On October 8, 2022, Ye tweeted, “I’m a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I’m going to death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE The funny thing is I actually can’t be Anti Semitic because black people are actually Jews also You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda.”
A few hours later, my Journalism class, munching on bagels and stifling yawns, began to argue as Ye’s tweet was brought to our attention. After taking up most of our first-period block debating, we eventually came to a conclusion: We naively dismissed the tweet, relying on the assumption that although problematic, West’s words were likely to be canceled and condemned.
A few days later, Ye denied the Holocaust Museum’s invitation to tour by stating that Planned Parenthood was his Holocaust museum. Soon after, the Holocaust Museum of Los Angeles reported that they had received a tremendous influx of hateful anti-semitic comments on their social media pages.
On October 24 a group of anti-semitic and Neo-Nazi demonstrators hung banners off of a 405 overpass, with the phrase “Kanye Is Right About The Jews.” As demonstrators yelled, they raised their arms, recognized as the Nazi salute.
Less than a month later, Ye casually remarked, “I like Hitler,” on Alex Jones’ Infowars platform. In the same breath, Ye continued, “Every human being has something of value that they brought to the table, especially Hitler,” and “I see good things in Hitler also.”
As the Milken students navigated the next few months following the tweet, we came to realize the extent of our assumption. Ye, as not only a popular artist but as a brand, was featured on the shoes, pants, and hoodies of Milken students. His indifferent, ‘too cool for school’ attitude was heavily ingrained in the minds of students, and so when their favorite artist, brand, and influencer became the representative of modern antisemitism, it left many students in shock.
Suddenly, Ye, whose music and clothing had been a prominent part of the Milken community and the Gen-Z community at large, became a symbol of hate and violence. Yeezy slides and Ye’s hit songs now carried a weight, representing an individual whose words provoked demonstrators to raise their arms in support of Nazis and the annihilation of the Jewish people. The danger of endorsing Ye’s rhetoric not only became apparent but at a point cynically comical.
Yet, what seems most terrifying are not the words themselves. It’s the fact that Ye was given a platform to express unchecked hate without restrictions or pushback. Ye felt free, safe, and protected. He was given a space in which his words of unadulterated hate were accepted and encouraged, while Jews from all over the world became riddled with fear and anxiety about their safety and future.
Different social media platforms exploded as users debated the ramifications of Ye’s words, provoking a surge in antisemitic rhetoric. The ADL reported an influx in anti-semitism and the voices calling for condemnation weakened. As time weakened Ye’s blow, and students embraced the protective bubble of Jewish private school, soon nobody bothered to press ‘skip’ on Ye’s song.
But then, 366 days later, something happened that didn’t just pierce our community – it destroyed it. This time around, the bubble of Jewish private school could no longer provide respite. October 7, 2023 marked a moment of atrocity, tragedy, and devastation.
Yet, what feels most baffling is what occurred on October 8th, 2023; how the world reacted to October 7th. October 8th, 2023 marked a moment when we no longer had the luxury for excuses. Posts on Instagram, praying for the protection and return of hostages were flooded with comments promoting Hamas and preaching the genocide of Jews. On Twitter, instead of users wishing for peace and protection, there were online riots calling murders and terrorists an inspiration.
The platforms that once promised universal protection and equality for everyone, regardless of gender, race, religion, or ethnicity, allowed for the spread of anti-semitism as if it were a passing trend. Users, who had previously advocated for humanity, peace, and a general understanding that murder is bad, suddenly had a double standard.
They made an exception for humanity. An exception for peace. An exception for murder.
The lack of denunciation creates exceptions to hate and allows for an environment that fosters hostility. It is paramount that we as a united community make the safety, conservation, and livelihood of Jews a priority. Even small acts of condemnation emphasize the danger in Ye’s words and actions and make it clear that as a community, we do not stand for hate, discrimination, or bigotry.
The small act of skipping a song or choosing to buy different shoes brings us one step closer to confidently being able to say the phrase, “never again.”
