#IfSlaveryWasAChoice Gives Black Community a Comedy Outlet to Deal With Kanye’s Ignorance

Comedy is often the best weapon marginalized communities have against the ills of the world. Being that one of the biggest ills the world is facing right now is Kanye West saying things he really shouldn’t be saying, Black Twitter has come forward in truly hilarious fashion to put him in his place.

Trump-loving Kanye has been saying a lot of nonsensical things lately, but the most egregious thing was during this TMZ interview in which he actually uttered the words, “When you hear about slavery for 400 years. For 400 years?! That sounds like a choice.”

Yeeeah, no. When I hear about slavery for 400 years, that sounds to me like an institution built into the fabric of our country that was so supported as to hold for that many centuries and still has systemic repercussions today. That’s what it sounds like. But, I mean, WHAT DO I KNOW?

ANYwho, Black Twitter was not having it, and after being rightfully pissed off decided to go the humor route. Because after all, how else can you really respond to complete and total ridiculousness? For example, check out this tweet (and the accompanying thread) from Clarkisha Kent, creator of The Kent Test:

I am never going to apologize for using humor to point out the sheer absurdity & ignorance of not even implying but outright PROCLAIMING that our ancestors CHOSE to be enslaved. Do you know how big of a mugu you have to be to even utter such a thing? #IfSlaveryWasAChoice pic.twitter.com/W13VA1vOQ0

— Clarkisha Kent (@IWriteAllDay_) May 2, 2018

And of course, you have the requisite checks being made:

Me checking to see if everyone who making #IfSlaveryWasAChoice jokes are black… pic.twitter.com/3S4r2rCB69

— Ashleyyyy (@Ashleyk78) May 2, 2018

And this is why I’m just here to laugh and amplify.

There was a lot being said about pursuing an education at Slave University:

When you a freshman at Slave University and you get assigned to the house #IfSlaveryWasAChoice pic.twitter.com/nACNQdW4e6

— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) May 2, 2018

Applying to a slave auction straight out of slave university and they ask for 10+ years of slave experience #IfSlaveryWasAChoice pic.twitter.com/543ez0imW6

— quiyonce (@schoolgurlqxo) May 2, 2018

And a lot of talk about dealing with a boss who does not appreciate you:

When Massa tried to hit you with the whip #IfSlaveryWasAChoice pic.twitter.com/vPTIHWLUo7

— X (@wazzamsupah) May 2, 2018

#IfSlaveryWasAChoice
Massa: So y’all really planning to runaway tonight?!!
Slaves: pic.twitter.com/QxpWtazkeH

— asema (@Aulems) May 2, 2018

When you travelled all the way from Africa for a new job and find out it’s an “unpaid internship”#IfSlaveryWasAChoice pic.twitter.com/QarHtMnX53

— Prohoeletariat🖖🏾 (@Tsogo_k) May 2, 2018

But also a lot about working with your friends:

When you find out your best friend was auctioned off to the same plantation as you 🤞🏾🔐#IfSlaveryWasAChoice pic.twitter.com/8AOvc24Xdc

— 20 😁 (@2flyy_ky) May 2, 2018

#IfSlaveryWasAChoice
when you thought you and the squad got split up but you see them on the slave ship pic.twitter.com/D3BxcfXVIs

— Bundy (@_brianbeckford) May 2, 2018

Plenty of people came for Kanye directly:

When you become slave of the month #IfSlaveryWasaChoice pic.twitter.com/xJTx8duXUc

— Uncle Drew (@drewball615) May 2, 2018

😂😂😂😂😂 We don’t know this Kanye West #IfSlaveryWasAChoice #Kanye #Trump pic.twitter.com/UbmFFps3EX

— ChocolateCityComics (@ChocCityComics) May 2, 2018

And some of the biggest laughs came from different people’s take on the same meme, like using this behind-the-scenes photo of director Steve McQueen and star Lupita Nyong’o on the set of 12 Years a Slave to hilarious effect:

FaceTiming the plantation next door to see “who all over there” #IfSlaveryWasAChoice pic.twitter.com/1pTfKA1e2K

— Jay🍋 (@goldengirljay) May 2, 2018

“It says here all we have to do is press unsubscribe to remove ourselves from this mailing list” #IfSlaveryWasAChoice pic.twitter.com/E9AVjYNJnv

— #elnegrotienetumbao (@Geechi_Luciano) May 2, 2018

Setting up the work playlist for the day #IfSlaveryWasAChoice pic.twitter.com/Tp8vEfvlCz

— Luke Lawal Jr. (@lukelawal) May 2, 2018

And you will not, WILL NOT, forget the gays:

Me and the girls during Pride Night in the cotton fields #IfSlaveryWasAChoice pic.twitter.com/5CkZ67WZTB

— Queen Beryl’s Nail Tech (@PorterPizzazz) May 2, 2018

However, there were also some people on hand to remind us exactly why what Kanye West said was so harmful:

#IfSlaveryWasAChoice
Our ancestors after working they whole life just to find out from kanye that “slavery was a choice” the whole time. pic.twitter.com/fbYU8xRcwt

— Aundre’ Raashad 👑 (@AundreRaashad) May 2, 2018

#IfSlaveryWasAChoice there would be no need for these chains. pic.twitter.com/wuShEGFgSK

— keron miller (@norek_miller) May 2, 2018

Here’s to resilience through humor, and here’s hoping that whatever Kanye is going through these days gets worked out soon.

(image: Fox Searchlight)

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