Kanye West’s recent comments about slavery being “a choice” caused an immediate backlash, with many saying that the self-described free-thinker had gone too far.
However, former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice is standing behind Kanye’s right to free speech. She was asked her thoughts on Kanye’s recent controversial tweets and remarks by Fox Business’ Maria Bartiromo.
“First of all, I haven’t spent a lot of time thinking about it,” Rice explained to the Mornings with Maria host. “But I can say, people ought to be able to express their views. Not all of us have to think politically the same way. I’ve said to people sometimes, ‘You know, I’ve been Black all my life. You don’t have to tell me how to be Black.’”
Rice also said that one shouldn’t expect all African-Americans to share the same political views just because of their race. Kanye caused an uproar last month after sharing his admiration for President Donald Trump and conservative commentator Candace Owens.
“I think we need to recognize that in some ways the height of prejudice is to look at somebody and think you know what they think because of the color of their skin,” Rice said. “I hope we get to the point that people get to express their views and you can agree with them or disagree.”
Rice, a Stanford business school professor, is currently promoting her new book “Political Risk: How Businesses and Organizations Can Anticipate Global Insecurity.”