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Michael Richards Affronts Us All Armstrong Williams Most of us know by now about the racial tirade from "Seinfeld" star Michael Richards.
Watching the video tape of "Kramer" raging was so disturbing and destructive that I could hardly believe it was happening in 2006. Then watching the Rev. Jesse Jackson gives Richards a forum to apologize — though Jackson never did the same for Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott whose remarks years ago pale in comparison to Richards — is even more pathetic and disturbing.
I guess it does matter who the racist is and how it will play out in the polls, when the high priest of blackness and mainstream media decide to give out free passes.
All of us who are decent, or simply understand the continued stains of slavery and its aftermath, should be outraged and disheartened by this latest incident.
Much of America has moved beyond this hateful language of the past and should condemn and punish it wherever, whenever, and however it raises its ugly head. After witnessing Richards's racist tirade and hearing his pathetic apologies to his countrymen, especially the American black community over the past week, I am convinced much like I was three years ago following Sen. Lott's apology for racist remarks, that Richards is really only sorry that he allowed the world to know his true feelings.
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I would, however, also be the first to say that Lott's actions over the last two years have shown that he has learned from his previous racist remarks and that much of his credibility in that community, especially in Mississippi has been restored.
Explaining that he's no racist, Richards claims his offensive and hateful words came through him like a "freight train." Yet as we re-read his tirade, it's hard to believe these words came through him suddenly or spontaneously. More likely, they've been boiling up in him up for decades, perhaps since childhood.
"Fifty years ago we'd have you upside down with a f***ing fork up you're a**. He's a n****r! He's a n****r! He's a n****r! A n****r, look, there's a n****r! That's what happens when you talk back to a white man," Richards exclaimed, after being heckled by a two young American blacks at a comedy club.
If Richards is not a racist, I'm not sure who the adjective should be reserved for. Such hate doesn't just come out of nowhere.
He has obviously held these abhorrent feelings for quite some time, and much like an alcoholic, can lose control in a moment of rage or weakness. Sadly — or perhaps thankfully — Richard's fury caused him to show his true colors to the world.
Now in an attempt to salvage his career, Richards is hitting the American blacks airwaves to apologize and show that he cares about them.
I, personally, would rather that he not apologize at all.
While, it is true that everyone, especially the some citizens of this nation, have some racial biases that we must work to eradicate, Richards' comments went far beyond mere racial insensitivity. They were malicious and coldhearted.
They reflected his deep belief that he as a white man is somehow superior to American blacks. They conjured up hurtful memories of a time when American blacks were terrorized and murdered on a daily basis in this nation. And although they are forgivable, they are certainly not forgettable.
I am deeply disappointed that Rev. Jessie Jackson, who is usually the first to call for a boycott or something of the sort when blacks are supposedly discriminated against, has in essence given Richards a pass by allowing him to repeat his fake apology to American blacks on his radio show.
If ever there was a time to boycott someone, this is surely it. I can only imagine the repercussions an actor would have had to endure at the hand of the Jewish community had he joked about the Holocaust in the same manner Richards joked about the lynching of American Blacks.
This young nation of ours must make it known that we will not allow anyone of any race belittle the pain and suffering of those who continue to fight and died for our freedoms. Now that Richards has exposed himself as a racist bigot, it's not in our hands to try to change him, only God can do that. However, we can and must make him pay for his lack of respect.
If we fail to do so, we give the green light to others to do the same.
We as Americans have moved beyond the idiotic and wicked, "I am superior and therefore you are inferior" mentality that almost destroyed us as a nation.
None of us wants to return to those days when our brothers were treated like animals. The United States of America is a beacon of hope for the rest of the world to look upon and find their way from the apartheid and segregationist past.
All of our voices — and I mean all — must sing together in the denunciation of those that still harbor and hold on to these ignorant, hostile, and non productive ideas.
We are better than this and can never allow episodes like this to once again become our national identity and ingrained values. This is not about black and white, or rich or poor, it's about a nation living up to its true potential.
www.armstrongwilliams.com
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