i agree that writing should be as accessible as possible, and i definitely have a pet peeve about anyone using overly pretentious language regardless of whether or not theyre an academic. (if anything, i think being a teaching academic makes overly wrought language even worse). and while i agree that west's writing wasn't the most accessible (and is practicing a pretentiousness that would usually piss people off), its a little different here because west has a unique position of being a black, older, theological, eccentric academic (as well as an actual background in fighting for working class issues) that allows him to get away with writing like this and not being a douche, as someone in normal circumstances would be if they communicated like this.

he's harking back to the traditions set by james baldwin, malcolm x, MLK, the activist black church and more.

his letter is also a practice in rhetorical dramatic academic writing

its also as simple as why neil degrasse tyson can kinda talk in super abstract ways --he's just smart and kinda on another level but its not wrapped up in condescension (from what i understand, but idk tyson could have a douche rep), it's just a function of being wrapped in abstract thought