Deejay won't apologize for calling Condi Rice an "Aunt Jemima"

[matcom]

<snip>

An unrepentant Sly explained why he called the nominee to be secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, an "Aunt Jemima" and outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell an "Uncle Tom" on the radio Wednesday.

Sly, the on-air name for John Sylvester, told WTDY-AM (1670) morning show listeners that Rice, who is black, bought her way into the White House with obedience to President Bush.

"I'm not apologizing for what I said," Sylvester said Thursday in an interview. "I stand by it.

"I was aiming that directly at a black person that is letting himself (and herself) be used by an administration that has been extremely hostile to minorities," he said.

"Being subservient and being a black role model are two different things. I think (Rice) has not only been bad for the country and for national security, but I think she's been a bad black role model.

http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/index.php?ntid=18577&ntpid=3

[Politicub]

1. Here here!

At least some are brave enough to speak out.

[cali]

18. Anyone who defends

this, is defending racist cant. Pure and simple. I'm unpleasantly surprised by the number of people defending such racist comments.

[Politicub]

21. It's tragic that not everyone can live up to your standards

You must have a hard time with life.

[cali]

34. Nothing like defending

racist remarks- as long as they come from the left, that is. Attacking me for condemning such remarks doesn't change a thing: They're wrong no matter who does the remarking, and saying so doesn't make me self-righteous- just right.

[hollywood926]

38. This is NOT racism....argh!

I can't believe people still get rudeness confused with racism. Calling someone a nigger or Aunt Jemima or Uncle Tom is NOT racism. It's rude, but it's not racism. Racism is a complicated INSTITUTION that has kept certain segments of our population in their places.

The right has done a brilliant job, as usual, of manipulating the left into getting mad over stupid shit like this so that our attention is diverted when they legislate REAL racism.

Argh!

P.S. There is also a little something called "free speech," which we used to pretend we had in this country. Clearly we have stopped bothering to even pretend.

[Politicub]

43. I don't defend racist remarks

But as I read this thread, I've realized that it's sliding down a slippery slope. Maybe we should yield to political correctness in order not to offend. I'm not being sarcastic.

The GOP uses race as a strategic tool. They are masters of tokenism. It's difficult to discuss that without the conversation devolving into cries of racism and outright name calling.

People are angry and they have short fuses. The character of Uncle Tom is a literary archetype, and in many cases it does apply to current events. I don't think that's racist. Aunt Jemima on the other hand, may be racist on its face. So, with all that said - I see your side of things and this thread is turning ugly.

[cali]

44. Thanks

and double thanks for ratcheting down the rhetoric. I apologize for sounding so high handed. I think it's fair to characterize the use Uncle Tom as a literary archetype, though as several people in this thread have pointed out simply because someone is a black conservative, that doesn't make them an Uncle Tom.

[molly]

2. Some day maybe we'll get beyond color

[sniffa]

4. fat chance

aLthough, a friend of mine (naturaLized citizen) once expLained to me that in certain parts of the worLd, race is never an issue since they have more important things to worry about: staying aLive.

[cubsfan forever]

3. Maybe the Asshats will have

a more difficult time than they thought in their attempt to turn America into a fascist state. I salute Sly's courage!

:kick:

Professor 2

[PROGRESSIVE1]

5. kick

[koopie57]

6. Aunt Jemima

that is wonderful! I'm glad he has the courage to speak out. I've seen scattered posts here and there about rice and bush having an affair and I thought they were just joking around, but on the day she accepted the nomination it sure looked like there was something between them. She blushed and smiled and he treated her like a little flower blossom. I'm wondering if he is getting a hummer in the oval office too. Anyone else get the same feeling? Or am I just late on the uptake?

[peekaloo]

16. While I don't care for the AJ reference I do believe Condi is quite

accomplished on the skin flute. }(

What I found revolting about her "acceptance" speech was her complete and unwavering servitude to all things Boo$h.

[ArthurDent]

7. He shouldn't apologize --

he should resign. Call her bad for the country. Call her bad for national security. But don't give her a hard time about her race.

[CBGLuthier]

8. I hate to admit I think it matters

But is the DJ African-American?

I never liked for people other than African Americans to use those words. I view it as aa judgement call that only they can make.

Even then, it can be an insensitive term but sometimes you got to shake people up.

But there is no defense for the other mentioned DJ's use of wetback.

[sniffa]

9. uncLe tom

uncLe tom has taken on a different meaning than the actuaL tom (thanks to the minstreL shows). he was the compLete opposite of the current denotion - a fighter who answered to god and not masters.

[sui generis]

10. unfortunately I have to agree that they are being used

Certainly neither were competent to do their jobs, ergo . . .

Secretaries of State should come from a diplomatic background, not soldiers.

And eminently unqualified glorified clerks who mastered in irrelevant russian studies should not be picked for a cabinet position dealing with middle eastern conflicts.

I don't give a shit what color they are.

They were/are both entirely unsuited and inappropriate for these critical positions of statesmanship.

[ProfessorGAC]

25. Except sui, That One Of Best SoS Ever Was A General

George Marshall did great things in rebuilding Europe with his idea. Don't forget that he not only administered the rebuilding, not only sold the idea to Congress, but had the idea in the first place as a way to not let the same conditions that led to WWII (after WWI) lead to another conflagration.

He was a solider who thought war was the absolutely last option.

So, being a soldier doesn't preclude one from being a diplomat. It's just that these two sell-outs never had the diplomatic skills to begin with.
The Professor

[slappypan]

11. insulting to Aunt Jemima

Nancy Green, the original Aunt Jemima

The real Aunt Jemima was a harmless domestic worker who survived slavery and was just trying to get by in a racist society. She had nothing to do with starting a war.

[underpants]

12. OH YEAH! Pour some sugar on Meeeee in the name of love..

:bounce:

[Missy M]

13. Right idea, wrong words....

I agree totally with his statement regarding Rice and Powell. I wish he had not used the Aunt Jemima and Uncle Tom names because his statement would have been more effective.

[The Straight Story]

14. What does he want a black role model to do

Kill some whities and talk about being oppressed, or work their asses off and get educated and make something of themseleves?

This reminds me of some folks in my neck of the woods who have been hassled years back for hiring blacks - the reason was that they could have hired some white people in the area instead helping them out, so they were seen as 'those race traitor n---er lovers' (this was a common phrase by some here in the 70's and the business I am talking about was a small manufacturing company which is now defunct). The guy who said this about the company he worked for also moved within two weeks from our neighborhood when a black family moved in.

But back to the theme - what is a black role model supposed to be? Can they only be democrats? Can they only be poor people on welfare but go to church and follow the party line?

You know, I call * a traitor to the white race, a new better term I will use is Uncle Bush. Anytime white folks who are republican hire any blacks, in position only those whities should hold, I will call em Uncle Bushies. If it is a woman he hires I will use 'Sugar Daddy Bush' cause only dumb women wanting some loving and cash would ever aspire to work anywhere in the entire federal goverment when he is on office.

Hell, for that matter, this DJ ought to get all people of color and women to quit their federal jobs or go on general strike, because maybe they are all Uncle Toms and Aunt Jemima's. If I see a fed worker today (not the evil white male variety) I will call them something appropriate for being such bad role models for their race (and their race can only have similar colored role models, read that in my KKK manual once).

Yeah some ranting sarcasm....

[tjwash]

15. He didn't say "Aunt Jemima"...

...he was trying to tell shrub that she "aint jo-mama"

[Zuni]

17. no need to bring race into it when there are so many other things to

get her on.

Cunnilingus Rice is a dishonest, wretched skank

[Phillycat]

23. Oh, dear.

No need to bring sexism into it, either, though. Naw mean?

[trogdor]

19. She's got Betty Crocker hair.

[Liberal Classic]

20. I don't know which is more loathsome

This comment, or the fact that there's only one critical statement in this thread. Despicable.

[David__77]

22. Would you prefer "pustulous traitor to Black people?"

Or perhaps "toady in Bush's minstrel show of pseudo-tolerance?"

[Liberal Classic]

32. Powell and Rice guilty of race treason?

Call them wrong, call them misguided, call them right wing all you want. That's fine. However, I have nothing but contempt for anyone who cries "house boy." Implicit in the concept of the race traitor is the idea that minorities who identify with conservative opinions are not in their right minds. This turns the whole civil rights movement on its ear, and begs the question of whether minorities can be trusted to excercise their sovereign franchise with satisfactory results. We must recognize that minorities who hold conservative opinions are neither children nor dupes, but arrive at their opinions with the same sincerity and conscientiousness as anyone else. To deny them this is to deny them political self-determination, the very thing the civil war and the civil rights movement fought for in the first place. The free excercise of the right to vote includes the possibility that people might vote for causes with which you and I might not personally support. I am equally adamant in support of the right to free expression, and while I agree you have a right to criticize public officials including casting Rice and Powell as Aunt Jemima and Uncle Tom if you desire I personally believe this type of statement to be both factually and morally wrong. So wrong, in fact, that it deserves condemnation in the strongest possible terms.

[ProfessorGAC]

26. Your Derision Is Duly Noted

Yawn! How would you better describe an incompetent syncophant who allows her race to be used as a sales tool for a group of rich guys who don't care about people of color?

Rather than just criticize, educate.
The Professor

[cubsfan forever]

28. Superb riposte, Professor!

The antidote for ignorance is education.

Professor 2

[ArthurDent]

27. here here

I thought progressives hated racism.

[Catfight]

24. Thank god some one will stand behind what they believe to be true.

The guy has his right to his opinion. No apologies are needed, just like Bush has never admitted any mistakes, that's the new American way, just say, "Go Fuck Yourself!"

[miss_kitty]

29. I hate when people are pressured into apologising for telling the truth

In a time of Universal Deceit, Telling the Truth is a revolutionary act.-Orwell

Viva la Revolution!

[The Backlash Cometh]

30. I wish you olde time liberals just stop criticizing the DJ.

If you really believe in Freedom of Speech, then this is going to be on of the by-products.

[ArthurDent]

35. Is that sarcasm?

"If you believe in Freedom of speech" then don't criticize?

Uh...

What?

[The Backlash Cometh]

36. Oh. You can criticize, but I thought you were expecting results?

In that case, carry on.

[hollywood926]

41. Let's all smash our Dixie Chicks CDs!!!!!

This is exactly the argument the nutty hillbillies used when the Dixie Chicks backlash began. "Well, I know they were free to say they were embarrassed that Bush was from Texas, but I have freedom of speech to protest their concerts, too, and ruin their careers!"

Yeeee-HAW.

Sheesh. You can criticize...but calling for his resignation? Give me a fucking break.

[ArthurDent]

45. I wouldn't want a bigotry spewed on my radio station.

So, perhaps I should have called for his firing?

Look, you can say whatever you want, and you'll not go to jail, or be legally barred from seeing your kids, or prevented from voting, etc. But are you suggesting that there are no consequences from your speech? That people should not stop buying your CDs, or turn to another radio station?

If so, find an African American co-worker -- preferably a secretarial type -- and start calling her Aunt Jemima. We'll see if you're right pretty soon.

[hlthe2b]

31. I weigh in only to make an observation on the DU reactions:

which I find fascinating (without making any personal judgement), because I have routinely heard Rice referred to by DUers using very foul sexist and sexual terms (whore, bitch, c__nt, etc.)

Again, I can't help but be fascinated that the latter disparaging references seem to be "socially" acceptable or at least not overwhelmingly "politically incorrect," by so many on DU, yet racial stereotypes seem to trigger an intense reaction.

Interesting observation and I don't quite know what to make of it....
:shrug:

[JeffInRick]

33. Double standards

I don't think double standards serve us well.
If racial slurs are wrong, they're wrong all around.
We lose credibility when our focus shifts from issues to racial and sexist attacks.

I don't think that a gay person has the right to call me a fag either.

[hyphenate]

37. Freepers are taking a fit over this

I love it! Sorry for the cliche, but call a spade a spade. Condi and Powell have been going along with the lying, scheming and other shit of this administration right from the beginning. Black or white, it doesn't matter. They're ALL criminals.

[huskerlaw]

39. Why'd he have to go and

insult Aunt Jemima like that? Seriously, I can see his point. She is being subservient to a hostile administration.

[hyphenate]

40. I checked another article

The DJ is white.

[RetroLounge]

42. Wasn't it Harry Belafonte who called Powell

The House Slave?

I agreed with that.

So you got a problem with Harry's rascism?

Nope, because it's not rascism. Maybe rude. Maybe crude.

But not rascism.

RL