Last November, I spoke to a group about what it means to be a "free-thinker."
In my presentation, I offered a quote from Bertrand Russell's book, "The Value of Free Thought: How to Become a Truth-Seeker and Break the Chains of Mental Slavery." He writes:
"What makes a freethinker is not his beliefs but the way in which he holds them. If he holds them because his elders told him they were true when he was young, or if he holds them because if he did not, he would be unhappy, his thought is not free. But, if he holds them because, after careful thought, he finds a balance of evidence in their favor, then his thought is free, however odd his conclusions may seem.”
The idea of free thought excites me; it helps us embrace our autonomy and sets us apart.
As we're seeing with Kanye West, at times, our individualism will clash with the collective [which prioritizes the best interests of the group; e.g., black people, humanity, etc.])and we have to ask ourselves, is this choice suitable for the purpose?
I love Kanye. He's one of my favorite artists, and I'm happy he's joined us on the journey. But, as we continue to establish our autonomy as free-people in this country, we should seek wisdom as we employ free-thinking.
In Kanye's reality, he doesn't have to deal with any of the social ills that weaken this plane—or so he thinks. He's male, wealthy, married to a Kimberly, and has a considerable amount of influence. The perfect ingredients to create a narcissistic ego—which explains why he likes Donald Trump. Narcissism causes us to alienate the people in our lives who care about us and decreases our capacity for empathy.
Those of us who know, know that none of us are free until we all get free. And, empathy helps us acknowledge that truth. If Yeezus is really about that evolution life, he'll be like Jesus and use this arrival to help set the captives free. Big Bro, was an advocate for the "least of these."
If there is one thing I've learned from the free-thinkers I've studied, it's that they had an acute understanding of the world in which they lived. And unfortunately, their social and political evaluations often rewarded them an untimely death [see; Jesus, Socrates, Hypatia, Jan Hus, Amílcar Cabral, and Malcolm X].
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As an artist, Kanye has undoubtedly transcended cultural boundaries. His virtuosity has revolutionized the sound of Hip-Hop, forever. But, if he hopes to be a building block in the evolution of human thought and the improvement of the human condition, he's going to have to come off his throne, at least for now.
What's a King Who Can't Connect with The People?
As Kanye sees, internal freedom precedes its external realization. However, spiritual development and advances in technology provide the possibility of advancing the process. With Kanye's influence, resources, and connections he is perfectly positioned to serve as a game-changer for the people. He should, though, be careful not to align with people who implement policies that are opposed to freedom, justice, and equality—and Donald Trump has proved that he is one of those people.
Welcome to the Journey, Kanye! You are now free to move about the lodge. Remember, while everything is permissible, not everything is expedient.