Posted on 11/23/2004 8:30:55 PM PST by bigbob
“Sly” is not a racist. He just plays one on the radio.
Black women are stereotyped as subservient mammies; black men are derided as “Uncle Toms.” And John Sylvester of Madison’s WTDY radio offers only the lamest of apologies. In fact, he continues to bask in the publicity he’s won by calling Condoleezza Rice an “Aunt Jemima” and Colin Powell an “Uncle Tom.”
Of course, Sly is not the first white entertainer to try to build an audience by turning black people into a minstrel show, but the episode nevertheless speaks volumes about the acceptable bigotry of the left.
For the record, the use of “Aunt Jemima” to refer to black women is not a close call. Back in 2001, when there was controversy over an Aunt Jemima character at a costume party, the head of Milwaukee’s NAACP noted that the use of Jemima was offensive because her image had been used to portray African-American women as “overweight, subservient domestic servants.”
Black leaders in Madison and Milwaukee have denounced Sly’s slur. The Madison Urban League demanded that Sly and WTDY “apologize for using the basest form of racial derision to highlight a political viewpoint.” Enis Ragland, Madison’s affirmative action officer, calls Sly’s comments “racist in essence,” while NAACP president Kweisi Mfume says people who make such remarks "are just as bad as those who hide under sheets and burn crosses." Mfume, who can safely be described as a liberal Democrat, sees Rice as "an example of how far hard work, education and determination can take one to new heights."
To their credit, Sen. Russ Feingold –- a friend of Sly’s -- and Mayor Dave Cieslewicz have also denounced his Jemima remark.
But Sly continues to milk his on-air racism, delivering a mock apology to Aunt Jemima and handing out pancake mix and syrup to members before offering Monday’s back-handed non-apology apology.
All of this comes on the heels of the controversy over Milwaukee radio host Mark Belling, whose use of the word “wetbacks” sparked a furor that resulted in rallies, boycotts, calls for his firing, Belling’s apology and his week-long suspension from the air.
You can easily imagine what would have happened if Belling -– or me, for that matter –- had used the phrase “Aunt Jemima” to refer to a liberal black politician, like, say, newly elected U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore.
Yet despite the denunciations and controversy, Madison is unlikely to react to Sly as strongly as Milwaukee reacted to Belling. And thereby hangs a tale.
Sly insists he’s different from Belling because he’s not a racist, and has been supportive of the black community in the past.
In other words, Sly says some of his best friends are black, which entitles him to use racial slurs -- an interesting vestige of racial paternalism that isn’t found very often outside of progressive citadels like Madison.
In subsequent interviews, Sly has insisted his racial slurs were acceptable because they were directed like “a laser beam” at Rice, rather than a whole group of people. By that logic, would it have been less offensive had Belling called a specific Hispanic leader a “wetback”? Is the “N-word” more acceptable if it’s used to degrade only a single individual?
Sly also insists calling Rice an Aunt Jemima is appropriate because she is, indeed, a subservient black person. But isn’t every member of president’s staff or cabinet is in some sense “subservient” to the president? Why use the word only for blacks? Did Sly roll out any ethnic stereotypes for Jewish staffers? Or Italians?
Of course not. Rice was singled out for caricature because she is black and successful.
Here is a woman of extraordinary talents who has risen to prominence despite the burden of racial discrimination. There is, of course, room to disagree with her politics and her record. But Sly felt the need to drag her down with a shuffling, cartoonish stereotype of a woman who has forgotten her place.
Implicit in his attack is the sneer that because she is black, she could not possibly have achieved such success on her own.
This is the dagger in the velvet scabbard of liberal compassion. Liberals expect gratitude; they have grown accustomed to minority dependency. And they reserve a special malice for those who stray from the liberal plantation.
The message here ought to be clear. Progressives like Sly will support minorities as long as they acknowledge their dependence. If they dare violate the ideological orthodoxies, the protectors feel free to demean them and remind them of their subservient status.
What will happen now? I don’t think Sly should be fired or censored. But words have consequences and the reactions will reveal a great deal about his audience. My guess is that Sly survives -- and even flourishes -- in liberal, tolerant Madison.
I am, however, sure of one thing: Condoleeza Rice is not diminished an iota by the juvenile bigotry of Madison’s airwaves.
Holy cow! For once I find myself agreeing with Mfume!
Rice for President '08
She's definitely got my vote.
Rice for President (or Vice President): a great idea!
alessandrofiaschi wrote:
Rice for President (or Vice President): a great idea!
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Think of it. First Black President, First Woman Presidet, and a Republican to boot. It would be the coup of our history. No one could call conservatives racist womanizers any more.
I don't care about this no name boob whom I never heard of even though I live in the same listening area as his radio station.
Oh, and Rice '08!
Holy smokes, did he really say that? Not that he shouldn't at all!
what's wrong with womanizers?
wardaddy wrote:
what's wrong with womanizers?
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Well, I think the woman needs a place in politics just like a man does. I mean they do make up a little more than half the population.
Nothing is wrong. In fact you're my favorite ;-)
Yes but he got reamed by Alan Colmes no less... what a treat!
That was great, wasn't it? I'm sure he'll have a lot to say about it on his show tomorrow. As with most losers, he'll be bragging about how he really let them have it.
Right. That would stop them...
bless yer heart dear!
(I find this very disgusting)
P.S. Mafree, I love you J
(Too bad I'm old enough to be your Grandfather J )
alessandrofiaschi wrote:
Already now nobody should call Conservatives racists.
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I guess I forgot the sarcasim tag on that post.
Sly on H&C was just what will keep Republican's getting elected......he's a GREAT example of the white DEMOCRAT racists who are keeping most blacks on the Democrat's PLANTATION.....and I believe many Black American's are waking up to this.
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