WHAT YOU MAY BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT KANYE -- HE HAD A PROMINENT MALE ROLE MODEL WITHIN HIS REACH AND NOT ALL BLACKS HAVE REJECTED HIM
During a visit to the White House last Thursday, Kanye West left the impression that his out-of-control behavior was due to a lack of "male energy" as he trumpeted his support for Pres. Donald Trump, who is viewed as a threat by the majority of African Americans. It may come as a surprise to know that Wests' maternal grandfather, Portwood Williams, Sr. was a well-known Civil Rights leader from Oklahoma City who led a tight-knit Christian family. His late mother, Dr. Donda West and her father were very close, which she wrote about in "Raising Kanye: Life Lessons From the Mother of a Hip-Hop Superstar.”
"Some would say it was blasphemous the way Grandmother Williams worshiped her husband, the way my dad worshiped me, and the way I worship Kanye. But I just call it plain-old heartfelt, couldn't-help-it-if-you-tried-to love,” Donda West wrote. "In my family there is a legacy of that kind of love. And there was no shortage of that in our household.”
From his mother's account of her family ties it is hard to imagine that the artist would not have had a relationship with Papa Williams. Those who know the family have said Kanye gets his outspokenness from his grandfather. The current status of West's relationship with his Midwestern family is unknown.
Before marrying Kim Kardashian, West brought her to Oklahoma to meet his grandfather. Yet, judging by his conduct in the White House, he is now acting as as if there were no positive male role models in his upbringing and as if his grandfather did not exist.
Since his mother passed away in 2007 the artist has been on a downward emotional spiral that has played out publicly.
West has lost many friends in Hollywood over his controversial views and erratic rants, such as suggesting that the 13th Amendment is abolished. The "Late Registration" rapper has been called a sell out for his unwavering pursuit of the president and denounced by people from his own race and others, losing friends and fans along the way. But comedian Dave Chapelle still believes West is an artistic genius and although he does not agree with his comments of late, he still considers "Ye" his brother.
On Tuesday, October 30, West disassociated himself with Blexit, the movement that encouraged Black to leave the Democratic party. He tweeted that he was going to focus on being creative because he realized he was being used to puch messages he did not believe in.