Kramer’s a Racist, And Now What?

Andre Banks

Kramer’s a Racist, And Now What?

Michael Richards is an ugly new symbol of America’s ugly old problem with racism. But in confronting “Kramer,” have we moved the conversation on race forward or driven it back?

“Kramer,” as he’s been known to fans of Seinfeld, is racist. He harbors a serious and violent hostility towards Black people and, in large part, he’s been condemned for it. (Though perhaps with a bit more sympathy that this author would afford someone who harkened back to lynching times when a white man could “have a black man upside down with a fork in his ass.”)

As a nation we’ve been conditioned to respond with a peculiar form of outraged indifference to an individual’s racist tirades. Jesse Jackson is called, dirty corporations issue press releases, and angry blogs link us up to YouTube. We are shocked and appalled. And after we express our disgust we quickly resign ourselves to a “that’s just the way the world is” narrative and the conversation abruptly ends.

But as we rage over acts of hateful speech, the racial divide only grows deeper and each side more entrenched in their positions. We’ve seen the “Kramer” story play out so often, in fact, that many believe racism to be permanent, irreparable and impervious to any intervention.

That’s exactly why limiting the race debate to outbursts like his is futile and dangerous.

While there is no doubt we should be telling the comedian that racism is no joke, what if we held President Bush and the people we put into office across the country to the same scrutiny, if not more?

Whether personal attack or public policy, racism demands our outrage. But targeting a washed-up comedian best known for his ability to burst through a door, can, at best, feel great and deliver an apology that pacifies us, allowing us to share a collective “we shall overcome”.

But confronting racism in public policy can give this nation what has remained long elusive: a practical plan for ending inequities at the color line. Asking our elected officials to face race by designing innovative solutions that index the minimum wage to inflation or provide all kids of color access to preschool is the actual stuff of primetime news.

Can you legislate a change in people’s hearts and minds? Of course not. But by changing the rules of the game, we can address disparities and move solutions to historical inequities. Our recent reports on Facing Race show exactly that.

As long as we’re tuning into Jesse Jackson’s radio show to hear Richards rehearse talking points from his new publicist (a Hollywood legend known for carting the water when celebs stoke the fires of racism) while he begs for a meeting to “heal” with the men he attacked (I’d stay away guys), the solutions that can truly close the racial divide falter and fail without notice.

Granted, he started a conversation. Let’s hope it’s a new one.

Posted at 11:01 AM, Nov 28, 2006 in Pop Culture | Permalink | View Comments

Comments

I think any time you have a media event, no matter how negative and absurd, you can take good advantage of it by turning it into an educational opportunity. No matter how small a person's realm of influence, almost everyone has some influence on others. If those people can be educated about the importance of ending racism, how racism has influenced their lives, and how they can help to end it, they can then educate those whom they influence or make an effort to even go beyond to reach many more. This case is not only no exception to this, but could be an excellent example of it. Michael Richards might not be the most popular, but he is in show business and he does reach a number of people with him humor. This story has highlighted a situation which can, and will, be brought up in the future to highlight a symptom of racism in this country. He could also become educated, such as by attending the People's Institute trainings and become a trainer to show that racists can try to reform and become anti-racists to work to try to end racism in this country. This follows the same principle as addiction rehabilitation - learn to reform and then stay involved with the community and help support others to reform. Michael Richards could become a great example of such a process if he could be convinced that this is the way to go.

Why is Mr. Richards such a big deal? It's not an official policy, only a bad Comedy bit. It's no more or less offensive than every racist comedian on Def Comedy Jam or Chappelle. If the white, Asian or Latin Americans can take it, why does the African American only seem to dish it out? They would do well to forget about the way the Spanish brought the first of them over for Slave labor in the sugar cane plantations. Much in the same way the Spanish have forgotten about the 300 year (African) Moorish conquest of Spain. Our one and only true freedom is our right to free speech. As far as I'm concerned, any debt owed the African American slave was paid in full with the blood of 321,000 young men of the Union Army. If "the white man" intended to "keep your people down" why would he let the Nation be torn apart and young white men march headlong into .50 cal rifle fire to break your bondage? As I said, PAID IN FULL. It was wrong, it happened. Just like it’s happened repeatedly down through history both to, and by every race. The white European immigrant who populated America never owned anyone. Responsible for more than 90% of the American whites, he was every bit as much a slave as any African American. Yes he was paid for the 16 hour days worked from age 12. But his pay was given right back to the employer who also owned the tenements in which he lived and stock in the farm co-op which supplied his food. So between the four immigrant families living in one of his two room apartments, the (slave owner) employer actually learned to profit EVEN from housing and feeding his slaves. If one died on the job as many did, management would cart the body to its front porch without slowing production. There was no longer a need for the responsibility of owning slaves, not with the abundance of starving European immigrants. They learned then it was far cheaper and easier to PAY their slaves LESS than the cost of owning them. This practice, though churched up a bit and checked by a history of bloody, hard fought union disputes, is still as alive as ever. The pendulum is now swinging back to the exploitation of the working class and revocation of its common rights. So wake up! Agree with Mr. Richards or not, laugh or not, at least revel in his right to say whatever he wants. The first step is disallowing the right to harmful things like the N word, smoking or firearms. This sets a precedent; it’s the way the process starts, systematically chipping away right after right, freedom after freedom. As for the vast mix of races that make up America, words are only that, only as profound as the person who says them (sorry comedians). I recall a beautiful quote from one so profound it may even be a prophecy; “It will all become one thing” A. Lincoln.

What about Michael Irvins racist remarks about Romo? Does that also not count as racism? I have not seen one single appology yet from Irvin. I have also not seen anyone attacking him for his racist comments. Do we live in a society of double standards?