The rising rate in the Unites States of antisemitic hate crimes and inappropriate statements against Jews worldwide has received support from rap music superstar Kanye West, who has consistently spewed antisemitic and white supremacy opinions of his own over the last two years. Last year, West's comments led Adidas and Balenciaga to cut ties with him.
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West continued his controversial ways over the weekend, posting a video on his Instagram account on Saturday wearing a white sweatshirt that reads "Vultures" with the logo of a double eagle, a symbol that has been used since the Holy Roman Empire, but which more significantly was also used by Nazi Germany. The imagery on the logo is ambivalent, as if is intended to confuse the audience.
West's choice did not happen in a vacuum. This was the second time in recent days that the rapper has posted this kind of image. While harming Jews in the U.S depends on the context, it cannot bode well.
West does not explain his fashion choice, which is supposed to promote his new song featuring Lil Durk and Ty Dolla $ign. In his "Vultures" song, West refers to his antisemitic scandal and mentions his previous Jewish manager, Scooter Brown. "How I'm antisemitic? I just f***ed a Jewish b****, I just f***ed Scooter's b**** and we ran up like Olympics." Later in the song he refers to the Columbine school shooting from 1999.
West's post appears cowardly. The emblem on his back could be the Roman symbol which is traditionally a black double eagle with red talons on a field of gold, but West chose a black and white symbol which can also be identified with the official symbol of Germany, which has been associated with it since the ninth century. The symbol is a recurring one in German culture, including the German Empire, the Weimar Republic and, of course, Nazi Germany, only with an addition of the swastika. After World War II, Germany's symbol reverted to its previous form from the Reichsadler's heraldic eagle to the Bundesadler's federal eagle without the swastika.
In addition, the fashion brand Boy London also uses a similar eagle symbol, but it is the Roman version which only looks to the right. After the symbol caused a storm, the company explained to the Daily Mail that their logo is taken from the Romans and symbolizes "decadence and strength," and has no connection to the German Nazi Party.