Say It Loud, I'm Racist and...Proud??
UPDATE 12/26: The title of this entry was a take on a song that became an anthem for African-Americans, 'Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud). That song was recorded by the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, who passed away early yesterday morning. In addition to fancy footwork and memorable melodies, Brown will also be remembered for his political activism - especially as it concerned black people and the poor in this country.R.I.P. James.By now, you've no doubt heard about the tirade launched by former Seinfeld castmember Michael Richards - aka Kramer - at an LA comedy spot a few weeks back. It seems that, after being heckled by two black audience members, Richards thought it appropriate to fire back with some heckling of his own -- in the form of the 'n' word and other ostensibly racist imagery. If you've not heard about it or have been under a rock somewhere, feel free to check it out here.
The fallout was fairly swift: the Laugh Factory offered a refund to its entire crowd that night, the first such move in the club's history. LF also banned Richards. The actor-turned-comic and his publicist then reached out to (heavy sarcasm here) the authorities on black American life, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, to discuss how to make amends. The subjects of his verbal assault made their expected talk show rounds, demanding not just an apology but monetary compensation. Richards himself appeared on David Letterman in following nights, offering a mea culpa and the standard 'I am not a racist' line. Today, he turned up on Jesse's Keep Hope Alive radio program, saying his behavior was rooted in anger, not bigotry. How he was humiliated onstage and wanted to presumably give as good as he got.
Now, I have no idea if Michael Richards is a racist or not. I have never met the man and wouldn't presume to know the workings of his mind or his heart. Nor did I watch Seinfeld, but as I understand it, Richards is an actor first -- and not at all skilled in the standup game. The Laugh Factory incident may have been the rare, unscripted gig for the cat. However, if you are having an 'off' night in your standup routine - as Richards is said to have had - and you decide that the only way you can revive your act is to attack your audience members' race, then you have a serious problem.
But instead of saying 'I am seeking treatment for anger management' and shrinking away from the label of racist, maybe folks should just admit their prejudices. There is a song from one of my favorite Broadway shows, Avenue Q, entitled 'Everyone's Just a Little Bit Racist'. Here's an excerpt of the lyrics
If we all could just admit
That we are racist a little bit
Even though we all know That it's wrong
Maybe it would help us Get along.
Am I saying that I want folks to yell 'Hey, N---' when they see me walking down the street or shopping in a store? Absolutely not. But what I am saying to Michael Richards and others who might find themselves in a similar predicament (Trent Lott, anyone?) is that the cat's out of the bag, the chicken has flown the coop or any other tired cliche about futilely trying to save face after the fact. I don't know anyone who truly believes racist commentary is an acceptable, albeit misguided, attempt to make a joke, to honor an old Southern statesman or anything else. For those who issue these comments to think their audience is that naive is insulting. It might be better to just own up to it, especially when it is on tape, and meet with everyday people (vs. so-called 'leaders') to talk about exactly what is on your mind and theirs. Then maybe you could get a better understanding of how, along with sticks and stones, words can and do hurt. An honest, open discussion on race will be painful but at least it will put us on the right road. And it surely can't be any worse than the alternative of ignorance.
And to the two guys seeking money for this, give me a break. Why don't you seek to educate people instead of lining your pockets? Because anyone who has ever been on the receiving end of a racial epithet or taunt knows that it ain't all about the benjamins.
Ugly is the new Pretty
Thursday nights have become somewhat routine for me, in a good way. I try to be home by 7:45 so I can shake off the day, grab something to eat and settle in for a night of fabulous television, courtesy of ABC. 'Ugly Betty' kicks it off; for those of you who don't know, the show follows the misadventures of an aesthetically-challenged Latina trying to make it in the world of high fashion - by way of the show's fictional fashion bible Mode magazine.
I think Betty strikes a chord in most women, perhaps in most people, in the sense that we all know what it feels like to NOT be on 'the list'. To not fit in or know the secret handshake or inside joke...and to have no clue HOW to get to where we think we should be. I think we can all see a little bit of Betty in ourselves.
However, I find it just a little disingenuous when the fabulous and snazzy try to show the Betty in them to the rest of us. The formula is simple and predictable: cute, famous chick dons a fat/ugly/'anything that doesnt even remotely resemble them' suit to show the masses what it is like to not be fabulous -- and deal with everyday life (can you imagine??)
Tyra Banks captured her Betty moment in a 350 pound fat suit last year. News outlets picked up on her 'undercover' stunt, chronicling Tyra's drastic makeunder and how she was ridiculed as she went through life in Hollywood as a plus-sized girl. Even her blind date couldn't hide his lack of interest (and perhaps disgust) once meeting her face to face. Another guy said his parents would ask him 'What is wrong with you?' if he took her home to meet them. Tyra later called the experience "one of the most heartbreaking days of my life."
And last week came Vanessa Minillo (aka. Nick Lachey's main squeeze), in what her employer Entertainment Tonight called the 'Ugly Vanessa' series. She took a different approach than Tyra, alternating between a blond, blue-eyed Vanessa and a plumper, brown-haired, braces-laden Vanessa. You can imagine the different experiences the two Vanessas encountered, as she visited New York City's high end stores, subway, hottest nightspots and more.
Vanessa's segment was characterized as an expose of sorts, complete with her commentary. She said that being ignored was the worst part and that her feelings were "really hurt" by some of the comments she heard. "People can be so cruel to a real life Ugly Betty," Vanessa said, adding that " 'Ugly' is a four-letter word...and it is time we get rid of it."
What I find funny about these 'hidden camera investigations' is not that they show what happens EVERY day for those of us who didn't hit the genetic jackpot. I think we are all acutely aware of the ease of life that beauty affords. Beauty is not just in the eye of the beholder: it's in the eyes of the salesperson, the folks holding the velvet rope and so on, including the opposite sex. Hell, I picked my cat because she was cute (and no that's not just a biased pet owner's claims, my cat IS cute! Ok, I am back...)
Rather, I think I am surprised at how surprised these chicks are at how poorly they are treated, especially when a large part of their livelihoods is based on how they look. Tyra is a MODEL and Vanessa is an celebrity tv correspondent -- surely they both knew that looking good was a prerequisite for their jobs. I don't think Sports Illustrated or Maxim, respectively, would have placed either woman on their covers if something was amiss in that department. They must realize that if one of their eyes was lower than the other - or their teeth a bit crooked - that life might be a little bit different. Saying that 'being ignored' was the worst part of the day, to me, shows just how out of touch both of these women may be with reality. Your beauty gets you lots of attention, so what exactly did you think would happen when you weren't as attractive?
At the end of the day, though, maybe some viewers did gain insight into how heavier or less attractive people are treated in our society. And maybe that will give them pause the next time they find their minds - and mouths - poised to make a negative judgment as it relates to the person they see walking down the street.
And, Tyra and Vanessa, at least you girls can take that makeup off when the cameras stop rolling.
