Photo:
Civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton is leading a boycott against rapper Kanye West, objecting specifically to his use of the confederate flag on Yeezus merchandise.
The flag, which is a strong symbol of white power in America, has strong racist connotations due to its adoption by the slave owning Southern states during the American Civil War.
However, Kanye claimed that by placing the flag on the front of his merchandise that he was inverting the association by taking it back for the black community.
"I took the Confederate Flag and made it my flag. It's my flag now," said West defending his controversial fashion choice.
However, this doesn't appear to be enough justification, as the decision to use the flag has upset Sharpton who is head of the civil rights group National Action Network. The Reverend claims that by using the flag, West is promoting ignorance and racism and has undertaken a campaign to have the shirt removed from shops across the country.
"The Confederate flag symbolises dehumanisation, injustice and pain," stated Sharpton, "it is a stark reminder of an era in our history that was defined by the abhorrent practice of slavery. And it is representative of a mentality that looked upon blacks as inferiors who needed to remain in the shackles of subservience."
Detailing how the boycott would work, Najee Ali, the political director of the LA branch of NAN contined: "Our organisation is determined to shut down that (clothing range) and any store that decides to sell this merchandise. For African-Americans, the Confederate Flag is symbolic of the hurt and pain of slavery in the South and the legacy it has left for those still living under those ideologies.
"When Kanye embraces and adorns this Confederate Flag, he also embraces the ignorance and racism that goes along with it. I challenge Kanye West to create a clothing line of merchandise featuring Swastikas if he's sincere about his beliefs. But we all know Kanye doesn't have the courage to do that. The Jewish community would run him out of town if he did and so should the African American community."
