What is racism?
Cody Boland
Issue date: 4/22/09 Section: Opinion
Racism is a sticky issue, and it calls to the forefront all manner of questions. One of the most blatant is "what constitutes racism?"
Nowadays the country seems to take the same approach to racism as they do to pornography. They can't define it, but they know it when they see it.
Racism is generally persecuted in the media. Don Imus lost his radio job from the infamous phrase "nappy-headed hos," and Michael Richards of "Seinfield" fame watched his career implode from a fit of onstage anger and use of the forbidden "n-word."
Yet for some reason, racial distinction seems to be a one-way road in terms of persecution. When an African-American entertainer on Jamie Foxx's Sirius radio show referred to Miley Cyrus as "that white bitch," everything was fine.
Sure, it got media attention, and Foxx apologized for being "hurtful," but the issue of racism was not even called into question. The media attention was more focused on saying hurtful things to a 16-year-old instead of the racial distinction that was outlined by a guest on Foxx's show.
Should people be fired over this? Of course not. Free speech is an important element of this country, and no one should lose their job over a little faux pas. But it begs the question, what if the situation was reversed?
Had a white performer called Ashanti "that black bitch," would it be forgotten about with a simple apology? More than likely, Al Sharpton would be screaming for the job of the perpetrator, and more than likely, he would get it.
Is this current politically correct climate fair? Certainly the suffering of the African-American population in America is well documented, but does this mean they get a free pass to say things that would leave a Caucasian searching for a job?
We are already a culture that only allows certain people to say certain words, and it appears we are now also a culture that allows certain races to make discriminatory remarks that are completely unacceptable for other races to speak of.
It seems that Jamie Foxx's career is safe, which is fine. His show and his guests have not been persecuted for racism, because in all honesty, they are most likely not.
However, Don Imus, along with Michael Richards are also most likely not racist, but suffered major career setbacks from the apparent double standard that exists in this country in regards to race.
The media, along with every individual, should re-evaluate why it is that certain discriminations are allowed to be made, while others are viewed as pure sin.
What constitutes racism? Discrimination in how individuals are treated, based solely on race. It seems that this country is indeed, still racist.
Nowadays the country seems to take the same approach to racism as they do to pornography. They can't define it, but they know it when they see it.
Racism is generally persecuted in the media. Don Imus lost his radio job from the infamous phrase "nappy-headed hos," and Michael Richards of "Seinfield" fame watched his career implode from a fit of onstage anger and use of the forbidden "n-word."
Yet for some reason, racial distinction seems to be a one-way road in terms of persecution. When an African-American entertainer on Jamie Foxx's Sirius radio show referred to Miley Cyrus as "that white bitch," everything was fine.
Sure, it got media attention, and Foxx apologized for being "hurtful," but the issue of racism was not even called into question. The media attention was more focused on saying hurtful things to a 16-year-old instead of the racial distinction that was outlined by a guest on Foxx's show.
Should people be fired over this? Of course not. Free speech is an important element of this country, and no one should lose their job over a little faux pas. But it begs the question, what if the situation was reversed?
Had a white performer called Ashanti "that black bitch," would it be forgotten about with a simple apology? More than likely, Al Sharpton would be screaming for the job of the perpetrator, and more than likely, he would get it.
Is this current politically correct climate fair? Certainly the suffering of the African-American population in America is well documented, but does this mean they get a free pass to say things that would leave a Caucasian searching for a job?
We are already a culture that only allows certain people to say certain words, and it appears we are now also a culture that allows certain races to make discriminatory remarks that are completely unacceptable for other races to speak of.
It seems that Jamie Foxx's career is safe, which is fine. His show and his guests have not been persecuted for racism, because in all honesty, they are most likely not.
However, Don Imus, along with Michael Richards are also most likely not racist, but suffered major career setbacks from the apparent double standard that exists in this country in regards to race.
The media, along with every individual, should re-evaluate why it is that certain discriminations are allowed to be made, while others are viewed as pure sin.
What constitutes racism? Discrimination in how individuals are treated, based solely on race. It seems that this country is indeed, still racist.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Dee
posted 4/22/09 @ 1:02 PM CST
Mr Sharpton has battled for equality and against racism for years. The only reason I can think of him not speaking out, is that he believes like Foxx, that these vile, vicious, and vulger comments are funny and hilarious. (Continued…)
Selepri
posted 4/22/09 @ 1:57 PM CST
No child is BORN a racist...
Hate stems from fear and it produces a blindness to the simplest of human truths like "It isn't color or race, but culture, chemistry and environment that produce the personality of an individual". (Continued…)
Bay Area
posted 4/22/09 @ 2:47 PM CST
He is a racist, plain and simple. He only mentioned white women and if it was not racists, why the "little white b*****" comment. Everyone knows she is white. (Continued…)
Yew
posted 4/23/09 @ 3:50 PM CST
You not really comparing apples to apples...Jamie Foxx's show is on sat radio, where people have to supscribe, and it is rated XL like howard stern's show, so cursing and such is allowed. (Continued…)
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