Hayden Prescott Corwin ’15
THE ROUNDUP

Kanye West is notorious for being a controversial rap figure head.

His “Yeezus” tour has seen the creation of new West clothing that makes some people upset.

One of the designs includes the Confederate flag.

The National Action Network is one group that is boycotting West due to his use of the Confederate flag.

The National Action Network is an organization founded by Rev. Al Sharpton and addresses social and economic injustices that happen among the African American population.

“The Confederate flag symbolizes dehumanization, injustice and pain. It is a stark reminder of an era in our history that was defined by the abhorrent practice of slavery,” Sharpton wrote in a Huffington Post blog. “And it is representative of a mentality that looked upon blacks as inferiors who needed to remain in the shackles of subservience.”

Students also have their opinions about West’s use of the controversial flag.

“I just think it’s funny because he said he’s trying to make it his own,” said Jake DeRito ’15. “And so they did this thing on SNL where they were saying how now everything that is bad and that people hate, Kanye West is going to adopt it.”

Stunts that shock people have gained him time in the spotlight over the years.

“I think it’s just a joke to bring attention to himself,” said Manuel Trejo ’15 when asked how he felt about West using the flag. “Because obviously you wouldn’t be talking about Kanye, but now you are. It’s a publicity stunt.”

Some people think that using the flag is just West flexing his freedoms.

“It’s a free country, it’s America, he can kind of do what he wants with it,” said Austin Inglett ’15. “If he wants a Confederate flag on there, it catches attention and I think that might be all that he’s going for.”

The flag can also be seen as a sign of contempt for the United States by others.

“I am very patriotic, and I find it very disrespectful,” said Zack Cilhar ’15.

For some the Confederate flag is a reminder of a dark time in our country’s history.

During the Civil War, the confederate flag represented people that believed in slavery as being right.

“If I’m driving down the highway and somebody has a Confederate flag sticker, I almost would associate that with a Nazi swastika,” said Isaiah Williams ’15. “The only thing is that I think in Kanye West’s case, when he’s using it, it’s not to be racist, but almost like a way to say, hey this was the past and now this won’t hurt us anymore.”