‘A builder of people’: Ye returns to Chicago as his late mother, Donda West, is honored with street naming
TheGrio...
The educator and former Chicago State University professor was remembered for shaping generations of students, artists and community leaders.
Ye (formerly Kanye West) returned home to Chicago on Tuesday with a single message: to celebrate his late mother, Donda West.
The Chicago educator was honored with a street named after her on 78th Street and South Shore Drive, an area where Dr. West and Ye’s former home still stands. The honorary road sign was a tribute to a woman whom Chicago 7th Ward alderman Greg Mitchell called “a builder of people” and whose “impact stretches far beyond the block, far beyond Chicago, and far beyond her lifetime.”
Mitchell referred to West as a “builder of people,” “cultivator of talents,” and “champion for Black creativity and intellectual excellence.”
During the unveiling, Ye told Mitchell he wanted to do the honors of unveiling the Dr. Donda West Way, as he was joined by longtime friends and Chicago artists Che “Rhymefest” Smith, Leonard “GLC” Harris, Really Doe and longtime friend Don “Don C” Crawley.
Donda West died in 2007 at the age of 58 from “multiple post-operative factors following surgery.” For nearly 30 years, she taught at Chicago State University and also served as the chair of the English Department. Garrard McClendon, an author, professor and former colleague of Dr. West at Chicago State, remembered her for her impact on Black children across the city. She “left an indelible imprint on the landscape of education, art and culture in Chicago,” McClendon said, adding that she “built her entire career around the belief that education can change the direction of a young person’s life.”
He added that her “most enduring legacy lies in the love and devotion she bestowed upon her son.”
“As a mother, she imparted invaluable lessons of resilience, determination and integrity, shaping him into the fearless artist and cultural icon he is today,” McClendon said.
Smith and Harris echoed McClendon’s thoughts regarding West, with Harris referring to the late professor as a “light.”
“Growing up in a neighborhood that was shrouded in darkness, you always knew that you could find a light in the midst of Dr. West,” he said, adding, “She made us feel limitless. We were her sons as well, and I will be forever grateful for her. May she live forever. We will never let Ms. West go. She’s here with us today. I can feel her spirit, and she lives on forever. She lives through us all.”
The stop in Chicago was the second of the month for Ye, who is currently in the midst of a comeback tour in stadiums across the globe. After performing two shows at Chicago’s Soldier Field, he’s next set to play venues in Indonesia, Texas and Arizona. Over the years, he has frequently included his late mother in his music, from his 2021 album “DONDA,” named after her, to using her vocals on his most recent album, “BULLY,” for the song “Mama’s Favorite.”