Kanye West made headlines a few years back when he jumped on stage at the VMAs as Taylor Swift was speaking about her award. Fast-forward to 2014, Kanye still hasn't tamed his on-stage antics.
In Sydney, Australia, concert-goers were at his concert - and in between songs - Kanye decided it was a good time to single out two people in a crowd because "they didn't stand up" upon demand by... Kanye West. And this caused this artist so much distress that it delayed his next song by nearly three minutes.
Some particular quotes out of the cell phone video, in chronological order, that I found interesting are:
"Is he in a wheelchair?"
"They're literally two people left . . . This is the longest I've had to wait to do a song . . . If he's in a wheelchair that's fine."
"And is he in a wheelchair there? . . . All you people in wheelchairs?"
Ironically, the song that he sang next was called the "Good Life".
Kanye's definition of disability perks are not only the ability to "sit" through a song at his concert, but also refer to the special parking one received when their mobility is limited to the point where they need priority parking. His actual definition is a tad bit more crude though.
While this is a highly public incident that has brought issues of ableism (discrimination based on ability) to the forefront - in reality, ableism is surrounding us everyday. It is saddening that Kanye has gone on the defensive instead of outright apologizing for his actions that evening. But realize this is one incident out of countless that happen to people every single day.
The change from ableism in society will clearly not start with Kanye. But take this opportunity to use his debacle as an opportunity to examine the ableism in your life. We can tweet, instagram, Facebook, email, and call the news about one particular incident regarding a celebrity, however, the change in society and their views on disability will come from the grassroots and community level. In other words, it will come with you.
So Kanye - I will continue to sit when I feel, exploit my incredible parking privileges, and "throw my hands in the sky" while I continue to fight against those ableist tendencies that you, and many other, seem to possess.
In Sydney, Australia, concert-goers were at his concert - and in between songs - Kanye decided it was a good time to single out two people in a crowd because "they didn't stand up" upon demand by... Kanye West. And this caused this artist so much distress that it delayed his next song by nearly three minutes.
Some particular quotes out of the cell phone video, in chronological order, that I found interesting are:
"Is he in a wheelchair?"
"They're literally two people left . . . This is the longest I've had to wait to do a song . . . If he's in a wheelchair that's fine."
"And is he in a wheelchair there? . . . All you people in wheelchairs?"
Ironically, the song that he sang next was called the "Good Life".
Kanye's definition of disability perks are not only the ability to "sit" through a song at his concert, but also refer to the special parking one received when their mobility is limited to the point where they need priority parking. His actual definition is a tad bit more crude though.
While this is a highly public incident that has brought issues of ableism (discrimination based on ability) to the forefront - in reality, ableism is surrounding us everyday. It is saddening that Kanye has gone on the defensive instead of outright apologizing for his actions that evening. But realize this is one incident out of countless that happen to people every single day.
The change from ableism in society will clearly not start with Kanye. But take this opportunity to use his debacle as an opportunity to examine the ableism in your life. We can tweet, instagram, Facebook, email, and call the news about one particular incident regarding a celebrity, however, the change in society and their views on disability will come from the grassroots and community level. In other words, it will come with you.
So Kanye - I will continue to sit when I feel, exploit my incredible parking privileges, and "throw my hands in the sky" while I continue to fight against those ableist tendencies that you, and many other, seem to possess.