I am not going to be watching the Academy Awards tonight. Why not? Because of Chris Rock. It’s not that I’m easily offended… I just think Chris Rock is a racist… or at the very least, gets laughs out of making racist jokes.
I’ve had a real problem with Chris Rock since the 2001 Super Bowl. Back then I wrote a weekly column for my school paper, The Informer, at the University of Hartford, that editorial did not make it to the web archives on The Informer’s website, so I’ll republish it here:
Quest For Equality
Originally published 2/08/01I, like many Americans watched the Super Bowl two weeks ago. I watched it for the commercials, as I usually do. Some of the most comical advertising comes out during Super Bowl commercials, so I watch it for that. Quite honestly, I could care less about the game, who was playing or any of that stuff.
I also watched the Half Time show, even though I anticipated it to be terrible. After watching it, I found myself very angered, not only because N’Sync (who did in fact N’Suck) and Britney Spears were performing in it, but because of the little skit that occurred before the actual performance on the field.
If you do not remember the skit, it had Ben Stiller playing the role of the Half Time Coordinator, and he was going around to all of the acts yelling at them and saying what they were doing wrong… Then Chris Rock comes in and says “No, no, no, this is too white for me…”
Excuse me? Too white? What is that supposed mean? I would have liked to think that CBS would have some sense and not have allowed that extremely racist comment to go on the air. And I say “racist” because it was racist. Many people may not recognize it as racist because it was insulting white people. Nevertheless, white people can be the victims of racism and discrimination too.
I have not heard any talk about that Chris Rock comment since the Super Bowl. Maybe that line just flew over everyone’s heads. Why don’t people recognize this kind of racism? It is a bad thing no matter who is victimized by it. Whether it is a stupid comment like what Chris Rock said, or government supported discrimination like “affirmative action”.
Let us imagine the situation was reversed. What if instead of Chris Rock saying, “This is too white,” Ben Stiller had said, “This is too black.” Public outrage I assure you. Actually, CBS probably would not even have aired it. However, “This is too white” was acceptable, it was aired, and for whatever reasons it went unnoticed.
Racism towards non-minorities goes virtually unnoticed, while racism toward minorities is such a hugely sensitive issue in the private sector and in government. John Ashcroft, the new Attorney General of the United States was portrayed as a racist in the media because while he was Senator of Missouri, because he did not vote to confirm the African-American judge Ron White. You probably rarely (or never) heard on the news that he voted to confirm 26 of 28 black judges while he was Senator.
But is that the point? Was Ashcroft expected to vote for an African American solely because of his or her race? That is racist and unethical. Racism is such a sensitive issue (when minorities are the victims) that almost everything becomes an issue of color. And that defeats the idea of equality.
In a perfect world, everyone would believe in equality of all people. How can we expect people to believe in equality if the differences between different races and cultures are exploited in such negative ways? Using “white” to negatively describe something is just as bad as saying a derogatory remark to a minority.
There are all kinds of students here at the University of Hartford. There are students from all over the country, and all over the world. We may look different, and come from different places and have different roots, but we are all people, and we should all look at each other as fellow human beings, not as different colors, races, or whatever. That is what equality really is.
The Jim Guckert story finally broke onto the pages of some major newspapers today after the so-called librul media was too scared to touch it for nearly a month. I immediately checked Fox News, Newsmax, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, and Michael Savage. Collectively they mentioned the gay hooker that shilled for Bush in the White House press corps exactly zero times.
OK Jay. So the sex lives of reporters is fair game now. Cool. You sure about that? OK – just checking.
Oh – good job as the “tolerant” party. This is what you do eh? Attack a guy for being gay? Hitler would be proud. He haed gays also you know. Lets see, you did the same thing to Cheney’s daughter didn’t you? No hypocrisy of course. You were just showing how the Republicans are hypocrites for not acting like you claim they do. But – here we have evidence of two gays being bashed because of conservative ties. Hmmmm. No hypocrisy, I’m sure. But – well, i just can’t figure out what it is if it isn’t that? Help me Jay. Help me understand liberals bashing gays Jay.
The reason you didn’t see or hear it from the conservatives – is because liberals bash gays – not conservatives. You only pay lip service to your own ideals. But in the meantime – since it is OK to attack reporters for this now – we’ll see what we can did up on liberal reporters – OK? Not that WE care – just for you Jay – you homophobic hate monger you.
The reason you didn’t see or hear it from the conservatives – is because liberals bash gays – not conservatives.
Oh, man, now that is some funny shit.
i have NO IDEA where Jay gets off claiming that the MSM has not talked about Gannon.. i’ve seen it discussed on atleast 3 networks, FOX, NBC, and CNN..i’ve talked about on one of my other sites as well. It’s a nothing story that is probably getting TOO MUCH attention.. but the liberal bloggers are trying to get their own version of RatherGate and EasonGate.
that being said, stick to the topic of this blog entry.
Looking over Jay’s comment and the comments that follow, I fail to find any mention of comedian Chris Rock, the Oscars, or racism. Could that be because the political left can only fume about the current talking points and therefore fail to listen to the current discussion?
Matt and Charles – You’re right. Forgive me for being baited by Gay bashing jay.
Chris Rock can’t be racist… he’s black!
Mark – good one.
Chris Rock makes fun of everybody. He’s not racist. Did you miss the “Black people vs Ni**a’s” skit” from his Live in DC performance? Or were you too angry to even listen?
Matt – I have a lot of respect for you but I think your outrage is directed at the wrong person. There are cultural differences between the races and I think it can be funny to point out that we don’t like all of the same things.
I think your frustration is not with Rock, but with the people who say it is OK for blacks to joke about white culture but it is racist for whites to joke about black culture.
If you say that Rock is a racist for what he said, then you are stepping onto a slippery slope. Anyone who expresses an opinion about any difference between racial cultures is a racist.
I too get frustrated when I hear comedians like Rock, because I know that Jerry Seinfeld could not stand up and make the same kind of jokes about black people without riots occurring. But my frustration is not with Rock, it is with the double standard.
Chris Rock is racist because he views everything via the lens of race. Hence “race-ist.” Ask him about anything — the dustbunnies below your coach — and he’ll mention something about how oppressed black men are.
And all of this bitching comes from a man who is VERY well off and is considered one of the best comedians America. That’s some racist society he lives in.
i just thimk he’s a stupid black person or you know what.
i think u all need to stop bitching
Used to be a big fan of Chris Rock. Hey, if you cant see how racist he is then…?? well what can i say. About him- Well what an asshole. The comments he makes about whites are just seen as acceptable it seems. If a white commedian (visa versa) ever dared to go down that racist route (and say the things chris does), haha funny pisstake haha, easy way to gain popularity…. Hmm how would the white comedian be percieved. No No– Hes the man ol chris – sarcasim. What a joke it all is.
Fuck you Chris Rock