Among messages comparing himself to abolitionist Harriet Tubman, West explained, “the reason why I brought up the 400 years point is because we can’t be mentally imprisoned for another 400 years. We need free thought now. Even the statement was an example of free thought. It was just an idea.”

> to make myself clear. Of course I know that slaves did not get shackled and put on a boat by free will
> 
> My point is for us to have stayed in that position even though the numbers were on our side means that we were mentally enslaved
> 
> They cut out our tongues so we couldn’t communicate to each other. I will not allow my tongue to be cut
> 
> — KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018 on Twitter

### Check out the interview here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfpES0JWNtg

we need to have open discussions and ideas on unsettled pain

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018

to make myself clear. Of course I know that slaves did not get shackled and put on a boat by free will

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018

My point is for us to have stayed in that position even though the numbers were on our side means that we were mentally enslaved

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018

They cut out our tongues so we couldn’t communicate to each other. I will not allow my tongue to be cut

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018

Kanye vs the media is modern day Willie Linch theory.

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018

they hung the most powerful in order to force fear into the others.

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018

they can no longer stop our voice.

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018

the Nat Turner movie never made it anywhere because it showed slaves revolting. I understand why my god brother Puff calls his network revolt.

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018

if this was 148 years ago I would have been more like Harriet or Nat

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018

the universe has a plan. I knew that TMZ would be awesome.

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018

we are programmed to always talk and fight race issues. We need to update our conversation.

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018

the reason why I brought up the 400 years point is because we can’t be mentally imprisoned for another 400 years. We need free thought now. Even the statement was an example of free thought It was just an idea

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018

once again I am being attacked for presenting new ideas

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018

in school we need to learn how magic Johnson built his business not always about the past. Matter fact I’ve never even heard of a high school class that presents future ideas

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018

when the media masses and scholars talk about what started today. Here’s a title …

the overground hell road

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 2, 2018

I freed a thousand slaves I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves. – Harriet Tubman

— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 2, 2018

Did Kanye West say African-American slavery was a choice?

Among messages comparing himself to abolitionist Harriet Tubman, West explained, “the reason why I brought up the 400 years point is because we can’t be mentally imprisoned for another 400 years. We need free thought now. Even the statement was an example of free thought. It was just an idea.”
<blockquote>
to make myself clear. Of course I know that slaves did not get shackled and put on a boat by free will
My point is for us to have stayed in that position even though the numbers were on our side means that we were mentally enslaved
They cut out our tongues so we couldn’t communicate to each other. I will not allow my tongue to be cut
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018 on Twitter
</blockquote>
<h3>Check out the interview here</h3>
<div class="w-full aspect-video relative pb-8"><iframe width="100%" style="width: 100%;height: 100%;" x="113" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SfpES0JWNtg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen title="Kanye West just said 400 years of slavery was a choice"></iframe></div>
we need to have open discussions and ideas on unsettled pain
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
to make myself clear. Of course I know that slaves did not get shackled and put on a boat by free will
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
My point is for us to have stayed in that position even though the numbers were on our side means that we were mentally enslaved
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
They cut out our tongues so we couldn’t communicate to each other. I will not allow my tongue to be cut
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
Kanye vs the media is modern day Willie Linch theory.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
they hung the most powerful in order to force fear into the others.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
they can no longer stop our voice.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
the Nat Turner movie never made it anywhere because it showed slaves revolting. I understand why my god brother Puff calls his network revolt.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
if this was 148 years ago I would have been more like Harriet or Nat
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
the universe has a plan. I knew that TMZ would be awesome.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
we are programmed to always talk and fight race issues. We need to update our conversation.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
the reason why I brought up the 400 years point is because we can’t be mentally imprisoned for another 400 years. We need free thought now. Even the statement was an example of free thought It was just an idea
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
once again I am being attacked for presenting new ideas
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
in school we need to learn how magic Johnson built his business not always about the past. Matter fact I’ve never even heard of a high school class that presents future ideas
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 1, 2018
when the media masses and scholars talk about what started today. Here’s a title …
the overground hell road
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 2, 2018
I freed a thousand slaves I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves. – Harriet Tubman
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) May 2, 2018

Fact Check

Did Kanye West say African-American slavery was a choice?

Ye has said the enslavement of African Americans over centuries may have been a "choice"

Published:

Share this Fact Check