Donda West facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Donda West
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West in August 2007
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| Born |
Donda Carlene Williams
July 12, 1949 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
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| Died | November 10, 2007 (aged 58) Playa del Rey, California, U.S.
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| Education | Douglass High School |
| Alma mater | Virginia Union University (BA) Clark Atlanta University (MA) Auburn University (EdD) |
| Occupation |
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| Spouse(s) |
Ray West
(m. 1975; div. 1980) |
| Children | Kanye West |
Donda C. West (born Williams; July 12, 1949 – November 10, 2007) was an American professor. She was the head of the English, Communications, Media, and Theater Department at Chicago State University. She was also the mother of the famous rapper and artist, Ye, who is better known as Kanye West.
Her Life and Career
Donda West grew up in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Her father, Portwood Williams, Sr., was a civil rights activist. This means he worked to make sure all people had equal rights.
She earned her first college degree in English in 1971. Later, she received her doctoral degree in 1980. In 1958, she and her father took part in a sit-in protest in Oklahoma City. This was a peaceful way to protest unfair rules.
West started teaching in the early 1970s. She began working at Chicago State University in 1980. She also taught English in China for a year through a special program called the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. This program helps scholars teach and do research in other countries.
She worked at Chicago State for 27 years. For 24 of those years, she was the head of her department. She helped create the Gwendolyn Brooks Center at the university. This center teaches about African-American writers and helps new writers.
Donda raised Kanye in Chicago with her husband, Ray. They separated when Kanye was three years old. In 2004, she retired from teaching. She moved to California to work full-time for her son. She was often seen with him at events and award shows. She strongly supported her son and his ideas. She believed she "trained her son for greatness." She said she taught him to think carefully and share his feelings.
In 2003, Donda and Kanye started a non-profit group called the Kanye West Foundation. Its goal was to help young people stay in school and improve their reading skills. They worked with community groups to offer music education to kids who needed it. One program, Loop Dreams, taught students how to write and produce music. It also helped them improve their schoolwork. After her death, the foundation was renamed the Dr. Donda West Foundation. It stopped its work in 2011.
Her Passing
Donda West passed away on November 10, 2007, at 58 years old. Officials later said she died from heart disease and issues after a cosmetic surgery. Authorities in Los Angeles looked into her death.
Kanye West performed his first concert after her funeral in London. He sang "Hey Mama" and a song by Journey called "Don't Stop Believin'" for his mother. He continued to dedicate these songs to her on his "Glow in the Dark Tour."
Her Lasting Impact
In 2009, the governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, signed a new law. It was called the "Donda West Law." This law makes sure people get a health check-up before having certain cosmetic surgeries.
Donda West also wrote a book called Raising Kanye: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Star. It was published in 2009. In her book, she shared that she first wanted Kanye to go to college. But when she saw his passion for hip hop, she supported his choice to follow music.
In 2013, Kanye West and his friend Rhymefest started a non-profit program called Donda's House. It was a free music writing program for young people in Chicago. It aimed to help students aged 15 to 24 learn how to write and record music. The program was based on Donda West's teaching ideas. Later, Donda's House was renamed Art of Culture, Incorporated.
In 2019, Garrard McClendon published a book about Donda West's scholarly work. It was called Donda's Rules: The Scholarly Works of Dr. Donda West – Mother of Kanye West. McClendon is a professor at Chicago State University. He worked with students to find all of Donda West's writings, including her college papers, notes, poems, and speeches.
Mahalia Ann Hines, who is the mother of rapper Common, said Donda was "beautiful" and "intelligent." Brenda M. Greene, mother of recording artist Talib Kweli, said Donda was a "kindred spirit" and a leader who taught culture to her students. Rhymefest, Kanye's writing partner, said Donda "was everyone's mom" and that her "spirit lasts forever."
In Popular Culture
Donda West is the subject of Kanye's song "Hey Mama." This song was on his 2005 album Late Registration. In another song from the same album, "Touch the Sky," Kanye thanks his mom for always supporting him. He especially thanked her for driving him from Chicago to New York in a rented van.
On January 5, 2012, Kanye announced a new company called DONDA. He named this creative company after his mother.
Kanye also named his tenth studio album, released in 2021, Donda, after his mother. He gave free tickets to Chicago State University students for a special listening event for the album.
On February 23, 2022, Kanye released Donda 2, which was a follow-up album to Donda. Later that year, he started a marketing company and a clothing line called DONDA Sports. He also opened a private Christian school called Donda Academy in California. The school's basketball team, the Donda Doves, has many talented players from across the United States.
