Kanye's Diamonds from Sierra Leone

Examining the videos in class today was interesting, and the Kanye - Diamonds video for me was the most interesting. Our group was trying to determine why Kanye chose not to wear any diamonds in the video, which featured child miners from Sierra Leone. I understand the message and the juxtaposition that Kanye was trying to get across - bringing awareness to the violence and "bloodiness" of the diamonds that children suffer for to bring to rich white people, and contrast the images with Kanye in Paris. I think what Kanye was trying to do, by not wearing diamonds and strolling alone through one of the most populated areas in Paris, was indicating that as a black man who is celebrating his success, he is also not ignoring his roots, his past, or his people in that he keeps the children of Sierra Leone on his mind. I think the footage of him walking through Paris alone indicates that while he celebrates his success, he also feels isolated in being a black man with the kind of success he has. I think he was trying to show that the child miners remind him of his own struggles. While I think I understand the points Kanye was trying to get across, I don't think that the imagery was necessarily juxtaposed in a way that made it clear what his message was. I think he wanted the video to generate discussion, but not necessarily discussion of what he was actually trying to say about the blood diamond situation.