Rapper Kanye West says the enslavement of African Americans over centuries may have been a "choice." West was appearing on TMZ and he said "When you hear about slavery for 400 years....for 400 years? That sound like a choice. I'm sure that would have been a news flash to Dredd Scott. West added "we're mentally imprisoned." Of course, blacks were forcibly brought from Africa to the U-S during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries and sold as slaves. It was in all the papers, Kanye. West later tweeted saying his comments were misinterpreted, of course, and that he "brought up thge 400 years pointbecause we can't be mentally imprisoned for another 400 year." Yea, THAT'S the ticket. A black TMZ staff member, Van Lathen, wasn't buying it, saying the rapper's comments appeared to be made with "the absence of thought." West's comments sparked a backlash on social media with some Twitter users suggesting the rapper should revisit the history books. That assuming he ever visited those books in the first place. It sure doesn't sound he spent too much in the American History classroom to me.