Kanye West, the self-titled Yeezus of pop culture, is no stranger to public scrutiny. He’s a juggernaut in the music industry, an icon in the fashion industry, and affiliated with some of the most popular celebrities in the world. When people like him say things, us plebeians have no choice but to hear it.

And hear it we have–in the last few weeks, Kanye has released a very public storm of his personal opinions on politics, history, culture–basically any topic one can have an opinion about, Kanye West has commented on. After radio silence for almost a year, this flurry of polarizing, often incendiary comments from West is enough to give anyone whiplash.

However, I don’t care to discuss now what Kanye says in his tweets because they’re all just personal opinions: his avid support of Donald Trump, his economic ideologies, his philosophy and more. I disagree with most of what he says but Kanye himself emphasizes the importance of free thinking and freedom of speech–everyone is entitled to their own opinions.

Kanye’s recent comments about slavery, though, go far beyond merely stating an opinion. In a recent interview on TMZ, Kanye brought up slavery, stating “…you hear about slavery for 400 years…that sounds like a choice…it’s like we were mentally enslaved.” This shocking statement has sent waves of outrage through the public, but the hurt emanating from black Americans speaks to the effects of Kanye’s comments. When confronted about this demeaning comment by a black TMZ employee, Kanye immediately went on the defensive, stating “Once again I am being attacked for presenting new ideas.”

Modern issues like police brutality and the Flint water crisis have shown how black Americans still deal with the remains of systematic racism that evolved from slavery. However, nowadays, people don’t just sit still and take the injustices leveled against them–black Americans have become vocal about the unique issues they face every day with the advent of the Black Lives Matter movement and other forms of nonviolent activism.

Up until now, they have been encouraged to do so by prominent black celebrities like Jesse Williams, Zendaya, Colin Kaepernick, and more; their voices have been amplified by these celebrities using their public platforms to draw attention to the modern racism and bigotry. To hear Kanye West–a black celebrity whose worldwide platform gives him the ability to impact millions with his words–condemn not only the grievances of black Americans but somehow shift the blame towards themselves must come as a sharp blow to the confidence, the passion, and the cause of black Americans.  

Kanye West didn’t present “new ideas”; whether he meant to or not, his comments echo the claims of white supremacists who continue to glorify their ancestors’ crimes against African Americans. Kanye’s commentary basically handed them their next talking point on a silver platter, the ramifications of which I’m sure we’ll witness in the future political discourse.

Beyond that, though, Kanye’s words reek of a desire for attention. If he wants to tout himself as the greatest thinker of this day and age, he can–but until he is able to showcase how exactly his argument doesn’t fall flat, all he has done is offend a group of people he claims to represent.

And there is nothing revolutionary about that.