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Is Kramer a Racist?
Story and Audio by David Madrid
(You need QuickTime to hear audio:
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download)

Just last week I heard that Michael Richards, the actor that played "Kramer" on the hit T.V show "Seinfield" lashed out at some hecklers during his stand up comedy routine at a night club which has stirred up a lot of controversy and as a result he has been labeled a racist.

Although heckling is a part of stand up comedy and in most cases can even make a show better, that was not the case for Seinfield's funny man who shouted out racist remarks to the crowd. Richards was recorded on video saying "50 years ago you would be hanging from a tree with a fork up your a**!" which was targeted at a group of African American's that was said to be interrupting him. This of course was fallowed along with other remarks such as the "N" word, which was used multiple times. What makes things even worse for Kramer is that he wasn't even clever in his delivery; he just sounded angry and belligerent. (Not that he could have pulled off the N" word in a joke) This incident had many Seinfield fans like myself surprised; I could expect this kind of outburst from "Newman" but not from "Kramer".

Since Richards' controversial outburst he has appeared on the "The Late Show" with David Letterman and the Rev. Jesse Jackson's radio talk show, where he has apologized for his actions and defended himself by stating that he is not a racist. His apology on the Late Show seemed sincere to me, he even looked all shook up over the whole ordeal. And despite what others might think, I believe him I don't think he's a racist. Ê

Richards claims that he was angry and lost control. By the looks of that video (which can be found on youtube.com) it appears as if he is having a mental break down or perhaps he had one drink to many. Now I'm not defending his actions or agree with what was said but I do know that folks say things in the heat of the moment that they really don't mean. It happens all the time, whether you're arguing with your spouse or maybe even a family member, the only difference for Richards was that he was caught on tape for the whole world to see.

Now I know what you might be thinking, what Richards was recorded saying was harsh and it was. Ê But people say things in order to hurt or to antagonize others when they feel threatened. It reminds me of when I was a youngster getting into school house scuffles. Being Mexican and having a physical altercation with a black kid, you better believe there were some harsh things that were said. Racist remarks were exchanged from both sides from what I remember, but does that make us racist? Ê Hell, after every thing was said and done we were cool. We settled our beef and no one was labeled a racist.

But Michael Richards dug himself a deep hole, I don't think he will ever be able to get out of. Being white and labeled a racist in Hollywood equals no job. I know what he said was uncalled for, but at least he came forward with an apology. Now I know that Michael Richard's case of being marked a racist is debatable, but there is one thing I know for certain and that is "Cozmo Kramer" is no racist.

Comments On This Story:

Message From: meka, Wed, 31 Oct 2007 1:30 pm

This rationale is bull. If you wrote this David Madrid,you are entitled to your opinion but I disagree with you. He meant what he said. In the heat of the moment people often do say exactly what they mean. They may hold it in and say it more tactfully put people often say exactly what they mean in the heat of the moment. I wonder if this rationale would be supported if Kramer said something about
beating up Latinos and the border and calling them the "w" word several times. If a black person said something about the Holocaust and mention the "k" word several times in a comedic routine would his
anti-Semitism be ignored. I am black myself and I know good and well I would not rush to do it-seeing it as being offensive. If I see this, why wouldn't Jews. I am not recommending any group be subject to that but Kramer came across as being racist-apology notwithstanding. I am not saying his apology was necessarily ungenuine but what he said initially was racist. In this world today, circumstances affecting people cross race,class, and other lines not just one thing. I do not
believe that race is always the only factor in everything(I think race,class,gender and other factors converge to influence things) but race is a factor in far too many instances.We are not in a colorblind
world. Class should not be underestimated but race should not be ignored.

Message From: Jse, Friday, December 1, 2006 2:53 PM

Hey, that pic at the top looks like the guitarist form Lacuna Coil!!

Message From: Sarah (sugar_pill56@hotmail.com), Thursday, November 30, 2006 2:52 PM

I have to beg to differ: People are the most honest in the heat of the moment. No one gave Mel Gibson any defense when he made anti-semetic comments, so why should Michael Richards be given any benefit of the doubt? I'm not saying we should give Gibson the benefit of the doubt, I'm saying that alcohol removes social inhibitions, so if he was drunk, he was be honest. If anything,
Richards' apologizes are simply an attempt at damage control, a public relations move. On the other hand, I think Richards will bounce back just fine, just because, like he said, he is white, and he statements were against Blacks. Let's face it, because Blacks are the object of so much racism, it's only a matter of some public relations and time.

Message From: Harper (amaurice2000@hotmail.com), Thursday, November 30, 2006 2:47 PM

This story is a ridiculous excuse in an effort to support a non-comedic "racist." Comparing what is said between children altercations and professional adults is just like comparing apples and oranges. A professional adult must be responsible for their actions and when people get angry they usually say what they truly mean. That is why there is a distinction between adults and children. Richards was malicious in his delivery and continued to state the ignorance. The only reason Richards ever apologized was because there was a tape, and his publicist suggested he go on Letterman to
make the apology or he would never work in Hollywood again. It would be interesting to see what would have happened if their was no tape. Mel Gibson's comment about Jewish individuals was far less malicious than Richard's, and he is still apologizing and being held accountable. Whenever something is said maliciously about African Americans there is an excuse. To go on national television and
apologize for an act so blatant, is a joke. This article has an elementary point of view...

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