Racism, Kramer and Why His Apology Meant Nothing To Me
November 21, 2006 | 29 Shawwal 1427
So by now most of you have seen or heard the completely wild and off the cuff remarks that Michael Richards said after he was supposedly heckled and disturbed while performing a stand-up act. What was incredulous to me was not his words. It should not be surprising that there are many in Hollywood that think as Mr. Richards does. Instead, it was the mockery of his apology in that I found completely disingenuous. Seeing Jerrey Seinfeld sit there on Letterman’s show, trying to tell audience members not to laugh (which is itself worthy of discussion) was so fake that I felt I might vomit. The further Seinfeld attempted to defend Richards the worse he made his case. The fact of the matter is, if those people who disturbed Mr. Richard’s performance were white, they would have received some scorn no doubt, but what we witnessed went beyond mere “rage” as Richards put it. Absolute abhoration for Black people would be closer to the mark. Something inside Richards is broken - you can see it as he sat there, attempting to explain his actions, as if they could be put into another context other that what they already are - pure, unadulterated hatred. I do have to agree with Seinfeld - it’s not funny. Why audience members are laughing is beyond me. Instead, it still shows the extent of how Blacks can still be abused publicly and have it still be publicly acceptable. This isn’t to say that some weren’t outraged by his actions (I sure was). But that it has become laughable shows that we still have a long way to go (both Blacks in our journey for equality and Americans as a whole in terms of race relations). In closing I reject Mr. Richards’s apology. I do not believe him to be sincere. The only solace I can take from his inciteful barrage is that another nail has been added to the already rotting coffin that is his career.
November 21st, 2006 at 10:31 pm
I totally agree. His actions during the stand-up routine were bad enough but his half-hearted apology afterwards added insult to injury.
I must say that it was the sheer hatred in his voice during the routine that really shocked me (forget his use of the word “n–” but to talk about having somebody “upside down with a fork up their a–” was beyond belief). One commentator noted correctly that this type of speech is hurtful to all people (both Blacks and White). Sad reminder that there is still work to be done on the issue of race relations in America.
November 22nd, 2006 at 1:33 am
as a black man i say…white folks will always be white folks…and i am certain some will label me racist for saying so!!!!
November 22nd, 2006 at 11:36 am
Tariq,
How right you are. His sitting there was also completely insincere, I felt. Only thing they wanna save is their syndication revenues. And why Letterman? The completely wrong forum for an apology. I still laugh (mockingly) at his statement, “…and the amazing thing is, I’m not a racist…” Un-@#$%ing believable.
November 24th, 2006 at 1:52 pm
Salaams
Wow. I guess there are times when specific popular meltdowns offer a looking glass that can cut thru the haze of deep resentments that was merely covered by the cultural reletavism of the 90’s.
40 yrs ago it was program that a black man would never be found in a comedy club. Fast foward to today and though the economic strantums are a bit more inclusive, a bit, and, hell, popular media would have you thinking all is peachy on the other fronts, like music and other entertainment. Giving flavor to places like Americas bread basket that would otherwise consider Van Halen, Bay city rollers and Pat Boone and the Tripartite that made solid the firmament.
More to the point. Fast foward to today to an all inclusive comedy club but suprise. You still have knuckle draggin’ bone heads that have the poison. You’re an idiot if you’re suprised.
And you’re an idiot if you think the heckler should be sited for whatever his part was. Sure site him for maybe being an insensitive asshole; a stout broad minded man, black OR white would have maybe said as much. And yeah, a fight might have broken out between them, but as men bein’ immature boys shakin’ off a buzy stressfull week. But that would have been it. The subterfuge would be limited and ultimately acceptable. But THIS?
If this could be seized upon less as an isolated incident and more as sub-systemic to our evolving National Circumstance than so many other tangents in our daily lives would be reveiled for classist, obdurate racism that we ALL foster, whether it be the avarice in our business dealings and entertainment or the sanctimonious hole we like to dig for ourselves as