Chicago rappers Kanye West and Chance the Rapper are feeling the wrath of Black Twitter after the two challenged preconceived notions about black support of the Democratic Party.
Yeezy's return to Twitter has been something else. By proclaiming his support for Trump, posting photos of himself wearing a "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) hat and ranting about how he and the president both possess "dragon energy" has forced longtime fans off the bandwagon.
Many from the MAGA crowd have embraced "The Life of Pablo" rapper as one of their own. As the backlash against him ramped up, Chance the Rapper came to the rescue of his friend and collaborator tweeting, "Black people don’t have to be Democrats."
Black Twitter was not having the nonsense because many believe that supporting Trump is the same as supporting racism, homophobia, xenophobia and bigotry. Fans of both rappers were quick to point out how disappointed they were with them:
Facts. We also don’t have to support:
-bigotry
-homophobia
-sexism
-xenophobia
-bullying
-gaslighting
Shall I go on? I’m all about our freedom to choose politics that best suit our interests. Choose wisely. Demand better. ✊???? https://t.co/jGzsjkWliw— Cousin Angela (@angela_rye) April 26, 2018
Many also lambasted Chance for being so woke about recent incidents like an offensive Heineken ad, but not being able to see the effects of issuing comments like "black people don’t have to be Democrats." It sends a bad message to a Republican Party hijacked by neo-Nazis, white nationalists like Richard B. Spencer and former Ku Klux Klan member David Duke.
Chance the Rapper wanna call a Heineken commercial racist but he gonna cape for a nigga thats supporting Trump
— Instagram DJZeeti718⚡️⚡️???? (@DJZeeti) April 25, 2018
This why I listen to black women…
These "rappers"
Kanye West
Chance The Rapper
T.I.
Killer Mike
Ice CubeAre making the case for a stronger Trump and Republican victory and control which helps their pockets and disenfranchise the oppressed mainly their own black people.
— Mr. Weeks ✊???? (@MrDane1982) April 25, 2018
If Kanye West,Chance the Rapper represent Hip Hop culture,if Hip Hop culture stays stagnant,oppressive to women/LGBTQ people, is not evolutionary and ready for less testosterone, if Hip Hop continues to be hyper-capitalist,hyper-masculine,then young people: create something new..
— Rosa A. Clemente (@rosaclemente) April 26, 2018
Others called for more criticism aimed at Chance for supporting and collaborating with beleaguered R&B singer R. Kelly despite a mountain of damning sexual misconduct allegations.
Me waiting for Black people to drag Chance The Rapper and Kanye West (for actually supporting pedophiles) with the same enthusiasm they use when bringing up Nicki Minaj being related to one. The ball’s in your court Remy Ma. pic.twitter.com/hBEwgZk7A1
— Shahem (@officialshahem) April 26, 2018
Chance the Rapper makes music with R Kelly and doesn't think any thing is wrong with that… the Kanye support is light on comparison.
— Marco Pavé (@KingofMarco) April 25, 2018
Users also alluded to Trump's many racialized aggressions targeting black journalists on Twitter, black NFL players for protesting and his policies that target disenfranchised people. In one year, Trump has targeted all groups at least once. And there is no forgetting the reports of Trump allegedly calling majority black nations "sh*thole countries."
funny all the work you’ve done for Chicago public schools and you basically telling little black kids it’s okay to support people who will never stick out their necks for them before their own people pic.twitter.com/dEDxlbIO6p
— • ???????????????????????? • ????/???????? • (@starrymatteI) April 25, 2018
No one is asking him to be a democrat. No one is asking anyone to be a democrat. We are just asking that he doesn't use his power and position to support racism. That is all. It is not that a big thing to ask!??!
— TheSavannaLady (@TheSavannaLady) April 25, 2018
No one is upset Kanye's not a Democrat. They're upset that he's enabling and fanboying over a racist wannabe authoritarian who has made it his mission to separate families, discriminate against POC and LGBT people, and remove himself from criminal accountability.
— Pete Forester (@pete_forester) April 25, 2018
I’m disappointed by Kanye fanboying over Trump. And then Chance the Rapper tweeting ‘black people don’t have to be democrats’ seeming to defend Kanye? No one has to be a democrat. It’s about not freaking out over/seeming to support a sexist, racist, transphobic, islamophobic man.
— h. (@taesnosefreckle) April 26, 2018
It’s not about that though, Chance. It’s about the fact that he is supporting who a man who time and time again has proven to be a white supremacist, a sexist, an Islamophobe, a homophobe, a transphobe and a xenophobe.
— Luke Waltham (@lukewaltham) April 25, 2018
Although Chance did not specifically announce his support of Trump, he might as well have. Donald Trump Jr. retweeted him, and scores of MAGA faithfuls have become new Chance fans.
