Michael Richards aka "Kramer" racist?

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by OOhsoflyDELTA#9

wow....

Dropping the n-bomb doesn't make you a racist. What makes you a racist is believing that another race is inferior to you. I don't know if Richards, in his heart of hearts, believes this. I do know that he used the wrong words to flip out at his audience...
Take this as you will, I'm white so I have limited perspective on this incident.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by centaur532

Dropping the n-bomb doesn't make you a racist. What makes you a racist is believing that another race is inferior to you.

Which is what he did by referencing lynching.

He's a racist.

I'd call for a boycott of his work, but he hasn't got any.

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Which is what he did by referencing lynching.

He's a racist.

I'd call for a boycott of his work, but he hasn't got any.

Please don't go after me for this because I mean nothing by it, but I interpreted the comment differently...when he referenced lynching, I thought he was pointing out what that kind of behaviour would have resulted in 50 years ago. Of course, at the time he may have meant it the way you took it and I'm just objectifying the situation too much.
I already boycott his work, I hate seinfeld

[Reds6]

Originally Posted by centaur532

Please don't go after me for this because I mean nothing by it, but I interpreted the comment differently...when he referenced lynching, I thought he was pointing out what that kind of behaviour would have resulted in 50 years ago. Of course, at the time he may have meant it the way you took it and I'm just objectifying the situation too much.
I already boycott his work, I hate seinfeld

No he meant if a black had talked to a white man the way he did 50 years ago he would have been lynched.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by centaur532

Please don't go after me for this because I mean nothing by it, but I interpreted the comment differently...when he referenced lynching, I thought he was pointing out what that kind of behaviour would have resulted in 50 years ago. Of course, at the time he may have meant it the way you took it and I'm just objectifying the situation too much.

Nah, he meant what Reds6 said. He's a comic. He should keep the unfunny history lessons out of his acts.

Maybe that was supposed to be shock-humor that some other comics have gotten away with to lesser extremes.

[shinerbock]

I mean I think those guys calling him a cracker is racially insensitive i guess, but its not like i'm outraged or offended. I just think you can go for something that would be the most hurtful in an out of control situation (n-word) without being a racist. I think most people wouldn't do such things, but some people have better control than others. I have been around people who you could say were racially insensitive, but I don't know that they were really racist. They didn't think they were better than people because of their race, but they were against certain parts of black culture, and used generic racial slurs to describe them. I don't know what i'd call it, but I don't really know that I can say they're racist. Also, note that i'm not apologizing for anyone, its still pretty bad no matter what you're motives are. However, I think a lot of people who would use those terms (not just racial, any type of slurs) often will use them because terms like "motherf*****" really don't have the hurtful affect people may be looking for when they're enraged.

[Reds6]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I mean I think those guys calling him a cracker is racially insensitive i guess, but its not like i'm outraged or offended. I just think you can go for something that would be the most hurtful in an out of control situation (n-word) without being a racist. I think most people wouldn't do such things, but some people have better control than others. I have been around people who you could say were racially insensitive, but I don't know that they were really racist. They didn't think they were better than people because of their race, but they were against certain parts of black culture, and used generic racial slurs to describe them. I don't know what i'd call it, but I don't really know that I can say they're racist. Also, note that i'm not apologizing for anyone, its still pretty bad no matter what you're motives are. However, I think a lot of people who would use those terms (not just racial, any type of slurs) often will use them because terms like "motherf*****" really don't have the hurtful affect people may be looking for when they're enraged.

So saying a black person should be basically lynched for going at a white man isn't racist?

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I mean I think those guys calling him a cracker is racially insensitive i guess, but its not like i'm outraged or offended.

I figured that much. Many if not most white people aren't that offended by racial epithets directed at them. They may raise an eyebrow but white people know that words used against them haven't historically been used to oppress them. So they can in a sense go in one ear and right out the other.

Racism is a system of differential opportunity and treatment that goes beyond hurt feelings or being offended. It isn't contingent upon being prejudiced toward a group of people to the point of disliking them. You can never ever use or even think the N word and still be a racist white person.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Which is what he did by referencing lynching.

He's a racist.

I'd call for a boycott of his work, but he hasn't got any.

So you know for a fact that he hates the black race and thinks whites are above them? I doubt it. Why are you getting so sensitive over this? It is her opinion.....which I agree with.

[jon1856]

He is on the Late Show with Dave Letterman TONIGHT!
With Jerry.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by jon1856

He is on the Late Show with Dave Letterman TONIGHT!
With Jerry.

LOL. Nice try, Michael Richards but this one will have to die down on its own. An apology is an expected formality but people aren't going to just laugh and forget about it. Why's Jerry there? Is he some kind of race ambassador now? Will he testify that Michael isn't racist and that "some of his best friends are black?"

Even Mel Gibson could say he was drunk when he talked about Jews. What he said actually wasn't that inflammatory but people still attacked him because they said drunk minds speak sober hearts.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by macallan25

So you know for a fact that he hates the black race and thinks whites are above them? I doubt it. Why are you getting so sensitive over this? It is her opinion.....which I agree with.

Why are you so sensitive about how I feel about this?

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Why are you so sensitive about how I feel about this?

haha, you don't have to turn it around on me.....it is quite obvious that you got somewhat flustered over us saying that we didn't think he was a racist.

[DSTCHAOS]

The great "what is racism"/"is that person racist" debate. When will folks get tired of it.

I think that he appeared flustered by the heckling and went for the jugular--either because he really feels the words he said or because he knew that would really get to his target. No point in debating what that man thinks in his heart of hearts or what he's said and done in his personal life regarding race. Maybe he has mental problems, maybe he was caught off guard, or maybe he's a Grand Wizard in the Klan. It doesn't really matter. The man went on a tangent--a looooonnnnnng, racialized one and unless he was mentally too far gone, he knew what he was saying and even mocked the audience for being in awe. The fact of the matter is that comedy shows attract some audience members who don't mind heckling and often the audience and/or comics have been drinking.

The "cracker" response to him was also uncalled for--whether it came before or after Kramer's comments--not quite the same "umph" or social relevance as what Kramer said but uncalled for nonetheless. I'm glad that many in the audience left or expressed disgust, after they realized that it wasn't part of the act.