An AP story via the San Jose Mercury News says that, as a result of Michael Richards’ raging madness onstage earlier this month (earlier post here), they’re calling upon the entertainment industry to ban the “n-word”:
Black leaders on Monday challenged the entertainment industry, including rap artists, actors and major studios, to stop use of the racial slur that triggered the Michael Richards scandal.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson and others said they will meet with TV networks, film companies and musicians to discuss the “n-word.”
“We want to give our ancestors a present,” Jackson said at a news conference. “Dignity over degradation.”
I’m not sure the word itself was Richards’ problem. Yes, he used it — again and again, provocatively — but he went wayyyyyy beyond a word. There’s a world of difference between using the “n-word”, and talking about pitchforks in someone’s upside-down (read: lynched) backside.
Or is there? His rage exposed something vile and ugly… but did it also expose something more pervasive?
U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los Angeles, charged that only situations such as the Richards incident turn mainstream media attention to issues involving the black community.
“This is not simply about whether or not the black community forgives or forgets, this is about understanding that this is pervasive, that this happens in all of our institutions, one way or the other,” Waters said.
So — when someone uses the “n-word”, is there an underlying, understood inclusion of the rest of Richards’ madness?
The word itself is indeed pervasive in our society, and while I don’t ever use it (it always offends me regardless of who said it), whites and blacks use it differently… and there’s a deliberate, provocative hostility when used by a white person.
Does its use include the rest of Richards’ tirade? Because if it does, then our societal problem is far larger than a word. In fact, if the “n-word” includes all the poison that poured out of Richards’ mouth, banning it –even if such a thing were possible — won’t fix anything.
Are we truly this sick?
So how in heck do I refer to all my old Richard Pryor albums?
I have long recognized that “we” are this sick; and it’s only getting worse and you’re correct in saying that simply banning the use of a word will solve nothing because at the root of theproblem is a well spring of profound distrust, resentment, and anger which is never openly discussed, debated or confronted in a meaningful way. And this works both ways; I’ve seen this problem burbling beneath the surface of both Blacks and Whites. I had hoped that as minorities worked their way up the economic food chain that this problem would begin to lessen and to my shock I’ve discovered that success only exacerbates feelings of hostility and alienation on the part of minorities and Blacks in particular. The solution is two fold; 1) Globalization and uncontrolled immigration into the U.S. will dilute the issue and 2) my blonde daughter in college reports significant numbers of her look alikes are eagerly pursuing advanced studies and careers overseas while at the same time my boomer buddies, as they aproach retirment are activly pursuing overseas destinations. The lake is turning; indeed, it’s churning and 50 years from now, this will be barely remembered. A young Black commentator on NPR was heard to remark that as she and her young family had moved up the ladder and moved to one of those posh new neighborhoods, (presumably outside Washington DC), after a number of years as she and her daughter waited in line at a McDonalds, she look about her and the question came to mind, “Where are all the white people?”