Rapper Kanye West, who has been open about his support for the current sitting president, is now using merchandise to help encourage black Americans to leave the Democratic Party.
The artist designed a series of “Blexit” (“black exit”) merchandise that was revealed at Turning Point USA’s Young Black Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., over the weekend.
West himself was not at the event, but Turning Point’s communications director, Candace Owens, who has grown friendly with West, praised him for it there.
“Blexit is a renaissance, and I am blessed to say that this logo, these colors, were created by my dear friend and fellow superhero Kanye West,” Owens said at the D.C. event.
“[West] has taken one of the boldest steps in America to open a conversation we have needed to have,” she also said.
The shirts and hats are for sale on the Blexit.com shop and come in various colors and designs. They feature the phrase “Blexit” and “We Free.”
“Blexit” is a play on Brexit, the United Kingdom’s referendum vote to leave the European Union.
“We Free” refers to the numerous times West has called the Democratic Party “the plantation” and said that black Americans need to escape it.
West spoke about the topic during his recent visit to the White House to meet with President Donald Trump earlier this month.
He even included a reference to it in his rap “Ye vs. The People,” released back in April.
In the song, he says, “See that’s the damn problem with this damn nation. All blacks gotta be Democrats. Man, we ain’t made it off the plantation.”
While West and Owens seem to be going after black Americans, many of whom are disgruntled right now with the Democratic Party, it is similar to the #WalkAway movement. The latter was started by lifelong liberal Brandon Straka, a Hillary Clinton voter who left the Democratic Party because he was unhappy with its identity politics and political correctness.
His movement also helped inspire others to follow suit and change their affiliation.
The trend may have gained notoriety only recently, but the decline of the Democratic Party has been occurring for the past decade.
Shortly after former President Barack Obama’s victory in November 2008, 39 percent of voters labeled themselves Democrats, according to a Gallup poll.
By September 2018 (the most recent data available), only 27 percent identified themselves that way in the same survey.
See these tweets — then share your thoughts in the comments section below.
My two favorite hats. #BLEXIT is about making America great by recognizing that we are ALL AMERICANS. We will no longer allow the media rhetoric and angry leftists to keep us apart.
I love you all. https://t.co/ByEoMNA59T pic.twitter.com/S3daqkwdP0
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) October 28, 2018
I now Officially declare this a Movement.
BLEXIT:
Our Black brothers and sisters are breaking the Democrat chains of Identity Politics.
What an amazing time to be alive!@RealCandaceO @charliekirk11 @TPUSA https://t.co/BafDOIDafn
— Sebastian Gorka DrG (@SebGorka) October 28, 2018
There is no group in America that has been more lied to, more abused, or more taken advantage of by the Democrats than black people.
At long last, we can return the favor by ENDING their stranglehold on our votes.
Support the #BLEXIT today, Patriots! https://t.co/1kEDqZWKUF
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) October 28, 2018
Tom Joyce is a freelance writer from the South Shore of Massachusetts. He covers sports, pop culture, and politics and has contributed to The Federalist, Newsday and other publications.
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