Michael Richards aka "Kramer" racist?

[RedVelvet]

Originally Posted by macallan25

I'm not assuming anything. But I certainly wouldn't label a person a racist if they didn't know about the negative context behind the word.

I'm sorry, but I see very VERY few blacks that don't use that word towards one another. I certainly wouldn't call it a strange phenomenon. I hear it on a daily basis....way more than often.

Really. You must have very limited contact with a very few "blacks."

[smiley21]

Originally Posted by macallan25

I'm sorry, but I see very VERY few blacks that don't use that word towards one another. I certainly wouldn't call it a strange phenomenon. I hear it on a daily basis....way more than often.

That is funny because I never say the N word and I know a lot of black people who don't use it either. I do know some who do, but the ones who don't are not few are far between.

[Reds6]

Originally Posted by macallan25

I'm not assuming anything. But I certainly wouldn't label a person a racist if they didn't know about the negative context behind the word.

I'm sorry, but I see very VERY few blacks that don't use that word towards one another. I certainly wouldn't call it a strange phenomenon. I hear it on a daily basis....way more than often.

I know very few blacks that do use the n-word and I'm black, and I'm pretty sure I know more blacks than you. My family never used it, I didn't and my child won't be raised to think it's ok to use it period.

[Reds6]

Originally Posted by 33girl

When I was 12 years old, I once used the term "Arab" (pronounced AY-rab) in class and everyone died laughing. I had no idea it could be considered a racial slur.

That's what macallan is talking about. He's not addressing the Michael Richards situation per se, just wondering what you would think if someone really, truly was that unknowing.

When I was about 12, my sister and cousins and I were called a bunch of n-word by a white kid that was a little younger than I was and he and his friends laughed and knew exactly what they were saying.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Phasad1913

Really?You conferred with him and got clarification on what he was talking about? I've unfortunatley been exposed to many of the the things he has said and I have a pretty good idea of how he thinks on issues like this. I know what he is addressing. Not being rude to you, but I am capable of discerning his meaning and I responded to him the way I felt appropriate.

And also, you were 12 years old. We're talking about a grown man in the case of Richards and I have no idea who macallan could be talking about since, again as he, himself has acknowledged, people aren't that naive, even young ones.

See above post.

Also, whatever macallan's personal opinions are (and I don't agree with many of them) in this case answer the question, not the person.

Trust me, I can easily see people in some of the bassackwards towns in my state walking up to a black man and saying "what up n***a!" after seeing it on TV and having no clue they did anything wrong, because they have absolutely never had any face to face contact with a black person in their lives.

[Reds6]

[quote=smiley21;1360891]

Originally Posted by Reds6

I think he did do stand up at the beginning. Seinfeld just made him so immune to that kind of pressure because he was lovable Kramer. Because he was being heckled so harshly, he decided to attacked them in a way that would be equally hurtful.

So are you saying telling a comedian he isn't funny is as equally harmful to saying thye should be lynched?

[Dionysus]

Originally Posted by Reds6

I know very few blacks that do use the n-word and I'm black, and I'm pretty sure I know more blacks than you. My family never used it, I didn't and my child won't be raised to think it's ok to use it period.

Is "nicca" acceptable?

As for the OT, I don't find that many things offensive, but I was quite offended by the video. As some have said, it was very clear that he was pissed, and not joking at all. Even if he was joking, it was inappropiate.

[Reds6]

What I find interesting is there are some on here that want to believe there was some out of the ordinary cause for what he said, like he had a breakdown, he's mentally ill, etc. Maybe just maybe that's how he really feels. Maybe he just doesn't like blacks. There are thousands if not millions of whites that don't like blacks and why is it so impossible he's part of that number? Is it because he played a character on tv we all loved? Because he's a celebrity and we hold them to a different standard. Or is it because you can't face that racism or prejudice still exist in this country?

i wish he hadn't apologized, because it was meritless. I would rather he said yeah I said it and I'm not a fan of blacks. blacks wouldn't be surprised, we encounter this all the time and we go on with our day.

[smiley21]

Originally Posted by Reds6

So are you saying telling a comedian he isn't funny is as equally harmful to saying thye should be lynched?

No of course not. I am just saying that he was not prepared to handle ridicule. So he fought back. I am definitely not condoning how he reacted. I was very offended and taken aback. He needs help.

[Reds6]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

Is "nicca" acceptable?

As for the OT, I don't find that many things offensive, but I was quite offended by the video. As some have said, it was very clear that he was pissed, and not joking at all. Even if he was joking, it was inappropiate.

No it's not ok.

[Reds6]

Originally Posted by smiley21

No of course not. I am just saying that he was not prepared to handle ridicule. So he fought back. I am definitely not condoning how he reacted. I was very offended and taken aback. He needs help.

How is a grown azz man that has faced rejection in the industry he works, not prepared for ridicule? Rejection comes with the entertainment field.

[macallan25]

Hahah, Ok.....some of you are ridiculous. I don't care if some of you have never used the word and blah blah blah, my comments weren't aimed at you personally, rather on a grand scheme of things. The fact is........the use of the word n***** is perpetuated by blacks far too often. Turn on the TV for God's sake, listen to rap, walk down the street. I probobly here "what up nigga" more during the day than I do anything else.....and it isn't coming from a bunch of white guys.

....on a side note, I just listened to his apology, and I thought he sounded extremely sincere and apologetic. He was visibly shaken up. He obvioulsy didn't appreciate the audience laughing at him one bit during his apology. I think he did it on Letterman because Seinfeld was on there and because he knew a bunch of people would be watching the show. Whoever said he shouldn't have apologized, that is rather idiotic.

[smiley21]

Originally Posted by Reds6

What I find interesting is there are some on here that want to believe there was some out of the ordinary cause for what he said, like he had a breakdown, he's mentally ill, etc. Maybe just maybe that's how he really feels. Maybe he just doesn't like blacks. There are thousands if not millions of whites that don't like blacks and why is it so impossible he's part of that number? Is it because he played a character on tv we all loved? Because he's a celebrity and we hold them to a different standard. Or is it because you can't face that racism or prejudice still exist in this country?

i wish he hadn't apologized, because it was meritless. I would rather he said yeah I said it and I'm not a fan of blacks. blacks wouldn't be surprised, we encounter this all the time and we go on with our day.

Even though I am black and offended, I am still wondering where he comments came from. He does feel some hate towards black or at the very least- doesn't think much of them to begin with. This was just the platform that he true feelings came out. Whatever the case, he does have some problems and should get help.

[Reds6]

Originally Posted by macallan25

Hahah, Ok.....some of you are ridiculous. I don't care if some of you have never used the word and blah blah blah. The fact is........the use of the word n***** is perpetuated by blacks far too often. Turn on the TV for God's sake, listen to rap, walk down the street. I probobly here "what up nigga" more during the day than I do anything else.....and it isn't coming from a bunch of white guys.

....on a side note, I just listened to his apology, and I thought he sounded extremely sincere and apologetic. He was visibly shaken up. He obvioulsy didn't appreciate the audience laughing at him one bit during his apology. I think he did it on Letterman because Seinfeld was on there and because he knew a bunch of people would be watching the show.

So when I grew up in NC and heard white people calling lower income white people white trash, than this is ok to use and say? I hear the term White Trash or PWT so much on tv and inthe media, it doesn't make it right to either.

[Phasad1913]

Originally Posted by 33girl

See above post.

Also, whatever macallan's personal opinions are (and I don't agree with many of them) in this case answer the question, not the person.

What?

Trust me, I can easily see people in some of the bassackwards towns in my state walking up to a black man and saying "what up n***a!" after seeing it on TV and having no clue they did anything wrong, because they have absolutely never had any face to face contact with a black person in their lives.

And as I said to him and am now saying to you in response to THE QUESTION: this is not the situation we are dealing with here so what is the point of even bringing that crazy and rather impractical situation up? You said that the towns in your state are ass backwards which would indicate that something like that happening would not be normal or common with relation to other towns in your and other states that are not ass backwards. The situation here is very specific. I'm referring to what Michael Richards said, not some nameless, faceless, person who woulda coulda said something in an arbitrary scenario.