Monday, November 27, 2006

Michael Richards

Almost a year since my last post, wow! I just have just waited but ah well here goes maybe this will help me get my mojo back, Anyhoo, below is my take on the whole Michael Richards thing. A little late I know but, a racist being outted is always news.


Latest news flash, Michael Richards, Seinfield’s quirky Kramer, is a racist. He has known it for most of his life. His family has probably known it almost as long. And now the whole freaking U, S of A knows his inner feelings towards ‘Afro-American’. (Bit of advice to Michael and his damage control team we have not been ‘Afro-American since Jet was one of the top selling magazines.)

Michael has outraged everyone by his statements. Notice I said his statements and not his feelings. If you’ll notice most folks, especially black folks have at some point uttered the statement ‘I can’t believe he said that!’ or ‘What was he thinking to say something like that in public?’ Most of us aren’t surprised by the sentiment as much as the statements. An associate of mine, who happens to be white, asked me why I wasn’t more outraged and how could I just chuckle and shake my head whenever folks brought up the topic. The only response I could give is, ‘I am not surprised. He has always felt that way, it is just that night he brought his balls with him and publicly put it out there. I am just not surprised.’

The truth of the matter is most black people were offended, shocked, insulted some may have even felt attacked but few were surprised. The truth of the matter is on some level a large number of Blacks, particularly those living in America believe the majority of white people are racist on some level. Yes, we acknowledge that a large number of young white Americans are more open to what has typically been deemed black culture (Thanks to Hip-Hop). Yes, we know that racist feelings and behaviors are two things that a large number of white Americans make a conscious effort not to possess. Yes, we know the politically incorrectness of statements such as the ones Michael Richards so eloquently spewed is widely known and damn near accepted as gospel. And no, we don’t spend our days walking around creating new conspiracy theories and blaming The Man for every little mishap. However, we are not oblivious to the knowledge that many white Americans still harbor racist feelings, even if only subconsciously, towards the general black American population. So when it manifests itself in fits of emotional outburst we typically aren’t taken aback and stunned as much as we have an ‘ah-ha there it is’ moment.

On some level we expect it. Even those of us who consider our white friends to be in our inner most circle. We would be hurt and maybe even devastated but not totally dazed and amazed. We would find ourselves at some point uttering ‘this white boy finally showed his true colors.’ Or even thinking, I should have known he wasn’t that much different than the rest. Maybe we have been conditioned by events like the Michael Richards fiasco and white Americas sudden disdain for OJ once he was accused of killing a pretty little white girl (side note: I am pleading the 5th on his guilt or innocence, because he does a good job of digging his own grave.) Whatever the reason we are very rarely surprised, in fact many folks tend to be relieved to see the veil come off.

So Michael Richards, thanks for showing us who you really are and for making every other white American public figure that much more aware of what comes out of their mouths.