Sharpton: Comedian's apology not enough

[Elrathin]

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The Rev. Al Sharpton said Wednesday he refused to accept an apology from actor Michael Richards, who spouted a racist rant at a comedy club last week.

But Sharpton said he did agree to meet with Richards to try to start a process to address racism in America.

"I [told Richards] you need to sit down and deal with this," Sharpton told CNN. "This is not about accepting an apology, this is about starting a process to really deal with the continual problem of racism in this country.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/11/22/sharpton.richard/index.html

I rarely comment on Al Sharpton, mainly cause I just don't care for him anyway, but this is one of those rare moments, I gotta say this guy is a f**king idiot.

He talks about how Richards needs to sit down and start a process of dealing with racism, yet I have yet to see Al Sharpton demand to see a rapper or any other black man or other race sit down and start the process of dealing with racism for calling a white guy "Cracker", "whitey", etc.

I'm not excusing Richards actions in the least, he was wrong in what he said, and for the most part I think he just commited career suicide.

We have a SERIOUS problem though with the doublestandard of racism in this country. It is ok for a black guy to rip on a white guy, but if a white guy rips on a black guy the white guy is labeled a racist.

Racism is not just done by whites in this country and it is damn time people start realizing this. I hate white supremicy groups, I hate the KKK and what they stand for, but most of all, I hate a society that thinks racism is bad, unless it is done to whites.

[ECW]

It is so politically incorrect to bash black folks for their racism but we can jump all over some stupid white guy in a heartbeat. "Racism" is the hatred of a race based on the difference in skin color from one's own. It works both ways but folks like Rev Sharpton don't see it that way which is why he is as irrelevant now days as he ever was.

Richards was an asshole and his career is in the toilet because of it. Nothing that Sharpton suggests will change that or make things better until he realizes that racism is a two way street.

[Labrocca]

1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.

Racism doesn't have to involve hatred...I just like to point that out.

Sharpton is a joke....always has been..always will be. They guy runs to any place he can get publicity.

[dgridley]

I think guys like Sharpton drive the wedge between the races further apart.. he's an opportunist, like Jackson. I often wonder how well respected they actually are amongst the black community as several of my black friends really dislike these guys for the reasons I've stated.

[BoogyMan]

It is so politically incorrect to bash black folks for their racism but we can jump all over some stupid white guy in a heartbeat. "Racism" is the hatred of a race based on the difference in skin color from one's own. It works both ways but folks like Rev Sharpton don't see it that way which is why he is as irrelevant now days as he ever was.

Richards was an asshole and his career is in the toilet because of it. Nothing that Sharpton suggests will change that or make things better until he realizes that racism is a two way street.


I have never been able to understand the racist's belief that there is any difference in people because of their skin color in the first place. It;s sickeningly stupid. People are people, humans, no matter what color, language, or country. What Richards did showed what he really was inside, no matter what front he was putting up. What Sharpton is doing now is little more than pandering in order to maintain the frenzy surrounding the situation and thus magnify himself.

[Elrathin]

What Richards did showed what he really was inside, no matter what front he was putting up.

Just curious (Cause I really don't know), but do you think rappers (or anyone else) that say shit like"whitey", "cracker" are using racist terms?


What Sharpton is doing now is little more than pandering in order to maintain the frenzy surrounding the situation and thus magnify himself.


I agree, that is why I brought this up. I have yet to see him complain about racism against whites when used. So when I hear shit about him wanting to fight racism I call BS cause he fights against some racism, but not against racism against whites.

[dgridley]

Hehe, at least I'm not the only one who feels this way!



[Â*So when I hear shit about him wanting to fight racism I call BS cause he fights against some racism, but not against racism against whites.

[Professor]

I think guys like Sharpton drive the wedge between the races further apart.. he's an opportunist, like Jackson. I often wonder how well respected they actually are amongst the black community as several of my black friends really dislike these guys for the reasons I've stated.


I went to an immigrant rally where Obama and Jackson talked. People started leaving when Jackson talked.

[dgridley]

I don't doubt that.. most probably couldn't stand the blast of hot air issuing forth from his "hope this is another photo-op" mouth.




I think guys like Sharpton drive the wedge between the races further apart.. he's an opportunist, like Jackson. I often wonder how well respected they actually are amongst the black community as several of my black friends really dislike these guys for the reasons I've stated.


I went to an immigrant rally where Obama and Jackson talked.Â*Â*People started leaving when Jackson talked.

[BoogyMan]

Just curious (Cause I really don't know), but do you think rappers (or anyone else) that say shit like"whitey", "cracker" are using racist terms?

Hi Elrathin, I would have to just as strongly condemn racism from any source.

I agree, that is why I brought this up.Â*Â*I have yet to see him complain about racism against whites when used.Â*Â*So when I hear shit about him wanting to fight racism I call BS cause he fights against some racism, but not against racism against whites.


Good call. I find it extremely disconcerting that there is such one-sidedness in the public discourse when these events take place, but I really don't think we will see much of a change in the short term.

We just have to keep on being the voices of reason calling for both sides to put away the empty rhetoric and call for cooler heads to prevail.

[Alonzo]

I think guys like Sharpton drive the wedge between the races further apart.. he's an opportunist, like Jackson. I often wonder how well respected they actually are amongst the black community as several of my black friends really dislike these guys for the reasons I've stated.


I went to an immigrant rally where Obama and Jackson talked.Â*Â*People started leaving when Jackson talked.


I'd be more likely to leave when Obama talked. For some reason I've never been that interested in him.

Then again, I've never been overly concerned with Jackson. I like Sharpton though.

[mibs]

I think there is a difference between Richards racial tirade and rappers using the word "whitey" or "cracker" ... if you acknowledge a double standard you also have to acknowledge the relationship that has traditionally existed between whites and blacks, that is, oppressor and oppressor.

one cant compare a rapper calling a cop "mutha fuckin whitey cracker-ass cop" to Richards "niggers" and "back in the day you would be hanging upside down with a fork in your ass" ...

Many of the so-called racism from blacks is derived from threats they perceive, and are often actual. Racism from whites, is sign of ignorance.

To claim Sharpton is hypocritical because he doesn't acknowledge black racism is a bit absurd. He is black afterall.

[BoogyMan]

I think there is a difference between Richards racial tirade and rappers using the word "whitey" or "cracker" ...Â*Â*if you acknowledge a double standard you also have to acknowledge the relationship that has traditionally existed between whites and blacks, that is, oppressor and oppressor.

one cant compare a rapper calling a cop "mutha fuckin whitey cracker-ass cop" to Richards "niggers" and "back in the day you would be hanging upside down with a fork in your ass" ...

Many of the so-called racism from blacks is derived from threats they perceive, and are often actual.Â*Â*Racism from whites, is sign of ignorance.

To claim Sharpton is hypocritical because he doesn't acknowledge black racism is a bit absurd.Â*Â*He is black afterall.


Let me see if I understand you. White people are racist and ignorant, black people are just downtrodden and incapable of racism. Is that a fair summary of this post?

E-G A D S!!!

[underdawg]

I think it is human nature to hate or at least feel opposed to what is different about ourselves. High school is a perfect example. People will break off in to groups according to people's similarities and tend to shun those that are either physically different or like different things. I don't think it is either right or wrong, it is just a fact of life. What I do think is wrong is when someone attacks verbally, physically. or tries to deny those who are different the same rights as everyone else.

What Richards did was lose his temper and use words as weapons to attack others of a different race, but what is strange is that we live in an odd time where there is this thing called "Political Correctness". Certain words that we all know and learn from our friends and family are concidered taboo. Some of us speak these words amounst friends , others speak them in times of great emotion. Words in and of themselves are not bad or good, but how we react to them makes all the difference.

I think that political correctness is actually a bad thing. When a society says that a certain word is wrong to say, you have automatically made that word taboo, and have given it a certain power. A good example would be a little kid hearing a new word for the first time. Suppose it were a word such as f*ck. If the kid were to say the word and no one responded by saying, "That is a naughty word", or getting punished, the word would not have any powerfull meaning and may be ignored by the child. But if we react strongly when a kid says that word, we give that word power and perpetuate its power on to the next generation.

I think the more politically correct our society becomes, the more that certain words gain power over others. We wind up walking on egg shells as we accumulate more and more taboo words in our heads.

And yes, anyone can be a racist. Just because you are black, doesn't mean you can't be biased against another race.

[BoogyMan]

I think it is human nature to hate or at least feel opposed to what is different about ourselves. High school is a perfect example. People will break off in to groups according to people's similarities and tend to shun those that are either physically different or like different things. I don't think it is either right or wrong, it is just a fact of life. What I do think is wrong is when someone attacks verbally, physically. or tries to deny those who are different the same rights as everyone else.

What Richards did was lose his temper and use words as weapons to attack others of a different race, but what is strange is that we live in an odd time where there is this thing called "Political Correctness". Certain words that we all know and learn from our friends and family are concidered taboo. Some of us speak these words amounst friends , others speak them in times of great emotion. Words in and of themselves are not bad or good, but how we react to them makes all the difference.

I think that political correctness is actually a bad thing.Â*Â*When a society says that a certain word is wrong to say, you have automatically made that word taboo, and have given it a certain power. A good example would be a little kid hearing a new word for the first time. Suppose it were a word such as f*ck. If the kid were to say the word and no one responded by saying, "That is a naughty word", or getting punished, the word would not have any powerfull meaning and may be ignored by the child. But if we react strongly when a kid says that word, we give that word power and perpetuate its power on to the next generation.

I think the more politically correct our society becomes, the more that certain words gain power over others. We wind up walking on egg shells as we accumulate more and more taboo words in our heads.

And yes, anyone can be a racist. Just because you are black, doesn't mean you can't be biased against another race.


Underdog, this is an excellent post! I have to disagree with the equivocation of hatred and opposition, but your commentary on political correctness and racism is spot on! :)

[CheesyMuslim]

Sorry bout that,

1. But everyone has a certain pride in his own race.
2. And everyone looks down on the other races, to some degree.
3. Using hateful words, when one feels he is being attacked by another race, ie. Richards, at the Laugh Factory, is normal.
4. Richards, using the N word, in the way he did, was insulting to the two blacks, who were heckling him.
5. He went nuclear on them.
6. Blacks do it every day too.
7. They do as an everyday occurrence in common language.
8. And that is why they are so very offended when it is dealt back to them.
9. They are so used to being the ones giving out the criticism, they can not fathom when it is given back to them.
10. They do it so often amongst themselves, they think they have a copy right on it.
11. And anyone who uses this kind of language, must pay copy right infringement fines.
12. Unless and till they learn that what they say, about others, is likely to be said back at them in the same derogatory way, and learn that its okay, because that's what they do day in and day out.
13. They will continue to be hurt by words of this effect, when they want so much to hurt others with their words, and keep getting hurt by other people words.
14. When they can be adults, and stop name calling *white devil*, and learn that that very hate speech, only imprisons their own minds.

Regards,
SirJamesofTexas

[mibs]

Let me see if I understand you. White people are racist and ignorant, black people are just downtrodden and incapable of racism. Is that a fair summary of this post?

E-G A D S!!!



No. You may take an idealistic absolutist approach to racism and say that all racism is equally bad, however reality is not so black and white. I think blacks should be held to a different standard of racism then whites. It's not really an excuse as it is taking in the dynamics of the situation.

This nation has an incredibly racist history and the effects still linger to this day. It is easy for a white person to say "racism is racism" because they hold no residual resentment. A black person might not to sweep several hundred years of oppression under the rug of Everything-Is-Equal-Now-So-Lets-Move-On.

p.s. pardon the pun.

[mibs]

What Richards did was lose his temper and use words as weapons to attack others of a different race, but what is strange is that we live in an odd time where there is this thing called "Political Correctness". Certain words that we all know and learn from our friends and family are concidered taboo. Some of us speak these words amounst friends , others speak them in times of great emotion. Words in and of themselves are not bad or good, but how we react to them makes all the difference.


are taboo words something new to our society? ofcourse not, they are as old as language itself. Today we live in a society where the utterance of taboo words will get you nothing more than dirty looks. We have come a long way since speaking of taboo subjects could get you physically harmed or burned as a witch or something.



I think that political correctness is actually a bad thing. When a society says that a certain word is wrong to say, you have automatically made that word taboo, and have given it a certain power. A good example would be a little kid hearing a new word for the first time. Suppose it were a word such as f*ck. If the kid were to say the word and no one responded by saying, "That is a naughty word", or getting punished, the word would not have any powerfull meaning and may be ignored by the child. But if we react strongly when a kid says that word, we give that word power and perpetuate its power on to the next generation.



True, if no one thought f*ck was a bad word then people wouldn't use it. But you seem to want to strip power from words. The power in words is exactly what society needs to express itself without using the power in their firsts. Swears, slurs, and other taboo words are linguistic modifiers of intensity. Does one "hate the democrats" or "f*cking hate the democrats" ... does one "hate all those black people" ..or "hate all those niggers" ...

words with such power will never cease as long as people speak emotionally, albeit sophomorically.

I think political correctness has it merits, but as all things, can be taken too far.

[BoogyMan]

No.Â*Â*You may take an idealistic absolutist approach to racism and say that all racism is equally bad, however reality is not so black and white.Â*Â*I think blacks should be held to a different standard of racism then whites.Â*Â*It's not really an excuse as it is taking in the dynamics of the situation.

mibs, the reality is that racism is just that, racism. It is disgusting and wrong. There should be a consistent set of standards that we are all held to or things will NEVER get any better in places where racism still rears is disgusting head.

This nation has an incredibly racist history and the effects still linger to this day.Â*Â*It is easy for a white person to say "racism is racism" becauseÂ*Â*they hold no residual resentment.Â*Â*A black person might not to sweep several hundred years of oppression under the rug of Everything-Is-Equal-Now-So-Lets-Move-On.

p.s. pardon the pun.


I will not be held in contempt for something I did not do mibs. Situationally ethical behavior makes hypoctites of all involved, and advances the level of racial angst.

[mibs]

Boogs, I dont think race relations will get any better in this country if we continue to put racism in a tidy little box labeled "wrong". We should understand where it comes from, in both blacks and whites. I think there are more shades of grey involved then most people care to admit.

...and I'll leave the reparations headed discussion for another topic... ;)

[BoogyMan]

Boogs, I dont think race relations will get any better in this country if we continue to put racism in a tidy little box labeled "wrong".Â*Â*We should understand where it comes from, in both blacks and whites.Â*Â*I think there are more shades of grey involved then most people care to admit.

...and I'll leave the reparations headed discussion for another topic... ;)

I don't remember bringing the concept of reparations into the discussion mibs.

mibs, the ONLY way to get past the racism problem is to show it to be of no value to society. Understanding where racism comes from does not mean that we should flagellate on whether or not racism is wrong, it is completely, utterly, blatantly, and inexcusably WRONG!

Equivocation gets you nothing more than a perpetuation of the current problem.

[underdawg]

I do like that words have power, but perhaps some words need to just loose power and die. I like the word F-ck. It can have both powerfull positive and negative meanings. In this culture now, we are so worried about offending someone that we start renaming all sorts of things while giving the original name a negative taboo power. Some examples of this would be crippled to physically handicapped, blind to visually impared, retarded to mentally handicapped, dwarf to vertically limited. Sometimes words just need to be words and people should just not get so damned uptight. You can say a word in a good way and then you can say the same word in an angry way. And sometimes we should just take the power away from a word and let it die.