I already hated the show, but now I have a whole new reason not to watch the wildly popular Jerry Seinfeld sitcom. If you haven't heard about this drama yet, I hope you will take time to visit CNN.com or YouTube.com to watch the footage of this racist tirade former co-star Michael Richards, who played the character, "Kramer". By now, I think Richards has apologized to all of "Black America" on both Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Al Sharpton's radio shows as well as with the group of African Americans that he insulted that night.
I think this whole "apology" thing is complete nonsense. I saw this clown on the "Late Show" with David Letterman, and it was rediculous. The audience even laughed, (but they could have been chuckling in agreement with his comments). What is he apologizing for? I could see him now talking to the NAACP next with a "sincere" apologetic tone, "I'm sorry that I got caught calling you niggers, 'niggers'?" Yes, I'm being very sarcastic and quite cynical about this, but if you heard the tirade you know that that was some deep seeded racist rage he has been holding in for a good minute. What he said is how he really felt. I am so sick and tired of white folk "apologizing" as if , especially in Richard's case, some cosmic or mystical force (what he labeled a "force field") came upon him that brought out language and and feelings that are not his. There is NO WAY in hell that I am going to believe that some "spirit" of racism descended upon him like the holy ghost on a Pentecostal congregation speaking in "tongues" during a Sunday morning service.
That said, I don't want and apology...what should have happened is that the brothers should have rushed the stage to see how "brave" Richards would be with them in his face (and hopefully placing some well placed blows to his cranium). I agree wholeheartedly with Paul Mooney's suggestions for what Richards could do to prove he is truly sorry. The only thing that Richards is sorry for is that his portion of the Seinfeld money may take a hit due to poor sales of the new DVD box set. However, I doubt if it effects sales. America is a sucker for so called celebrities who are trying to mend their ways. My hope however, is that amongst all the talk of the "color blind" society where affirmative action ceases to exist, that at least black folk wake up and smell the oppression.
We are right around the corner from having white sheets and burning crosses becoming en vogue again. Don't think for a minute that, "Oh, that was back in the day...". That day is right now! I'm sure that all of the brothers and sisters released from slavery felt that freedom would bring all types of new opportunities, which it did, but it also brought new challenges as well (See Leon Litwack's, Trouble in Mind). White terror was a scourge upon the black community in many cities not only in the South, but the Middle West, and the North. Couldn't you just see George "Dub-yah" saying how great a film Birth of a Nation is? This is NOT the time to be apathetic. In the words of Khujo from Goodie Mob, "Use that tool between yo' two shoulders." Look at the footage again of Richard's rant and listen to or hear the supportive whites in the audience. Richards himself in an article I read last week said he was deeply hurt not just by what he said, but by the whitefolk in the audience who supported his comments. Racism is not going anywhere, ANY time soon in this nation. Burning crosses, white sheets, and the cowardly ritualistic lynchings of Africans and African Americans is just as "American" as apple pie.
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