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349 Comments
- MikeOSX, on 10/12/2007, -12/+188The stupid thing is when the audience starts throwing racist remarks back at him. Does that not prove that the people in the audience are no better than he is?
- JeffH, on 10/12/2007, -4/+98I agree. If you're going to take huge offense to racial slurs, you just make yourself look like a hypocrite when you answer those slurs with more racism. What he said was wrong, no doubt about that, but so was the fan's response.
- bitcloud, on 10/12/2007, -8/+79Because we live in a sensationalist society where its more important to see the TMZ logo followed by the seamingly unprovoked racist tirade, we again miss out on the all important context.
Everyone's reporting on the video, but noone is reporting on the events. (possibly because noone knows the events)
What provoked his reaction? the whole video would make sense if the heckler had called him a "cracker" before the video, the same way he called him a "cracker" halfway through the video... People like to jump on board with "yeah i'm against racism too!", but without the context, this video is *worthless* as a tool to judge richards' comments...
Perhaps the whole room was a round up of hollywood's racists, but it seems more likely that he was trying to comment on the double standards that apply when a 'white' guy gets called a cracker, vs when a 'black' guy gets called a '*****'. This seems more likely than any sincere feelings of hatred toward any particular 'race' of people. - inactive, on 10/18/2007, -3/+64Wow... That's a pretty impressive meltdown.
- transeunte, on 10/18/2007, -11/+72Why'd you say that, Michael? Why?
You're my hero. And you say something dirty. Like poop. Poop mouth.
I hate you Michael Richards, I hate you. ;( - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -11/+71wow! he sure is a good actor. you'd think he was like racist or something?
- gr8one, on 10/12/2007, -15/+70The sad thing is I really think he was trying to make a point.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -5/+57Just a quick reality check for everyone:
You realize it is society that makes words bad (back in the day black people wanted to be called negros and if you called them black, you would be considered a racist... now I dare you to say "That negro over there is bothering me").
For the same reasons that "*****" and "*****" are as bad of words now, "boobs" and "vagina" would have had the same level of offensiveness years ago.
The ones to blame for a word being seen as horrible are the ones that propagate it and the ones that are offended by it... the problem with words like "*****" is that the same people who practically keep the word alive are the ones that are offended by it.
Even the other comedian that was there... I forget his name but he has his own show... said that if Richards was black, it would have gone over fine... then he went on to say something that completely disgusted me:
"Freedom of speech has its limits."
Yes, this is true in respect to reality at the moment... but its only true because we make it true. We put the limits on our speech because we like to be victims and the easiest way to do it in our racially-screwed-up-society (blame it on media or on slavery, but either way, move on) is to play race cards.
And before you guys digg me down for sounding like some racist, I'm black.
....actually I'm not black... but if by thinking I was black made this post ok to you... then you are part of the problem. - Eleo, on 10/12/2007, -8/+55Awkward. Watching Seinfeld will never be the same.
- joel8x, on 10/12/2007, -15/+61Gr8one - I agree - it really seems like he was trying to get to a point with the tirade, but it fell apart too quickly and he could not recover. Just because someone goes for the most awful words to offend somebody (face it, if it was a fat woman, he would have attacked that, if it was a balding guy, he would have gone after that...people like to attack the most vulnerable areas) does not mean he is putting down a whole race of people. He called one guy it and meant it towards that one guy - then he started to get to a point about the word but died right there on stage before any sense was made of it.
- Railer, on 10/18/2007, -14/+56OK this brings up a question I've wondered for years, why can't you offend a white person with a racial slurs? It's sort of a sociology thing but I've noticed you can offend every other group of people, Jews, Chinese, Blacks Hispanics in western or eastern countries, but not whites, even where white people are the minority, you can scare them with racial language, but not offend them. Whites seem to take every slur as a badge of honor like cracker, whitey, or honky. Don't get me wrong you can offend white people, just not racially.
My only guess is as a people as a whole, they have never been oppressed by another race. Just a thought. - eean, on 10/12/2007, -6/+48I don't think they were getting on his case for not being politically correct. They were just genuinely offended.
- elbeano, on 10/12/2007, -18/+59if this were a video of any famous minority getting pissed at a white guy in the audience, it would NEVER get two separate stories on the front page in the same day, or so much as a video on you tube
- adamnikyo, on 10/12/2007, -23/+64@ joel8x
...or he's just a racist. Calling someone fat because they're overweight or calling someone bald because they have no hair is not equal to calling someone a ***** because they're black - even if they're obnoxious and black. That word refers to a name used for a people in another time - a people who were thought to be less than human, and undeserving of the same treatment.
"people like to attack the most vulnerable areas"
Being black should not be considered a vulnerability.
And being black makes you a ***** as much as having no hair makes you stupid. - metra23, on 10/12/2007, -7/+45I'm not sure I was watching the same clip you were.
Now, (non black) comedians use the word ***** all the time to attract attention. It's usually a poor technique but I don't care nor does anyone else. Why? Because it's part of an act. What I saw was someone who was obviously racist. The act was up with Michael Richards. I'm a huge Seinfeld fan and that's just upsetting to see. Sure, they interrupted him but then he showed his true colors. He showed that he's an ignorant man who seems like he's living in Birmingham in the 1950's.
"50 years ago you were hanging upside down from a tree with a fork up your ass."
I dunno about you guys, but I see the difference between calling someone ***** and actually being racist. - ahawks, on 10/12/2007, -3/+41@Railer:
As a white person of Irish descent, this is my best guess.
White people, as you said, haven't been suppressed as a whole. I can tell you the Irish sure were when they started coming to America. The term mick would be pretty much equivalent to *****, right? I wouldn't really get offended though, because there aren't any traces of that suppression left. No one is going to beat me up, or refuse me a job because I have Irish blood.
Black people still do struggle for equality. Not so much legally, but socially. And because that struggle is so real, the racial slur packs a very real punch. - se1zure, on 10/12/2007, -9/+45I like how you never see white peope go on some BET comedy show, and when somone makes a joke about white people, no matter how funny/unfunny it is, they never stand up, and scream "that was uncalled for" repeatedly like it's the only words in their vocab.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -6/+38Then please link it.
- overstre, on 10/18/2007, -3/+36That, my friends, was a brilliant example of how to commit career suicide.
- JavertHolmes, on 10/12/2007, -1/+32Is there no video that shows the precursor to his rant?
- VipeNess, on 10/12/2007, -8/+39whoh! surprised he didnt get his ass kicked, i was waiting for it
- archlich, on 10/12/2007, -4/+32Google Video link: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3159127191960661978&q=kramer+racist
- warlordwiggles, on 09/07/2008, -5/+32@quamb
I'm pretty Goddamn tired of black people playing the slave card, mainly because there's not a people in the whole history of the world who weren't at one point subjected to adversity based solely on the culture they were born into.
If we were getting into a pissing contest, which we're not, my ancestors, the Scots and the Irish, the WHITE MAN, were subjected to slavery longer than any other race in the history of the world. Take your couple hundred years and go home. - elbeano, on 10/12/2007, -7/+33People get offended by the intent. I am offended every time I flip past a channel on tv where a comedian is making any sort of jokes based on race.
I marvel at how Carlos Mencia and Chris Rock couldn't use 80% of their act if they were white. This is racism, period.
It wouldn't make the news if a rapper called someone a cracker at a concert, or if Chris Rock referred to some heckler in his audience as a peckerwood. Not only that, but neither would surprise me. Why is only shocking and news worthy when a white is racist? - se1zure, on 10/12/2007, -26/+51"...or he's just a racist. Calling someone fat because they're overweight or calling someone bald because they have no hair is not equal to calling someone a ***** because they're black - even if they're obnoxious and black. That word refers to a name used for a people in another time - a people who were thought to be less than human, and undeserving of the same treatment."
I hear "black" people call each other ***** all the time, so If it's not okay for a white person to call a "black" person a *****, then maybe you don't want equality... - standalonematt, on 10/12/2007, -1/+24Its too bad Dave Chapelle no longer has a show - I would have loved to see what he would have done with this. I am sure he would have put Michael Richards in everyday situations (like at the grocery store or post office) spewing racist crap.
- Suits, on 10/12/2007, -5/+26For real. He's a great actor, no question. Unfortunately, he's an ass in real life. It's one thing to say "Oh a white guy drives like this and a Black drives like this," It's another to scream *****/white-cracker, so obscenely, over and over again like he did.
- ShrimpCrackers, on 10/12/2007, -1/+22quamb said, "maybe because the white man ain't got the same history? ... yeah maybe that."
You mean like Jews?
Why are you generalizing against an entire group of people that happen to have lighter skin color?
I'm Asian, and even I can tell how obvious it is against White people when I watch Apollo or BET or listen to Hot 97. 99.5FM gets really bad here in NYC at night.
I've seen lots of black people accuse the entire "White Race" of enslaving them. In fact, I hear it quite often on 99.5FM. But that's not the case at all. Isn't that like reverse racism? Its kinda disgusting to hear a man whom has had his ancestors victimized, generalizing against an entire race. Its entirely counterproductive to your argument. - headzoo, on 10/12/2007, -4/+25Isn't he a little old now to be snorting down 8-balls? Can't imagine someone could act like that without a ***** load of drugs.
- joflow, on 10/12/2007, -0/+20@slicedoranges
Last time I read the constitution..Freedom of Speech meant being able to speak openly without the threat of prosecution not being able to say dumb ***** without being criticized. He's not getting arrested...his rights weren't violated. - se1zure, on 10/12/2007, -3/+23I still dont understand:
Why can a black person call anotehr black person a ***** and it's okay
but a white person can't call a black person a ***** without ruining your entire comedy scetch.
I mean really, at my school, black kids call each otehr ***** all the time, and sometimes, they even call white kids *****. Its just an expression, like "hey *****' move out mah way", when they are walking down teh halls. Sometimes I want to stop, and turn around and ask them If I look like I'm a negro.
Soo A black person can call a white person and another black person a *****, but a white person can't do te same thing... talk about hypocritical. If we want equality, we need a White entertainment telivision, where white comedians make fun of black people, and equality in scholarships.
Race != Poor
Race != Disabled
So Race should != Extra Scholarships , and cheaper college.
"African American" clubs are the biggest joke I have ever seen, considering having a single "White Only" club is considered unconstitutional, and illegal at that. I'm calling BS. - Aliarse, on 10/12/2007, -24/+43Im glad i wasnt the only one who noticed that MikeOSX.
http://search.conduit.com/Search.aspx?ctid=CT329536&uslang=500&SearchType=SearchWeb&q=cracker%20meaning
Calling a black person a "*****" isnt allowed, but calling a white person "cracker" is perfectly fine? What a bunch of f**king hypocrites. - mennis, on 10/12/2007, -5/+21That's just too bad all the way around.
- eljaysun, on 10/12/2007, -11/+28I think the audience handled it pretty well. It would be a mess of curse words and screaming had Kramer tried to pull that crap on me. Saying "That was uncalled for" was an excellent response. Sure, they did call him a cracker-ass mofo wash-up, but that was after Michael earned it.
Well done, faceless audience member. - incognit0, on 10/12/2007, -3/+18This is a watchable youtube link. The post before was linked to the TMZ player which didn't work for me (and I'm assuming others as well).
- contradictator, on 10/12/2007, -3/+18That is some messed up *****. I dunno if he was joking, he didn't really have anything to follow-up with...
I can't condone what he said, but man, this is a fine example of the problems still dividing races: that deep-rooted bitterness and tension.
But honestly, Kramer's had better days.. - johnners, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15@standalonematt
Absolutely. Chapelle - now there is one black comedian who plays the racist card in the cleverest way I've ever seen. Truly subversive, always relevant without the anger which easily obscures the argument. My favourite was when he did the fake show about the family who "just so happened" to have the surname "*****". Cue lots of racial sterotypes taken completely out of context in pretty much one of the cleverest plays with language I can remember on a sketch / standup show. So much more than mere backlash. Excellent. - headzoo, on 10/12/2007, -8/+21Can't think of a single white person who would be offended by the word "cracker" or "honkey". Can't think of a single black person who wouldn't be offended by the N word. Everyone knows this. So there is a big difference.
Calling a black guy the N word, I think, really dredges up some deep seeded anger, resentment, and depression. It's gotta hurt.
Calling some white guy a cracker is nothing. That's almost reinforcing the stereotype that the white guy is in charge. Doesn't hurt one bit. - floppyparty, on 10/12/2007, -16/+29Honestly, it's not the same.
How is a white guy/girl going to get offended in American with racial slurs.
"Yo white guy, you're so white!" Come on.
Culturally, being white in the US means lacking an ethnicity, and everyone else, Black, Asian, Hispanic, etc is a deviation from that. Hence, it's very hard to slander what is the norm.
Now in a different country, or in an area where being white is a social minority, that may be different. This is my perspective as a 1/2 Korean, 1/2 white guy. - mrhaines, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14Kramer: Ooooo tough crowd.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13@gr8one
white culture? What channel is that on? I must have missed it. Stop being a victim and have pride.
@psych0fish :
I don't speak for anyone but myself, but I can tell you that I am not rationalizing what Richards said or how he acted.
He did a horrible thing... and that horrible thing was a lame joke... nothing more nothing less.
People should be on the news going "Yeah, he did a crappy joke." not trying to turn this into an issue of race.
Picture this:
Same scenario only the guy on stage is black and the heckler is white. Black guy says exactly what Richards said, only changing out "*****" for "honky" or "cracker". Now, the white heckler... have him act just like the guy in the video and have him storm out saying "That was uncalled for", but instead of "cracker", we flip terms and put in "*****".
I will wager that if a video like that came out with the racial slurs swapped... the majority of you would watch it and the first "offensive slap" to your system would be "Oh my God, he called him a *****!". Most would say he overreacted and its just a comedy show.
Good old double standards.
I'll also wager that if someone could combine a list of 100 statements from KKK members, and 100 phrases/jokes/skits from comedians like Dave Chappel, Chris Rock, and...well... just about any black comedian.... and you take that list of 200 racial phrases and turn it into a game of "who said what".
Strip away who said it, and see what's really hurtful.
Hell, try another social experiment... let's get Chris Rock to show up at some BET event in a KKK outfit and have him tell one of his jokes... then have him strip away the clothing before the riot starts, and it'd go down as one of the funniest skits ever.
It comes down to the fact that the world wants to move on, but some people want to hold onto the "history", yet they don't want to hear it... especially if it includes any truth.
I choose not to limit my thoughts, vocabulary, life, and personal liberties to satisfy the insanities of close minded people who have pre-judged my intentions based on the color of my skin.
Just remember.. it's not a stereotype if it is statistically true. - Baconn, on 10/12/2007, -4/+17@adamnikyo
"Being black should not be considered a vulnerability."
Richards could have made fun of the man's short arms, or hairy legs, and no one would have cared. If there were no vulnerability in being black, then calling someone a "*****" wouldn't be so provocative. - ahawks, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14At first I thought he was just doing a shock approach to get the audiences, but when he said "That's what you get when you interrupt a white man" ... I think that was true racism.
- OneAndOnlySnob, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13Wow, that's just sad. I feel like he was trying to go somewhere by crossing a line, and completely lost control of everything. He knew it and the crowd knew it.
I feel like he's probably not actually racist (not that this is acceptable behavior), but our soundbite society is going to completely destroy him. Does he deserve it? Maybe.
Sucks. - ActionJeans, on 10/12/2007, -5/+17@floppyparty
/quote "How is a white guy/girl going to get offended in American with racial slurs.
"Yo white guy, you're so white!" Come on. /end quote
I think "cracker a$$ mo-fo" pretty much does it for me, every single time, thank you. And I say this as a German/Welsh American. Also known as 'a white guy'.
Also, whitey, honky (well, OK, honky I just find funny), and 'white boy' to be specific racial epitaphs I find really, really offensive.
I have no problem with someone pointing at me and saying "wow, you're really white". But that's never happened to me, ever. The above slanders have, and I usually take it about as well as the gentlemen in the audience did. - everfresh59, on 10/12/2007, -3/+15Let me clear this all up for all you "caucasians" who are confused......
http://www.eminem.net/other/video/term_nigga_vs_nigger/ - grnarrow, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14@Gerz
"Cracker is a funny-sounding replacement for "honky", used by black people in the past twenty years to jokingly refer to white people. It has no history, does not carry a legacy of violence, and white people are not offended by it (if they even know what it means)."
Actually, the term cracker does have quite a history, it's just been co-opted in recent years as a slur.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_cracker - naiku, on 10/12/2007, -4/+15original post:
http://digg.com/celebrity/Seinfeld_s_Kramer_Michael_Richards_Racist_Tirade_Caught_On_Tape
Quote from PathDaemon:
Über-direct link:
http://pdl.stream.aol.com/aol/us/aolentertainment/30mz/2006_11/1120_richards_2_dl.mov
EDIT: I'd YouTube it, but Websense is being websensetastic. - Cykaos, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12@indulgence it's also an ethnicity. You can be Jewish by ethnicity but not religion. There are many distinguishing physical traits of Jewish people as the ethnicity that have nothing to do with religion.
- account, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13Bill Cosby: Poor blacks can't speak English
http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=38565 -
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