Kramer's A Racist!!!

[JAMAL]

I am disappointed and saddened by this. I think Michael Richards is among some of the best comedic actors that we've ever seen. But the fact is, he messed up, he messed up bigtime.
You see, clearly on the tape that he was hoping to turn it into a comedic act, but the audience didn't go with it. The audience became disjointed and disturbed because they realised it was becoming an argument with the hecklers.
No more humor. Not funny anymore. If he would have been smart and turned the whole thing into a joke, this wouldn't be a big deal at all.

Things like this happen in comedy clubs all the time with blacks making fun of whites and hispanics making fun of this, and this making fun of that. BUT it is part of the show.
It didn't work like that for Michael Richards, he thought the audience was on his side and he could turn it into a comedy act. You can see he is exagerated in his movements, but his choice of words lost steam. And the audience began to leave. His choice of words were bad. He didn't know what to say and the damage was beyond repair. The audience beat him and he dropped the mic and left.
BANG! He's a racist.
I don't think he's a racist, but he thought he was being funny by being extreme and it back-fired on him, making him look like a racist.

The funny thing, I do see, in all of this, is how a non-jew like Mel Gibson insults Jews and suddenley he's a nazi, and now a Jew (Michael Richards) insults blacks and he's a racist. What's next?
The jews were looking good when Gibson looked bad, now the Jews look bad when Kramer looks racist. It's an insane cycle. But that's generalization.
The truth is:
Within the white community there exists a percentage of white-trash. Hurting the whole community. Within the black community there exists a percentage of black-trash hurting the whole community, and so on with every other community.
But those percentages do not represent the whole for those communities.

All racism is-is ignorance and generalization. It's a shame that we have to live with those percentages.

 

[Milkman95]

No big deal.

 

[kane9321]

whoa..i got nothing to say

 

[terry78]

 

[raybia]

what boggles my mind the most is why the hell would any black person use the word N----- regardless of how they use it. It's such a distusting word to begin with.

I agree. Among other things, it has to do with blacks not knowing and caring about their history and the origins of some of the customs within the African-American community. It also has to do with not taking things seriously, a lack of self-respect and a reflection of a degree of self hate.

 

[DocLathropBrown]

Richards made an apology via satillite on Letterman last night, prompted by Jerry Seinfeld (who was a guest on last night's episode), it was hard for him to do (It was a very uncomfortable situation), but he flat out admitted that he just screwed up. No drugs or alcohol to make an "excuse." He didn't make any bones about it. I didn't see the entire thing, just clips on the morning news. But it was clear he was near tears.

The audience had the gaul to laugh like Richards was trying to be funny. Seinfeld actually had to seriously tell them to stop it.

I know there's a lot of skeptics here, but I buy his apology. Given that he's worked with plenty of blacks throughout his career, I really think it was more just that he was mad at the guy and lost his judgement and decided to really try to insult the guy by bringing race into it. Even his "inturrupt the White man" junk sounded slightly sarcastic.

 

[terry78]

I think people are confusing comedians that use politically incorrectness in their act with Richards, however. Someone like an Andrew Dice Clay or George Carlin that says something about blacks I would brush off, because I know how those guys are. They would get a pass because people know what's up. Richards just lost it on stage.

 

[Outsiderzedge]

lol

 

[Sloth7d]

I agree. Among other things, it has to do with blacks not knowing and caring about their history and the origins of some of the customs within the African-American community. It also has to do with not taking things seriously, a lack of self-respect and a reflection of a degree of self hate.

Obviously, YOU don't know the history of that word. Black people took a derogratory word and made it their own to take some of the power away from it. I'm not saying it shouldn't have stuck, but it did. And anyone who saids black people need to stop using needs to shut up. Because the word has a whole different meaning when used by a black person. Its the equivalent of dude or yo, and definately not a term meant to put down others when used by blacks.

 

[FOG3]

Well he says "now youre feeling something" somewhere in that video. Im pretty sure he was trying to be politically incorrect. And even though I think maybe everyone's "misunderstanding" what he was doing, he shouldn't be using that word like that, and Im glad hes getting in trouble for it.

 

[raybia]

Richards made an apology via satillite on Letterman last night, prompted by Jerry Seinfeld (who was a guest on last night's episode), it was hard for him to do (It was a very uncomfortable situation), but he flat out admitted that he just screwed up. No drugs or alcohol to make an "excuse." He didn't make any bones about it. I didn't see the entire thing, just clips on the morning news. But it was clear he was near tears.

The audience had the gaul to laugh like Richards was trying to be funny. Seinfeld actually had to seriously tell them to stop it.

I know there's a lot of skeptics here, but I buy his apology. Given that he's worked with plenty of blacks throughout his career, I really think it was more just that he was mad at the guy and lost his judgement and decided to really try to insult the guy by bringing race into it. Even his "inturrupt the White man" junk sounded slightly sarcastic.

As an African-American, I was truly offended by his actions. I too saw the interview and I accept his apology. I was a fan of his on Seinfeld and I think this guy has paid the price for doing something that was wrong.

Now its time to forgive and move on. This will not stop me from admiring his work on Seinfeld. The best of luck for Michael Richards.

 

[charl_huntress]

This doesn't make sense to me.

How can anyone equate the way black people use the word in most instances to a white person using it as a racial slur?

Regardless of rather you like the word or not, you at least have to acknowledge that how Richards used it was not the same as Chris Rock or Chappelle using it for a joke. It's not even in the same realm.

C'mon on people...

 

[Sloth7d]

This doesn't make sense to me.

How can anyone equate the way black people use the word in most instances to a white person using it as a racial slur?

Regardless of rather you like the word or not, you at least have to acknowledge that how Richards used it was not the same as Chris Rock or Chappelle using it for a joke. It's not even in the same realm.

C'mon on people...

No its very different. And if you think its not your a few lightbulbs short of a christmas tree.
The way Kramer used the word was deliberately to put down and embarrass said audience members by bringing back the power of a word that was used to dehummle blacks since way back when, while Chris Rock and Chapeele use it to relate in such a common way that dude and yo is used. But unlike dude and yo this word originated as a put down for all africanamericans for years and years, none the less when african americans took the word as their own they don't expect any other race to use the word. This is because its a reminder of how other races used to put them down years ago. But to save you the trouble of further explaning just look up "terms of endearment" in a encyclopedia.

 

[logansoldcigar]

While Richards (Kramer ) shouldn't have went that far, if those guys hadn't heckled him, that never would have happened. They brought it upon themselves.

Not really. there are ways of dealing with hecklers, and making them look like idiots, with out needing to go as far as he did. such as(to the rest of the audience) "Ignore him, i was the same after my first beer" (which isnt a great one on the page, but works like you wouldnt imagine as part of an act)

 

[Erzengel]

I was listening to the radio today and Patrice Oneal (Black Comedian) was discussing this issue.

As a black person he said he didn't care because Richards and even Seinfeld weren't influential or integral to black people in general. He didn't watch the show til it was in syndication and while he didn't condone what he said, he just didn't think it was such a blow to the white or black community.

 

[logansoldcigar]

yeah, but the BNP (british national party, a fascist group) dont have that many voters in the grand scheme of things. still nasty little scumbags though

 

[logansoldcigar]

yeah, but the BNP (british national party, a fascist group) dont have that many voters in the grand scheme of things. still nasty little scumbags though

 

[logansoldcigar]

so insightful, i felt i better say it twice

 

[charl_huntress]

No its very different. And if you think its not your a few lightbulbs short of a christmas tree.
The way Kramer used the word was deliberately to put down and embarrass said audience members by bringing back the power of a word that was used to dehummle blacks since way back when, while Chris Rock and Chapeele use it to relate in such a common way that dude and yo is used. But unlike dude and yo this word originated as a put down for all africanamericans for years and years, none the less when african americans took the word as their own they don't expect any other race to use the word. This is because its a reminder of how other races used to put them down years ago. But to save you the trouble of further explaning just look up "terms of endearment" in a encyclopedia.

Hmmm...I don't understand this...but ok

The whole reason this is blown up is because it's on tape. If it hadn't been caught on tape, this would have been a five second story.

 

[Uncanny]

Kramer's racist tirade is also on
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Kramer+Racist&search=Search
"Shut up! Fifty years ago we'd have you upside down with a f------ fork up your a--."

WOW! At least Mel Gibson was drunk, high or something. I was never into Seinfeld anyway.

 

[unstoppable]

the audience probably crapped their pants after thatt:

 

[charl_huntress]

I am seriously surprised no one throw anything at him....hahaha.

 

[raybia]

Obviously, YOU don't know the history of that word.

As an African-American and as someone you don't know, I take offense to that.

Black people took a derogratory word and made it their own to take some of the power away from it.

Maybe to some extent, but mostly as an effect of the psychology effects of slavery and living in a Jim Crow environment.

I'm not saying it shouldn't have stuck, but it did. And anyone who saids black people need to stop using needs to shut up.

Oh I'm perfectly in my rights to call for the discontinuation of the word. I truly believe once we as blacks, eliminated out of our vocabulary, it will be eliminated out of American vocabulary.

Because the word has a whole different meaning when used by a black person. Its the equivalent of dude or yo, and definately not a term meant to put down others when used by blacks.

Its time for blacks to use a new word when referring to each other with so-called "terms of endearment".

One that demonstrates our dignity and respect that we have for ourselves and shows we are a civilized people. How can we be taken seriously and have the audacity to asked to be until we are towards ourselves?

 

[charl_huntress]

Its time for blacks to use a new word when referring to each other with so-called "terms of endearment".

One that demonstrates our dignity and respect that we have for ourselves and shows we are a civilized people. How can we be taken seriously and have the audacity to asked to be until we are towards ourselves?

I understand what you are saying, but I don't think it is that simple. I also don't think that the fact folks use the word indicates a lack of civility or respect for ones self. It is possible to adopt a negative word and subjugate it for ones own culture. It happens all the time, and in fact helps de-mystify and de-stigmatize the word.

Yet, I find "enlightened" attitudes like yours a bit offensive....that's just me though.

 

[Outsiderzedge]

You think Kramers racist?

lol