[rich636]

I suppose NBC had good intentions when they let comedian Mike Meyers and rapper Kanye West do a spot to promote the Hurricane Relief Concert, but in it Kanye spilled forth with ignorance and racism in a time of tradegy.

I wish "famous" people would think about the consequences of their actions before they say whatever pops into their head. This will only incite more unrest.

They cut the last few seconds before it got to the WestCoast broadcast. It's in the last few seconds where he blurts out " and Bush Hates Black People!" I wrote NBC...just furious...I am a big believer in the two-way street of equality and fairness and this just burns me up.

http://zlaka.net/Genmay/kanye%20genmay.net.avi

[feedthehogs]

It seems every Black leader or spokes person is turning this into a race issue, which it should not be.

Having been thru 4 hurricanes and 1 tornado here is S florida, the blame for this terrible situation is as follows:

1. If you live in potential disaster area that has been warned would implode, that's your choice.
2. The residents for not heeding the warning or preparing with supplies.
Food and water don't cost alot.
3. Lack of an emergency plan and complete incompetance by the mayor of NO and the governor of LA. They should stand down but won't.
4. Lack of a plan for emergency communication by the NO police dept for not only themselves but for also hospitals, elderly care facilities, fire dept and city management.

It always takes the government 2 to 4 days to respond to an emergency situation, I know I've been thru 4.

Until then you are on your own. Deal with it and get off the race issue.

[gutter scout]

I know that the ineloquent and poorly-directed rantings of some overpaid rapper carry a lot of weight!

[Sindawe]

Who is Kanye West? Some relation to Adam West? :confused: I've never heard of this person.

As for Mike Meyers, well if this the same Mike Meyers of Austin Power infamy, well.

Hang'ns too GOOD for him...

[rick_reno]

Where is Jesse Jackson? I'd expect to see him, but to date he is being quiet. Maybe there's no money in it.

[rich636]

"I know that the ineloquent and poorly-directed rantings of some overpaid rapper carry a lot of weight!"

I agree with your sarcasm, but in all seriousness, it aired on a major network. All it will take is for a few more racial dividers and opportunists like Jesse and Al to get this ball rolling and it becomes a convenient explanation for those who don't want to think.

Edit: Haha Sindawe no relation to Batman...he's a relatively new rapper who is gaining popularity among the younger demographic...he's known for throwing temper tantrums during interviews and award ceremonies when they don't go his way.

[Sindawe]

Jackson questioned why Bush has not named blacks to top positions in the federal response to the disaster, particularly when the majority of victims remaining stranded in New Orleans are black: "How can blacks be locked out of the leadership, and trapped in the suffering?"

"It is that lack of sensitivity and compassion that represents a kind of incompetence."

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Russell Honore, head of the military task force overseeing operations in the three states, is black. His task force is providing search and rescue, medical help and sending supplies to the three states in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050902/ap_on_re_us/katrina_jackson_hk4

Leave it to Ol' Jessie to grandstand on an issue of grave import. What a frelling parasite :banghead: but then, true parasites are subtle predators with Honor. Unlike that contemptuous carpetbagger.he's known for throwing temper tantrums during interviews and award ceremonies when they don't go his way You mean he's the new Axl Rose? :neener: How nice....

[c_yeager]

Does anyone else find it slightly odd that black community leaders are actually espousing the notion long-held white supremicist notion of a "white man's burdon"? Saying that it is somehow the "white man's" job to care for black people is dangerously close to actually saying that black people are inferior. I wouldnt want my 'community leaders' publicly saying that i needed a government teet or i would starve to death.

[gutter scout]

Yeager you hit the nail on the head.

[El Rojo]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168387,00.html

Kanye West Rips Bush at Telethon
Friday, September 02, 2005

NEW YORK — It began, fittingly enough, with jazz from New Orleans natives Harry Connick Jr. and Wynton Marsalis. But "A Concert for Hurricane Relief," a heartfelt and dignified benefit aired on NBC and other networks Friday night, took an unexpected turn thanks to the outspoken rapper Kanye West (search).

Appearing two-thirds through the program, he claimed "George Bush doesn't care about black people" and said America is set up "to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off as slow as possible."

The show, simulcast from New York on NBC, MSNBC, CNBC and Pax, was aired live to the East Coast, enabling the Grammy-winning rapper's outburst to go out uncensored.

There was a several-second tape delay, but the person in charge "was instructed to listen for a curse word, and didn't realize (West) had gone off-script," said NBC spokeswoman Rebecca Marks.

Immediately after the airing was over, Marks said it was undetermined how much, if any, of the tirade would be included in the taped West Coast feed three hours later.

The host was NBC News' Matt Lauer, who invited viewers to contribute to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund (search) by phone or on the Web. Some 18 presenters performed musical numbers or gave information on the tragedy's huge scope.

Louisiana native Tim McGraw (search) teared up as he told Lauer, "I know the citizens that weren't affected by this directly are gonna stand up and do good things for people." He sang two songs, then became the first of the evening's stars to sign a Gibson Les Paul Special guitar to be auditioned online.

Faith Hill (search), a Mississippi native, sang "There Will Come a Time," with the inspiring lyrics, "The darkness will be gone, the weak shall be strong. Hold on to your faith."

New Orleans son Aaron Neville performed Randy Newman's soulful "Louisiana 1927" with the memorable chorus, "they're trying to wash us away, they're trying to wash us away."

New York governor George Pataki presented the Red Cross with a check for $2.5 million and promised, "This great state will do far more."

"In terms of property damage," said actress Hilary Swank, "the estimate is at least $26 billion in insured losses and perhaps twice that in uninsured losses over a 90,000-square-mile area — approximately the size of Kansas."

Other speakers included Lindsay Lohan (search), Eric LaSalle, Glenn Close, Richard Gere, John Goodman and Leonardo DiCaprio (search).

Comedian Mike Myers was paired with West for a 90-second segment that began with Myers speaking of Katrina's devastation. Then, to Myers' evident surprise, West began a rant by saying, "I hate the way they portray us in the media. If you see a black family, it says they're looting. See a white family, it says they're looking for food."

While allowing that "the Red Cross is doing everything they can," West — who delivered an emotional outburst at the American Music Awards after he was snubbed for an award — declared that government authorities are intentionally dragging their feet on aid to the Gulf Coast. Without getting specific, he added, "They've given them permission to go down and shoot us."

After he stated, "George Bush doesn't care about black people. Please call _" the camera cut away to comedian Chris Tucker.

Concluding the hour a few minutes later, Lauer noted that "emotions in this country right now are running very high. Sometimes that emotion is translated into inspiration, sometimes into criticism. We've heard some of that tonight. But it's still part of the American way of life."

Then the entire ensemble performed "When the Saints Go Marching In."

In a statement, NBC said, "Kanye West departed from the scripted comments that were prepared for him, and his opinions in no way represent the views of the networks.

"It would be most unfortunate," the statement continued, "if the efforts of the artists who participated tonight and the generosity of millions of Americans who are helping those in need are overshadowed by one person's opinion."

Friday's program was the first of several TV benefits planned through next weekend.

NBC and the five other major commercial broadcast networks, along with PBS, plan to unite next Friday for a special. The same night, BET will air a benefit. And on Saturday, Sept. 10, the MTV networks will air a special.

[rich636]

Yeah C_Yeager I see where you're coming from. People have to remember that some leaders are self proclaimed, and some are true leaders as defined by their actions. Look at what Lt. Gen. Russell Honore is doing, pounding the pavement in NO, gettings things back on track with the rescue effort. While Jesse is antagonizing and complaining as his contribution. That is a very real contrast of a black leader and a "black leader" in my opinion.

[Gene Beasley]

Thanks for posting the video. Being on the Left Coast, I would have missed it. I was watching Mike Meyers, wondering what was going through his mind (using his various accents); his eyes seem to be saying ***? mate.

[c_yeager]

People have to remember that some leaders are self proclaimed, and some are true leaders as defined by their actions. Look at what Lt. Gen. Russell Honore is doing, pounding the pavement in NO, gettings things back on track with the rescue effort. While Jesse is antagonizing and complaining as his contribution. That is a very real contrast of a black leader and a "black leader" in my opinion.

Here is whats really sad about this.

How much would you be willing to bet that when its all said and done, Jesse Jackson will continue to raise money and be considered a triumphant and courageous leader, while Genereal Honore is considered an uncle Tom because he works for the government?

[El Tejon]

c yeager, thank you for saying what I've lack the courage to say.

How moronic for the "black leaders" to play into racist stereotypes! Why can't they use this example to teach self-reliance to "their people" instead of sitting on the couch and whining for more handouts? :confused:

[R.H. Lee]

rapper Kanye West THAT'S who that was. I heard the guy talk but have NO IDEA what he said.

The so-called 'black leadership' are some of the worst racists IMO. They constantly down talk their own people for the purpose of keeping them dependent and keeping themselves in power.

[Marshall]

Jackson's just a opportunist and only out for himself at the expense of others. He'll go to hell.

[1 old 0311]

Jackson, true to form, won't show up till the money arives. He has operated this way for 30 years.


Kevin

[Dannyboy]

That's pretty funny. Kanye West was just on the cover of Time magazine, I think, who pronounced him as Hip-Hop's Class Act. That's rich. Just another uneducated piece of trash.

[gc70]

That's okay, you should probably just ignore the rantings of some ignorant comedians.

OTOH, the Congressional Black Caucus, along with members of the Black Leadership Forum, National Conference of State Legislators, National Urban League and the NAACP (http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/09/02/black.lawmakers.ap/index.html) seem to be singing from the same hymnal.

[armoredman]

Rap isn't "music", to me. Anything where you have to bleep every third word to play it on the radio is garbage.
This racist vomitus is exactly what I expect to spew forth from people who produce nauseating filth as an industry. We are terrible, they are great, we owe them everything, put X race in charge, regardless of experiance, abilities, or initiative. Skin color was supposed to be eliminated as a barrier in 1965, but now it is used to promoted reverse racism, but "proving" we didn't elect enough, promote enough, install enough, elevate enough of X race, or Y race, no matter what. That disgusts me, and anyone else who has to deal with this PC puke. I don't care what color you are - can you do the job! Inside the prison walls where I work, there are only two colors - brown and orange - and I am prejudiced against orange....

[wingman]

So sad every issue turns into a race issue, get the job done, keep your mouth
shut and complain at a later date, we have so many people there life work is
seeing problems where none exist.

If any complaint at all it is lack of planning.

[Too Many Choices!?]

A hip-hop beat maker(rythms with the bass ;) )for Jay-z, Fabolous, etc, etc,; Has been,"Behind the scenes", of the Hip-hop community for a long time. He recently came to light, after dropping an album,"College Drop-out", which featured many really good songs and collaborations with current rapper, like Lucdacris(the old Pepsi add guy Bill O'Riley(sp) was dissin' along with Brittany Spears). Kanye was in a bad car accident and recorded the song,"Throught the Wire(or Fire I can't recall :confused: ), while his mouth was wired shut and he could barely speak. The song was an instant hit, along with the fact that he had many connections from being a beat maker and he blew up over night. He recently did a great song called,"Gold Digger" that I believe is on the,"Ray", soundtrack with Jamie Fox as Ray Charles(with an uncanny simmilarity in singing , motions, and facial exressions. SEE THIS ;) . I don' t excuse the comment as anything more than an oppinion that is shared by many people that come up from nothing in an Urban Environment. Don't judge a man till you walked a mile in his moccasins.

PS: I believe to a very small extent, the,"Temper Tantrum", Kanye threw was righteous indignation, as the Industry, simply did not want to recognize his talent. But now it is not to be denied, even with his political opinions :).



Too Many Choices!?

[johnster999]

On a positive note,

The words of self-appointed black leaders continue to decline in relevance in the US. More and more people are seeing them for what they are. I think that's a good thing.

999

[Too Many Choices!?]

Since when is a rapper a Black Leader :banghead:

I guess that makes the Dixie Chicks, White leaders :D

[longeyes]

Four decades of "Great Society" and trillions spent on social welfare and we still have people talking as if this is 1865, not 2005. Frankly, the nation--if it is to endure--can no longer keep playing the same political cards. The answer is not more compassion, it is less. New Orleans, frankly, was in big trouble well before Katrina hit.

I have mixed feelings about the efficacy, and direction, of Bush's Presidency, but blaming Bush, to me, just represents the slide back toward medievalism and tribalism that we have been encouraging since the "do it in the road" days of the '60s. Villagers used to blame Satan for everything that went wrong; now the villagers--are you listening, Hillary?--blame Bush. For some big chunks of society there hasn't been much progress in the last six hundred years.

[No_Brakes23]

Any rapper who glorifies "conflict diamonds" has no right condemning others for their insensitivity towards blacks. West is nothing more than a hypocritical child.

I am more than willing to accept the possibility that Bush has not acted as quickly or thoroghly as could, but he is hardly the sole villian in this disaster.

But hey, it is easier to blame the man than to accept responsibility for one own actions.

[rich636]

In my mind it seems that people like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have made an industry out of racism. It is in their best interest to stoke the flames of racism and divide, otherwise they become irrelevant and are out of work.

[Bruce H]

When the only gang that is allowed to exhist in the United States is the normal everyday citizen we will be on the right tract. I would be like Mark Twain in reading a certain persons obituary could bring a smile. Kanye West comes to mind.

[M-Rex]

A hip-hop beat maker(rythms with the bass )for Jay-z, Fabolous, etc, etc,; Has been,"Behind the scenes", of the Hip-hop community for a long time. He recently came to light, after dropping an album,"College Drop-out", which featured many really good songs and collaborations with current rapper, like Lucdacris(the old Pepsi add guy Bill O'Riley(sp) was dissin' along with Brittany Spears). Kanye was in a bad car accident and recorded the song,"Throught the Wire(or Fire I can't recall ), while his mouth was wired shut and he could barely speak. The song was an instant hit, along with the fact that he had many connections from being a beat maker and he blew up over night. He recently did a great song called,"Gold Digger" that I believe is on the,"Ray", soundtrack with Jamie Fox as Ray Charles(with an uncanny simmilarity in singing , motions, and facial exressions. SEE THIS . I don' t excuse the comment as anything more than an oppinion that is shared by many people that come up from nothing in an Urban Environment. Don't judge a man till you walked a mile in his moccasins.

PS: I believe to a very small extent, the,"Temper Tantrum", Kanye threw was righteous indignation, as the Industry, simply did not want to recognize his talent. But now it is not to be denied, even with his political opinions .

Or...he's just a self-centered, bigoted, racist.

[rich636]

Well John Rocker got reamed for making racist remarks on air...I'm sure Kanye will too...not.

Edit: Rockstar, if Clyde is the Orangutan then I think you're stooping to the level of Kanye...I know it's angering when people spew utter crap out of their mouth but don't let it pull you in. Stay above the fray.

[Sleeping Dog]

you should probably just ignore the rantings of some ignorant comedians

Good idea. But, when he went on his rant, I bet the fundraisers' switchboard went dark as New Orleans. I bet there were lots of hang-ups at that time.

"Ignorant" is right.

Regards.

[odysseus]

As far as Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, I think people should only expect them to bring up the race issues on anything. Bottomline, it's their job. If they didn't do this negative tact, they would not have the support of those people who believe this nonsense - to which they depend on. Sharpton and his stretch limo and $thousand suits is the most contrasting.

I can't remember the reporter, but he and Sharpton got into a one-on-one argument the other day wherby the reporter was basically angry at Sharpton's "blacks are being victimized on purpose" tact. The reporter basically said the truth, this is not a racial issue - this is an issue of poverty and was shaking his head and nearly laughing at Sharpton. It happens that it effected a largely african-american community. Sharpton looked shocked and basically ignored this and just continued on his bull about this being a racial issue.

I saw the Kayne rapper do his ignorant rant. There is still a lot of mistrust and hatred between some in the black community; something which will take time to address. However the media seems to keep giving time to this crap. I tell you one thing, I have talked to african-americans who hate it when Sharpton, Jackson, or any of these rap "artists" try to talk like they represent "black people". In contrast, is there anyone who represents all "white people? Why does the media keep this crap going?

[kbr80]

I know that the ineloquent and poorly-directed rantings of some overpaid rapper carry a lot of weight!

Acutally, it will incite folks, the folks in NO, and folks that think society, whites, owe them something. Dont discount that, it will incite people.

[Dionysusigma]

Well, John Rocker got reamed for making racist remarks on air... I'm sure Kanye will too (not). Don't you know that you can't possibly be racist, nor be accused of racism, unless you're white? :confused:

:banghead: :rolleyes: :banghead: :cuss:

[Too Many Choices!?]

His quote,"And Bush Hates Black People",is his opinion. You can be mad at the fact that he is a popular figure in an Americans sub-culture who stated his opinion on air and his comments MIGHT cause some uproar in like-minded people, but AGAIN,only from those inclined to become uproarious from such a statement in the first place(ie not just Black poeple, anybody that hates Bush without need for added fuel):banghead: ....

Think Twice Post Once

PS: Many Whites(not all) in America DO OWE BLACKS something, The ability to be treated equally, and yes I am smart enough to see it as a two way street :neener: ...

[rich636]

"Wow Now when a person claims to hate an individual it is Racism, Riiiiiight..."

Hey bud what thread are you reading?

Kanye didn't claim to hate Bush. He claimed Bush doesn't care about black people. It became a race issue.

To accuse someone of racism without any reasonable information to back it up is slanderous and racist in and of itself. He is presuming since Bush is white and Republican he doesn't care about blacks.

Kanye is the same one who at the Live 8 concert in Philly accused the US of creating AIDS to eliminate Africans in Africa.

[longeyes]

Some people will only be happy when we have another civil war in America. They know who they are.

[AF_INT1N0]

Too Many Choices!?

Don't judge a man till you walked a mile in his moccasins.
+1 that way you're a mile away and you have his moccasins.. :D :D

But seriously how much did that child's outburst cost the relief effort???
What a spoiled little child.. :(

c_yeager---
yes, yes and yes..

I would've said more but c_yeager took all my points.

I've often wondered why the many hurricanes in florida didn't produce the unheaval we've been seeing..

Also on a side note. I was talking to my mother today..(an old Air Force Medic) and she was saying how the services all maintained a war readiness store at Shepperd, Kiesler, Tyndall,...Every state had one. the point is she had to check the stores every year and make a servicability decision. Now they don't have them anymore because they cost too much. Funny how the same jerks in Congress that are complaining about how these supplies are not available in time are the Jerks that cut funding to these to fund some special project (probably a welfare type program) :banghead: :banghead:

[CAnnoneer]

What do you expect him to say? Rappers make millions selling violence, discontent, racism, fear, misogyny, angst, and wrath.

What do you expect Jackson/Sharpton to say? They make their millions selling racism, discontent, leftism, statism, fear, wrath, and marxism.

:mad:

[kbr80]

You should have heard our favorite EX congress person, Carol Mosley Brown, on CNN a few minutes ago. Talk about Racism, according to her, she implied this very stong, that refering to the NO folks as refugees, looters or rioters is racist.

[Matt G]

But seriously how much did that child's outburst cost the relief effort???
What a spoiled little child.
That's the best point made here.

I don't know GW Bush, but I seriously doubt that he has any animosity for black people. His cabinent appointments and other actions don't seem to support that.

But even if he conducted White House staff meetings in a white hood, West's outburst hurt the national effort to pull together some support for relief. West hit my radar screen pretty recently-- I don't think I've heard him perform yet, even-- but I had been mildly impressed with the fact that he was getting critical acclaim as a performer, despite the fact that he refused the "gangsta" image. (He wears preppy clothes on stage, and doesn't claim any real "street cred.")

[JohnBT]

Heard his music, I've never even heard of HIM. My loss I suppose. :rolleyes:

John

[Marshall]

What do you expect him to say? Rappers make millions selling violence, discontent, racism, fear, misogyny, angst, and wrath.

What do you expect Jackson/Sharpton to say? They make their millions selling racism, discontent, leftism, statism, fear, wrath, and marxism.

Well look at their audience.

[GunGoBoom]

LOL. Mike Meyers was reading from a script, and that no-name dude was making it up as he goes - Mr. Meyers didn't quite know what to do or say when the other dude blurted out "Bush doesn't care about black people" - he look surprised somewhat. That is comedy.

Let's see, no full house, no 3 of a kind, no pairs, no flush, no straight. Hmmm, time to play.....

THE RACE CARD!

[Zundfolge]

I think I've figured out why all of the sudden all this "Whitey didn't get down there fast because he don't care about the black people" crap has come out.

Basically we saw lots of bad black people, acting out (looting, stories of rape and murder at the Superdome, etc) and black folk outside of NOLA got all nervous thinking that "OMG, Whitey is going to think we're ALL like that!"

So they fell back on the one note song they've been singing since the early '60s "The black man's troubles are all because of whitey's hatred of us" as a means to deflect the shame they felt for what a small minority of their community was doing.



Of course this is also another excuse to throw a rock at a Republican president. :rolleyes:

[pete f]

the non-rev jesse jackson. (my father is a Rev. I can not put the two in the same category) was on TV last night comparing the treatment of the people under a highway overpass to the "bowels of a slaver ship" and stating that it was the "racism of america that caused this" not some storm, not their unpreparedness, not their unwillingness to leave when told to. when he went in to talk to the people some lady (black) just ripped him a new one and was yelling that he needed to get his big money suit out of there and get out of the way so the people working could get in and out.

Jesse Jackson is very close to losing his support in the community, lets hope he loses it faster now.

Sharpton is only given creds by the media. No one outside of MSM thinks he speaks for anyone in america.

[Cosmoline]

Where is Jesse Jackson? I'd expect to see him, but to date he is being quiet. Maybe there's no money in it.

Just as surely as the floodtide brought in deadly snakes and disease, it brought in the good Rev. Dr. Jackson. He rose up from the blackwater near the Superdome, snatched an infant and found the nearest camera.

[Stevie-Ray]

PS: Many Whites(not all) in America DO OWE BLACKS something, The ability to be treated equally, and yes I am smart enough to see it as a two way street Sorry, but that's owed to whites also. Indians and Latinos, too. Witness the absolute crime of affirmative action which calls for nothing but quotas, and NOT the best people for the job. Back in the 80s, when we were all looking for jobs, there was a lot of "Sorry, but we're hiring only blacks at this time."

[XLMiguel]

All you race-baiters and socialists write that down - "life isn't fair". Poor people, regardless of race, whether they're poor due to bad luck and circumstance or their own laziness and sloth, tend to get the short end of the stick and end up at the end of the line when things get wonky. While I'm glad things are sorting out, and I'm certainly not saying things couldn't have been handled better, the gov't response has been badly mismanaged. There's a bit of truth in "God helps those who help themselves", and those who wait for others to do it for them may end up waiting a long time. Boo hoo, Life ain't fair.

However, to blame the government/Bush for he results of an act of God, and calling it "racism" without considering the demographics of the population where the storm came ashore is simply rediculous. Disasters are not fun, comfy, or convenient, and they aren't choosey about where and who they strike.

As I sit cool and comfy in NoVA watching the 'nooz', it's prety clear that the storm victims seem to be sorting out into two pretty distinct groups, independent of race, thought there do appear to be some pretty strong trends (bearing in mind that the MSM is by no means empirical or balanced in their coverage). One group is trying to dig/swim/paddle their way out to get proactive in improving their lot, the other group is scraming 'come get us out of here . . .", ". . . bring us some food", "you're treating us like animals" . . . .

Government, by its very nature, is big (clumsy & inept), dumb (generally taking a lowest common denominator approach to everything), and slow (due to a concensus-based risk-adverse approach to decision making and planning). If you depend on the government for your well being, you are subject to a lowest common denominator sustenance (even if being 'poor' in the US is better than being poor anywhere else in the world). That's how it is, to think that you are 'entitled' to a better quality of life with no effort on your part is delusional. If the government (political system?) is to blame for anything, it should be for allowing people to become dependent on it in the first place. Even so, Life ain't fair, and never will be, regardless of race.

[toivo]

Racist diatribe on NBC..Hmm... We must not work out of the same dictionary. West accuses the media and George Bush of racism, but he doesn't accuse "white people" of anything except getting treated better by the media. I don't think that qualifies as racism.

I think his comments were inappropriate for the occasion, and I think he clearly has a problem with emotions and self-control. But I don't see the racism, folks. An accusation of racism isn't "reverse racism" unless it's something like "All white people are racists." That isn't even close to what he said.

[JohnBT]

"he doesn't accuse "white people" of anything except getting treated better by the media."

Yeah, but we like the special attention and we're all racists because we let it continue. You have to know how to read between the lines. :scrutiny:

Actually, that's funny - 'doesn't accuse white people' is a great phase to use in this discussion. Like all white people are the same and get treated well by the media. Ever watch the nightly news or those goofball shows like COPS? They seem to focus on the kinds of white people the media doesn't much like - rednecks, white trash, hillbillies...you know, those kinds of white people. ;)

We were rushing around trying to wrap things up at the office late Thursday afternoon and my boss asked me if all the looting in NO was being done by African-Americans. I told her the media was probably picking on them, but that NO was in fact 2/3 A-A and much of the city was mired in deep poverty even worse than what I've seen in east coast cities. I think the income statistics will bear this out, but a large part of it is a low-income zone in any case.

Working with disabled/poor/unemployed/etc folks over the past 3 decades, we know the financial challenges they typically face. I reminded her that the hurricane hit at the end of the month when the unemployment/SSI/welfare money has been gone for a week or more and a bus ticket to get to the doctor is a valuable item. Do I need to point out that my boss is A-A and was concerned about the endless stream of grinning looters being shown on the nightly news?

You know, there are complaints during and after every disaster - most of them saying the government didn't do enough. Nothing new in NO.

Anyway, Mr. West sounds like a fine human being whose well thought out approach to life will take him far. ;)

John

[rich636]

Toivo I'm reposting one of my responses for you because I'm not sure you really read the whole thread.

"Kanye didn't claim to hate Bush. He claimed Bush doesn't care about black people. It became a race issue.

To accuse someone of racism without any reasonable information to back it up is slanderous and racist in and of itself. He is presuming since Bush is white and Republican he doesn't care about blacks."

You can't go around accusing whites of racism simply because you are black and they are not doing what you want them to do.

That in and of itself is racist. Rather than the making a rational judgement (like maybe it would take a while to mobilize a chain of command and thousands of troops etc) he assumes it's because Bush doesn't care about blacks because he is a white republican leader. That's making a predjudicial and racist judgement.