Kanye West’s outburst at the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) on Sunday night provided an invaluable insight into his true character.’ For those of us who are neither fans of, nor really familiar with, Kanye’s body of musical work, we remember him from his incredible statement, broadcast across television, that ‘George Bush doesn’t care about black people.” Said in response to the unbelievably poor emergency response for the people suffering from the effects of hurricane Katrina, Kanye’s statement actually made sense at the time.’ Sure, it was offensive and disrespectful, but so was the government’s response to Katrina.’ The feeling I got about Kanye West then was that he was outspoken, impetuous, but very passionate about his community.’ For that, I’ thought, he deserved respect.

However, after his rude interruption of Taylor Swift’s award speech during the VMAs, I now believe he harbors strong racist beliefs.’ To recap it, Taylor Swift was awarded the best female video award, and as she was accepting it Kanye took the stage and said into a microphone he managed to pick up that ‘Beyonc’eacute; had one of the best videos of the decade.” To think that the decision to award Taylor with the best female video award was such an affront to Beyonc’eacute; means, in my understanding, that Kanye believes that Beyonc’eacute; was denied the award because she is black, and Taylor won it because she is white.’ There have been bad VMA award decisions in the past, but never before has someone been so offended by one, and reacted so tactlessly.’ Kanye West’s actions say to me that he views black artists as fundamentally superior to white artists, and that he thought the VMAs used the opposite preference in giving that award.’ (Beyonc’eacute; won video of the year later in the ceremony, which only serves to accent the ridiculousness of Kanye’s behavior.)

While Kanye’s outspokenness served the country well in the aftermath of Katrina, exposing the brute senselessness of the government’s response, it is now apparent that he is spitting mad.’ Although he may be a good musical artist, as evidenced by his success, he should keep his views to himself, since he will only make a fool of himself if he speaks publicly again.’ Perhaps Kanye thought that the country’s acceptance of his post-Katrina remarks made him invincible to public criticism.’ Regardless, his true colors are now there for all to see ‘- Kanye West does not care about white people.