Michael Richards goes on racial tirade in L.A.
Categories: African-American, Media
Written By: Shawn Williams
By now I'm sure most of you have seen it, but if not, take a look at Michael Richards' Racist Outburst during a stand up set at the Laugh Factory in L.A.
I'll be honest, as I watched the video of the man we all know as Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld spewing bigoted venom and racial slurs; I was both stunned and saddened. Saddened because this man brought me may nights of joy in college, as I am a self-proclaimed Seinfeld junkie.
Just like Mel Gibson a few months ago, Richards swears up and down that he is not a racist. Those comments from he and Gibson are the most worrisome of all. If a non-racist can tell a black man "50 years ago WE'D have had you upside down with a fu**ing fork up your ass," then what does a hard-core racist have on his mind? This was much more disturbing to me than the 7 times he used the word nigger/nigga.
I'm against all use of the so-called n-word; we do give other races liberty to use the word anytime we put it out there. But Richards, in his frustration and anger, opened his soul in a way that most closet racists are able to suppress. The anger in his voice at the outset of the video is that of a man who has no respect for his heckler as a person. I am amazed at how he could allow his brain to imagine a man “hanging upside down” and then the fork…
WHAT IS UP WITH WHITE MEN’s OBSESSION WITH SODOMIZING BLACK MEN?
I would argue that many of us have co-workers, teachers, church members, and representatives who walk around everyday with similar images on thier brains. But most are able to control themselves and not project that image out into the world: at least not in mixed company.
Fair our not, Seinfeld lost one of their biggest fans with this one. Richards isn't the first, and he won't be the last to allow his true feelings to come to light in a heated moment. In the immortal word of Ice Cube, "…no matter how much you wanna switch, here's what they think about you."
November 21st, 2006 at 4:11 pm
From one former Seinfeld junkie to another, I too was bothered by Michael Richards’ tirade. Its incredible that he could sit on David Letterman as say he is not a racist, yet spew out anger like that just from someone heckling him, as a professional comedian you would think he would be immune to heckling. Also, he use of the term “Afro-American” truly shows how out of touch Mr. Richards is.
Keep bloggin!!
November 22nd, 2006 at 4:57 pm
I watched it to see for myself. That was among the ugliest things I have seen in recent memory.
He could’ve made some “yo mama” jokes, girlfriend jokes or anything like that. And everyone would’ve been cool because that the relationship between hecklers and comedians.
But the ferocity that he used when launching this tirade is indefensible. He really meant what he said, and no one will ever be able to covince me otherwise. For a minute I thought the guy in the audience was coming onto the stage. I’m glad the heckler showed class and restraint.
Now let’s see who comes to his defense.
Seinfeld will not air in my house ever again.
November 27th, 2006 at 4:58 pm
I am another disappointed Seinfeld fan. I feel that Michael Richards comments goes beyond racist, what goes on in a person’s mind that would allow them to even think of such comments, let alone speak them publicly?
I have had very heated discussions with white and black people and never have I had a thought like that, not even as a child. I have said it before-several times- and will continue to say it, we black people cannot go out into the world and send our children out into the world thinking racism do not exist anymore. I do not think we should teach hate, but we have to educate ourselves and our children about the evil that existed in this country just about 50 years ago (((that is not a long time))) and some people still think we should have white and black water fountains, schools, jobs, neighborhoods etc, it is so sad but so true. Be not deceived we will always need Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employment and Housing and all those legal regulatory guidelines in these yet to be United States of America.