Posted on 12/31/2005 5:11:20 PM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
December 31, 2005 - 19:48.
When a few years ago Rush Limbaugh suggested that the media, hoping for a black-quarterback success story, had over-rated Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb, ESPN fired him from its Sunday night football show.
Can you imagine what the media would have done to Rush had he dared to employ the classically racial "feets don't fail me now" line?
Yet that is exactly what major ESPN personality Chris Berman did a few minutes ago in introducing coverage of this afternoon's Denver Broncos game.
He apparently said it vis a vis white Denver Broncos QB Jake Plummer.
Berman's co-host, black former Denver linebacker Tom Jackson, gave what seemed a rather forced laugh in response.
Odds that Berman, who has described himself as a "New England Democrat," will face any discipline? Slim, IMO.
My sole point is that if Rush ever used the expression "feets don't fail me now", the MSM would come down on him like a ton of bricks.
Is there anyone here who doubts it?
Hmm, sanctimonious... Sorry buddy, I am not feigning piety or righteousness - just stating a fact - and since you stooped to insults – it further proves my point you’re an insensitive, uninformed cretin who doesn’t know black culture or history – do me a favor – go to a black club – walk in and shout out the phrase – PLEASE? Then I won’t have to listen to your closed minded drivel.
True, but it was meant tongue-in-cheek. I might have been a yuppie once, but I'm surely not one now.
I'm betting he won't be doing that. ;O)
Not at all -- I'm just very irritated by folks who attempt to mine racial issues out of everything, especially for really stupid reasons (as Finklestein has done here).
Here's your test - do me a favor – go to a black club – walk in and shout out the phrase - I will promise it will get very uncomfortable.
I wish he would... I know personally that this phrase is a bit touchy to some black folks - believe me!
You know what - I agree with you - there's too much of that.
You're the one who made assumptions about me you have no right to make.
And you have a clear lack of understanding of context and nuance.
"go to a black club – walk in and shout out the phrase"? Yeah, sure that makes sense. Like I said, no understanding of context. I wouldn't go into the same club and shout "fire" either, though I admit to being guilty to saying the word "fire" now and then.
I've bent over backwards to be fair and acknowledge the phrase's racist origins while also trying to point out how these things change over time. Go back and read all my posts. Did I insult you? Did I not acknowledge the racist origins? Would you like to engage me in a polite discussion of what I think were some very fair points I made? Your inflexibility and touchiness will convince no one of anything. And neither will your unwarranted insults.
Please continue your argument with someone else.
"Feets don't Fail Me Now" may seem like a parody of an old "Amos and Andy" show. But how many remember that this grammatical absurdity is exactly what Bill Cosby was admonishing blacks to reject. By the way, in our "bi-lingual" courses in public schools we are turning out what Bill Buckley rightly refers to as "semi-literates in two languages". Before anyone presumes to laugh at endemic black grammar gaffes he should listen (or read, if possible) to many young whites whose grammer and diction are not up to the level of the Hottentots. The fact is that we are becoming a thoroughly non-bigoted, class-free,
non-racial, democratric, public-educated mass of linguistic cretins.
Agree...
But not in this case.
Wow, you reading the same posts as me? Making me the villian is a slick touch - "context and nuance? HA-HA" Go back and read what YOU said - it's pretty clear what lead me to be upset with you.
"Continue your argument with someone else."
Snicker...
Yea, because he'll get a pass on it, that's what really yanks my chain...
I may be a cretin - I had to read the post twice - ;-) - but it is a great post; very true.
I'm glad to hear Stepin Fetchit did well for himself in his later years.
But I've yet to hear any of my critics on this thread take up my challenge.
Does anyone think that if Rush Limbaugh used the phrase "feets don't fail me now" the MSM would not rake him over the coals?
First, Rush wasn't on the Sunday Night Show, it was "NFL Countdown" pre-game show.
Second, it's "Step AND Fetch it" as in a "Go-fer" racial at it's core, but not hardly in this case.
It really is a racist expression. I grew up watching many movies from the 30s and 40s (and I'm not that old). Black men were almost always depicted as frightened simpletons. The agenda of the time was that blacks were not to be treated seriously. A serious black character (especially a black man) would have been too threatening. That is how things were for many years. The fact that some rock band that no one has heard of used a stereotypical expression in a song no one remembers means nothing.
It was Stepin Fetchit:
http://www.dougmacaulay.com/kingspud/sel_by_actor_index_2.php?actor_first=Stepin&actor_last=Fetchit
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.