Opinion: Condemning Kanye West’s antisemitism is easy. Vigilance is harder and requires an understanding of what is at stake.
Kanye West hasn’t been shy about using antisemitism to paint himself as a victim who was targeted by Jewish interests.
The rapper and producer is a vocal opponent of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and has even expressed reservations about the right of the Jewish people to protest Israel’s policies.
While West’s pro-Israel stance is certainly commendable, however, he has also spoken of the need for action in combating antisemitism. The rapper has even gone as far as to implore his fellow musicians to become “one voice” and condemn the movement.
Yet for all his efforts, West’s track record makes it nearly impossible for anyone to dismiss out-of-hand his anti-Semitic actions. In the wake of the deadly Pittsburgh Synagogue shooting, which left 11 dead and six injured, West has issued a scathing response. “There cannot be a single voice without a single agenda,” West wrote. “There is no room for white supremacy, racism, and hate.
It’s been five days since the massacre. And we still don’t know who is responsible.
West’s track record should serve as a solid reason to call for the prosecution of those responsible for the alleged crime, but for too many, West is still the only figure who bears any responsibility for this tragedy. Instead, for those who are genuinely interested in discovering an answer to the question in their minds, they have been met with a barrage of accusations and conspiracy theories, with no proof or facts to support any of them beyond hearsay, word of mouth, and tweets.
To be sure, there are plenty of conspiracy theories floating around about those who are suspected of being responsible – for instance, a “Jewish media conspiracy”, or a “Jewish mafia”.
But in the real world, conspiracy theories are not the rule. What’s true is that when it comes out who the alleged killer is, the narrative will