The 'N' word. My take...

Okay, so it's been a couple weeks since the infamous incident that happened at the Hollywood Laugh Factory, where Michael "Kramer" Richards spewed his racial tirade on the literal and world stage. It is still on the lips of many people, and has been the subject of talk in the news, and almost every other form of media. In my last blog, I made a little jokey joke of the probable reason that "Kramer" lost it on stage. Since that time, I have sat back, listened to all the buzz, talk, news, stories, comments, perceptions, beliefs, and what have you surrounding this one incident. Now that I have taken in all the stuff that I have heard from other people, I wanted to finally give my take. A few people that know that I do comedy, have either called me to talk about this, or have made mention of the incident to me, maybe to get my opinion. I haven't really made what I feel about the whole situation till now. First of all, I want to say that "niggers" aren't burning down Hollywood contrary to what may have been leaked to those people living in Kansas or possibly Kentucky. To my surprise, and not to my surprise, I have heard many people voice their opinion to the extent of understanding what Michael Richards did, or not understanding why this incident was such a big deal. First, I want to address what I honestly think of Michael Richards. I think Mr. Richards is the embodiment of racism in the worst way, as it exists in America today. It is the type of racism where blacks are tolerated in this country instead of accepted. It is the type of racism that disguises itself in the form of a smile and a friendly handshake - contrary to the way people openly voiced the way they felt about blacks in the 50's and 60's. Make no mistake, I am not saying that there should be a regression to a time where we were hosed, hung, bombed, beaten, raped, intimidated, spat on (among other horrible things), just for the satisfaction of allowing people to say what they really feel. I am simply saying that in some ways, racism is worse today than it was, because racism exists today as the proverbial sheep in wolf's clothing. As for Mr. Richards personally, after seeing his outburst on stage, I do feel he is a racist. I hate labeling him like that, with racist being such a strong label, but it is what it is. This was confirmed in my mind after seein him his "apology" on David Letterman. I was watching that night just to see what he was going to say, and then he said the word "Afro-Amerian." Now before I go on, I want to say that part of the reason I am writing this blog is to try to explain to whatever people who aren't black, and are reading this, how WE see, and know things to be...now, when Michael Richards said "Afro-American", I knew he had issues that had been there for quite some time. First of all, when was the last time someone said the word Afro-American? Jesse Jackson was marching, and Martin Luther King, Jr. was beside him. Afro-American is a word relegated to a certain time period in our country's history. It is relegated to a time where blacks were treated in the aformentioned way. I'm not exactly sure how old Mr. Richards is, but my guess is that this [mindset] surrounded him closely - likely growing up in his house as a kid, or adolescent. Him saying the word Afro-American just goes deeper than a couple of unfavorable incidents with some black people. After seeing the tape, and the apology, do I hate Michael Richards? No. I could care less about Michael Richards. More than likely, his career ended the day he spewed. He was a muti-millionaire before, and still, he will maintain being a multi-millionaire off the residuals of a show, where he played a character I personally feel, became old hat quickly. I am perturbed by the way he spewed like he did on Friday night, only to be standing next to Jesse Jackson on Monday morning or whatever day it was the next week. It doesn't make it seem sincere, it just makes it seem that you can get Jesse Jackson or whoever to wave the little black people wand over us, to make everything gravy again. Like I said, I hold no real animosity towards Michael Richards, I just know, as most black people know, that this is what A LOT of people (and a lot more than people are willing to admit) think about and wish they could say to us in these politically correct times. For Michael Richards, if he truly wants the help, and if he truly wants to change, I hope he gets the help, and all this isn't another character performance...
Now, to address the 'N' word thing. I've been listening - whether it be to some fellow comedians, or other people who gave their two cents worth on the radio. First to address the side as a comedian. I've heard some comedian feedback ranging from, "why isn't anyone saying anything about the hecklers? Richards was only defending himself", to "why should he be labeled a racist just because he said the 'N' word? Black comedians (and black people) can, and say the 'N' word, why can't white comedians do it?" Let's break that down...first, as a comedian, and more importantly a PROFESSIONAL comedian, there is that level of professionalism that you are required to maintain, and a line drawn that you have to respect, that Mr. Richards not only crossed, but jumped off the side of the mountain with. Make no mistake, comedy is not easy but heckling is part of the job. A skilled, talented and experienced comedian is able to control a room well, and deal with heckler situations when they arise. Some comedians outright embarrass hecklers forcing them to shut up. Some are more playful in their control of heckling. The point is, as a comedian, no matter what a heckler may say, you the comedian are the professional. You don't see someone walking into McDonald's complaining about their food, and then the manager firing back with expletive, expletive, expletive. I haven't personally seen Mr. Richards act, but the rumor is he isn't funny. Just last night, I was listening to a radio program in which Aries Spears of Mad Tv fame appeared. Obviously, they got around to the Michael Richards incident. Aries mentioned that if a comedian doesn't know how to handle heckling, or at the very least, doesn't want to own up to the act that heckling is part of the job, then it's time to put the mic down. Maybe this outburst was Richards concession to that. As for the comments that Richard made that night, I have heard a lot that if Richards wasn't famous, this woudln't be as big a deal. That may be true, but it still doesn't justify what he said. There are many that seem to think that what Richards said was matched by what the hecklers fired back, calling him "cracker ass." First, the word cracker was said in response to something that embodied hate. On the video itself, Richards says, "fifty years ago, we would've had you upside down with a fork up your ass." There are SOME people in the background, laughing to something that's not funny. The fact that some of the people were laughing at that, to me, exposes what they really feel and think inside, but never dare say in these politically correct times. Second, the word "cracker" is no where near steeped in hate to the degree of the word "nigger", which is a scar of America's historical cancer. Nigger was surrounded by fire hoses and lynchings. Cracker was simply a word used to describe those people that were racist against blacks. The word "cracker" may stem from negativity that albeit, was put there by people who called us the 'N' word, and fired hosed and lynched us. And then there are those that say, "well how come black people can say the 'N' word, and white people can't?" A better question would be, why would somebody white want to be able to say the 'N' word? I have two opinions on this. One, you want to be able to say something that you already feel deep down inside, or it's a way of having the feeling of "getting over." I must admit, I have used the 'N' word most of my life. There are many a black people using the 'N' word. My grandmother used the 'N' word. I have known intellectual professors that have used the 'N' word. Does it make it right? Maybe not. That's a discussion for another time. But saying the 'N' word amongst ourselves, still we don't use the word with the intent as it was used by Richards. I have an Asian comic friend who uses the 'N' word, not because he means bad intent. It's because he actually thinks he's black. The word "nigger" has a definite, specific intent and accepted understanding in this country, as opposed to the word "nigga." Why is everyone so concerned about what we do, and the 'how come they cans' and 'how come we can'ts?" As I am writing this, just last night, I was at a mic that is hosted by an Italian. He used the word "goomba." I heard it fly a couple of times. Why isn't anyone dying to say the word "goomba?" There are some American born Latinos in this country that have problems with some illegal immigrants that would just as soon use the word "wetback." Why isn't anyone dying to say that? This brings me to my second opinion of why people are dying to say the 'N" word, which however ridiculous it may sound, just may hold water. And that is, it brings people that much closer to being us, without them actually having to be us. I truly believe that this country is in love, secretly or out front, with our strength, our beauty, and our style. Need examples? How about women getting botox injections for fuller lips? Augmentation of the hips and buttocks? How about the fact that the hip hop culture has influenced much in this country - from dress and what is fashionable to drive, to terminology. BG came out with his rap song, "Bling, Bling" in 1999, and now they're saying 'bling, bling' at the red carpet Oscar ceremony. I can go so far as to say that there is envy in the fact that we took a hateful word used against us, and made it our own. You may not agree with this, but what remains that is undeniable, is that there is still much to be examined and resolved in terms of racial harmony in this country. And it's not just about our [blacks] race. I was reading a news story off the internet, that stated a radio host in Washington, D.C. staged a hoax, stating that all American Muslims should be visually identified with a crescent moon tattoo or armband. On that topic, he received numerous anti-Muslim calls - some stating that it should be taken further than that...there is still much to do in this country. Like or not, we are all here together, and I don't think any particular race plans on going anywhere. I don't have the answers as to where we begin to solve our racial differences in this country. I just know that it needs to be done. Until such time, America will never be the land of equality that people are told it to be.