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'Kramer's' Racial Tirade (pg. 10)
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| baffum |
Wow, this has turned into one hell of a heated debate. My opinion? Richards was way over the line. Way over the in line. But, was he being racist? I personally don't think so. After years of use in demeaning black people, the n-bomb has gone beyond it's use as a racist slur or insult, to the point that the word has become a caricature of itself. It has become an insult. Period. How many times have we seen black characters in movies use the term to insult a white person? (and I'm not just referring to comedies) While I do think that Richards had a melt-down, and was well beyond over-reacting, I do honestly think that, without putting an ounce of thought behind what he was saying, he used the word as an insult because it IS an insult. Professional or not, even amateurs should know better than to lash out at an audience member like that.
In a completely different direction though, let's look at the origins of words again, because I'm surprised that not one single person has brought up the actual origin of the n-bomb. Believe it or not, that word does actually pre-date North American slavery. It's slang. For ignorant. In calling somebody the n-word, you would in fact, merely be calling them ignorant. Until the context of how you had used the word was discussed, at which point you could just be a racist dick. My whole point though, is that whether you're calling somebody n*gger, or cr*cker, or h*nkey, or b*tch, or wh*tever, the history behind the word does not matter, it's the context that you use it in that matters.
As far as a double standard goes, well, once again, that all has to do with context. When Chris Rock says cr*cker, he does so in comedic light, not with hurtful spite. The key to it is for the viewer to realize this. When Richards used the word n*gger, he did so with malicious intent, and that's why there is the whole uproar, and people left the show, and his career is now all but over. As somebody mentioned earlier, racially charged comedy treads a very, very fine line, and playing that card has to be done very lightly. It's one thing for an over-exuberant black comedian who rags on everybody breathing to use racial slurs in his routine. It would be a completely different thing if an english white guy with a typical dry and very sarcastic humor used those same slurs in his routine. Why? Because we know the black guy is joking. The English guy we're not so sure. Micheal Richards? Definitely not joking. |
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| soupastar |
| quote: | | Originally posted by baffum It would be a completely different thing if an english white guy with a typical dry and very sarcastic humor used those same slurs in his routine. Why? Because we know the black guy is joking. The English guy we're not so sure. Micheal Richards? Definitely not joking. |
i honestly think that's probably the best point of the whole night, well said |
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| geroin |
im thinking this will affect chriss rock's and dave chapelle's career also
them saying saying n***** and other words wont be as accepted anymore |
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| Dr. DAS |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jem_hadar
Great post and dissection and discussion Josh. |
+1 |
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| Dr. DAS |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jayx1
Thats nice... now show me some Canadian examples.
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If you want to be difficult about this, this comedy club is in the US, so American examples will do just fine.
Nobody is saying we don't understand your point, we do. We just have a difference of opinion and, as everyone knows, opinions related to race are almost as hard as those on religion to sway. |
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| Dr. DAS |
| quote: | Originally posted by Cro_Addict
This Board has a double standard
as you see
i am not allowed to say ****** however i can say CRACKER |
Following on the You Tube vid from Chapelle, I'll bet I can type WETBACK, CRACKER, INJUN, JEW or CHINK....know why? Because these words do not have the same stigma attached to them. There IS a double standard, but I think with good reason. |
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| Dr. DAS |
| quote: | Originally posted by Cro_Addict
Dont even start with the numbers
If we're gonna use history lets go WAAAY back
How bout Greek slaves? How bout Persian slaves? How about Egyptian slaves?
This whole past issue doesnt hold up anymore. It happened and hating people today because of it makes no sense. THE WHITE MAN of today didnt do those things... the ancestors did. So please lets stick in the present! |
This is the predominant case of racism, slavery and opression by our society. Our culture is not responsible for the Greek, Persian or Egyptian slaves. I agree we should move past it - nobody still rags on the Germans for the holocaust. |
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| shanny |
| quote: | Originally posted by geroin
im thinking this will affect chriss rock's and dave chapelle's career also
them saying saying n***** and other words wont be as accepted anymore |
Thats an interesting thing to look at, but its hard to say.
I wouldnt' be surprised if for a little while the racial humour dies down, but i think in the long run it will return, and the justification for it will be that it (at least appears) to be obvious that those jokes were not part of Richards' routine, but were instead deliberate attacks on members of his audience, with malicious intent.
I also don't think its out of the question for guys like Chris Rock to try to spin this, and do bits about Michael Richards. |
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| Jem_hadar |
| quote: | Originally posted by shanny
I also don't think its out of the question for guys like Chris Rock to try to spin this, and do bits about Michael Richards. |
I bet itll happen though.
Look at the MTV Awards show that happened after all that R Kelly underage scandle business...
Chris Rock was hosting saying how they at hte show had to keep certain ppl away form other ppl..
"We have 50 Cent over here, so we had to put Ja Rule over here...
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We have the Olsen Twins over here.... so we had to put R Kelly WAY OVER HERE!" |
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| *~LiSa-LoO~* |
| Did anyone see his apology on Letterman? |
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| Dr. DAS |
| quote: | Originally posted by shanny
Thats an interesting thing to look at, but its hard to say.
I wouldnt' be surprised if for a little while the racial humour dies down, but i think in the long run it will return, and the justification for it will be that it (at least appears) to be obvious that those jokes were not part of Richards' routine, but were instead deliberate attacks on members of his audience, with malicious intent.[QUOTE/]
I think you are giving the impact of this WAY to much weight. This will not affect anyone but MR.
Chris Rock and Chappelle couldn't give a n*gger's about this controversy.
[QUOTE/]I also don't think its out of the question for guys like Chris Rock to try to spin this, and do bits about Michael Richards. |
Count on it....Saturday Night Live perhaps? |
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| Dr. DAS |
| Sorry, I messed up the quotes on that last post, hope you get the gist. |
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