Rapper Kanye West on Sunday denounced and criticized the record of historical figure Harriet Tubman in his first event since he declared himself a presidential candidate in November’s general elections.
In a tirade, in which he touched on topics from religion, abortion, and international trade, West claimed the Underground Railroad conductor “never actually freed the slaves, she just had them work for other white people.”
West’s controversial comments drew opposition from some in the crowd, according to the Associated Press.
On abortion, West said during the event held at the Exquis Event Center in North Charleston in South Carolina, he and wife Kim Kardashian had at some point seriously considered terminating their first pregnancy.
But, he claimed God interceded and changed his mind. He therefore called Kardashian, telling her: “We’re going to have this baby” – giving birth to their first daughter North, in 2013.
“So even if my wife were to divorce me after this speech, she brought North into the world, even when I didn’t want to,” West said. “She stood up, and she protected that child.”
The controversial rapper, who needs 10,000 signatures by noon Monday to appear on South Carolina’s ballot for the Nov. 3 election last year claimed he was free from the clutches of the Democratic Party following his acceptance of Jesus.
Speaking in an interview with veteran Los Angeles radio and morning show host, Big Boy, West said the Democratic Party has for years brainwashed the black community into patronizing abortion.
“We’re brainwashed out here, bro,” said West. “Come on, man. This is a free man talking. Democrats had us voting [for] Democrats with food stamps for years. What are you talking about? Guns in the 80s, taking the fathers out the home, Plan B, lowering our votes, making us abort our children…Thou shall not kill.”
West’s claims come on the back of Democratic presidential contenders’ unanimous support for abortion rights in general. According to USAFacts, reported abortions have dropped from 817,906 in 2004 to 638,169 in 2015. The plurality of abortions – about 44% – occur in the first 8 weeks of pregnancy, USAFacts reports.
“Reproductive rights are a constitutional right, and, in fact, every woman should have that right,” former Vice President Joe Biden said earlier this month during the Democratic presidential debate.
West decision to be on the presidential ballot in November comes barely four months after his support for Donald Trump hit an all-time high. The “Yeezuz” rapper reaffirmed his affection for Trump, the man seen by many as the most divisive president in the history of the U.S in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.
West doubled down on his support for the president in the interview comparing the backlash he had faced from the black community for being a ‘Make America Great Again’ disciple to racial profiling.
“I’m a Black guy with a red [MAGA] hat, can you imagine?” West stared. “It reminded me of how I felt as a Black guy before I was famous when I would walk in a restaurant and people would look at you like you were going to steal something. ‘This is your place, Ye, don’t talk about apparel. This is your place, Ye, you’re black, so you’re a Democrat,’” he told WSJ.
