MAGA hat, and made statements to uphold the white-washing of American history, by asserting that 400 years of slavery was a choice by OUR enslaved African ancestors.
And then, after these very public and hurtful comments, you released an album. Ye, which dropped in 2018, barely went Gold. Was your behavior a publicity stunt? Clearly it didn’t work.
True fans, like myself, just sat back and prayed that you’d “snap out of it” and publicly acknowledge that somewhere, at some point, you lost your way.
But you haven’t acknowledged anything.
Perhaps you’re not sorry!
Now, here we are on the eve of your 9th studio album release, Jesus Is King. To some, the publicity surrounding your Sunday Services feels like another attempt to promote an album.
Folk have questioned your authenticity, and your faith. As you travel across the country to perform at churches, we don’t know if we should support you because you are uplifting the name of Jesus, or if we should continue to believe that this is yet another publicity stunt.
The church opinions are divided.
And the truth is…it really doesn’t matter what we personally think about your level of spiritual development or your personal convictions. The bible is clear…
““that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” ”
BUT, with the profession of faith, comes accountability. And so, Kanye, as my brother in Christ, I’m holding you accountable.
As regular smegular people, we are held accountable on a regular basis. We are held accountable by our parents and children, our partners and spouses, and by societal norms.
As Christians, we are held accountable by our religious leaders and by others within the body of believers. And after repentance, we should be received with a spirit of grace and love. This is how we grow as believers.
““Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.””
Note: Holding each other accountable does NOT give permission for the body of Christ to be judgmental, condemning, or speak to folk in a tone that does not convey God’s love.
You’ve said nothing. You’ve not apologized. You’ve not recanted your position.
How can you expect us to move beyond your hurtful rhetoric when you haven’t even acknowledged that you were out of pocket?
Perhaps you don’t believe that you were.
Don’t get me wrong, this is not about your political affiliation. However, your actions and words have aligned you with a leader who is insecure, racist, xenophobic, sexist, narcissistic, mean and hateful. He seems a lot like King Herod to me.
Note: Baby Jesus Crossed The Border to flee being murdered by decree of King Herod! Jesus fled to Egypt. Jesus blended in…with Africans. FACTS!
Anyway, perhaps you’ve had this accountability talk with your spiritual leader. Perhaps when you went to visit New Birth, you sat down and talked with Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant. Perhaps, you’ve had this conversation with other Christian friends.
I don’t know.
But, I do know that you haven’t been publicly accountable, even though your comments, rhetoric, and behavior have been very public.
At the end of the day, regardless of your intentions, I believe God will get the glory. And if your current Sunday Services and music will lead folk to Christ, especially millennials and younger generations, I know that Jesus will do the rest in the lives of those who profess Him.
In the mean time, I, along with millions of Black Christians around the world, will be waiting with love and grace, should you ever decide to publicly acknowledge those things that have caused hurt and harm to so many.
We love you!
Peace and Love,
Lady Mel
“Let’s hear from you. Does Kanye need to be held accountable for his past actions? Comment below!”
