Quote:
Originally Posted by PR3SSUR3
This sounds a bit like the Ron Atkinson controversy in the UK, when 'Big, Racist' Ron declared a black footballer to be a "fucking lazy thick nigger" when he thought the microphone was off. Although hardly a commentator of any worth to begin with (his wheezy adoration of former club Manchester United is the abiding memory), there were many who seemed to leap to his defence for reasons best known to themselves ("Oh, he didn't mean it!", "He's not racist!" etc.).
The bottom line in all this is, famous people and people whose words are heard by millions have an obligation reflected in their pay packets to keep to acceptable standards - it makes sense that those standards include not using the characteristics of black women's hair to connect with prostitution. Even if this was intended for adult audiences only, there is no escaping the blatant use of directed racism in his insult.
Only the ideallists would wave the whole thing away as an overreaction, because 'it's what he does'... but if this kind of thing is allowed to flourish and go unpunished, what kind of message does it send?
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being from the uk i can add something here. ron atkinson had been previously the manager of wimbledon f.c. whilst there he signed many more black players than any other club would ever have dreamed of. at the time a lot of the champions of big rons cause were black players who new from many years of character association that he was non racist but occasionally stupid. so, just thought i'd chip in and demonstrate how whitey isn't always pure evil.