Whoopi, Wake Up & Smell The Racism
In theory I can understand why Whoopi Goldberg wanted to defend her friend, Mel Gibson. Sometimes the most horrific statements can come out of our mouths at the height of our fury. We might not be able to take those comments back, but we can show the people we hurt that we didn’t really mean what was said.
At the same time, though, you got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em. Kenny Rogers never lied, ya’ll. If Mel Gibson had limited his racism to the drunken episode he had back in 2006 when he faulted Jews for every single major war, then it would be much easier to take him at his post-rehab word that he wasn’t some racist jackass. However, now that he’s screamed racial epithets like “wetback” and told his baby mama that her style of dress “may get her raped by a pack of niggers,” I think it’s pretty clear how easily Melly Mel could rock with the Tea Party at Happy Hour.
Some people vehemently feel otherwise:
To that I say:
I don’t defend people harassing members of Whoopi’s staff. She’s right in calling it cowardly and should be upset over it. But as far as people being upset with her comments in general, well, Whoopi, the hell do you expect?
For the record, most of the bloggers I saw tackle this story quoted Whoopi verbatim. They made note that she while she doesn’t defend Mel Gibson’s comments, she doesn’t find him to be a racist based on personal observation.
So we got what you meant, Whoopi. We just don’t understand how even Foxy Brown could hear racism shouted at her but not you.
First, let’s go back to origins of the Mel Gibson is racist theory.
People don’t say things like, “Jews started all of the wars” just because they’re drunk. That’s the sort of opinion you’ve taken time to develop and carry with you. Or maybe it’s the sort of opinion passed on to you. Didn’t Mel Gibson’s father openly question the Holocaust? Wasn’t Mel Gibson himself criticized by members of the Jewish community for their depiction in The Passion of the Christ?
And he just so happens to yell out wild conspiracy theories about Jews in the heat of the moment. I could chalk it all up to coincidence. You know, if I freebased. It doesn’t help Mel’s cause to see he’s been outed for more racist commentary four years later.
This misogynistic bully told his ex-girlfriend that the way she was dressed would lead to her being raped by a pack of niggers. This is a combination of two age old stereotypes about both women and black men. Yet, in Whoopi’s mind, this makes Mel a bonehead rather than a racist. How about we brand him both and celebrate the compromise?
Now because she’s played spades and shared ribs with Mel at her home, Whoopi suggests that she has more insight into the mind of the soon to be ex-movie star and his true feelings on race.
Maybe she does, but she certainly didn’t show any proof of that the other day.
Just because he didn’t call Whoopi a nigger to her face doesn’t mean he doesn’t harbor racist feelings.
As one Huffington Post commenter put it, “I’m sure that Ted Bundy didn’t kill every woman he met either, but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t a serial killer.”
With all due respect to Whoopi Goldberg, whose talent and achievements I greatly respect, she is the same person who once defended her then ex-boyfriend, Ted Danson, for wearing black face.
She’s also the same person who while discussing Roman Polanski last year, said what he was accused of doing (drugging and sodomizing a minor despite cries to stop) doesn’t classify as “rape-rape.”
These sort of stances might make sense to her but they often baffle me.
Whoopi’s point about many of us saying things that can be perceived as racist while driving is one I can acknowledge. In six months my car, Cameka Camry, has been hit twice — once by someone without insurance, and more recently (sigh) by Toby Keith’s dimwitted cousin driving an 18-wheeler.
Did I think the worst? I did. Could it have been perceived as racist? Surely. Do I liken myself to Mel Gibson? No. Why?
Maybe it’s not fair of me to try and separate myself, but I don’t share Mel’s habit of making vile racist statements in anger, nor do I bring pointed views about any particular racial group into my work (and I’m presuming he was sober while filming).
We all make mistakes and we all sometimes say things we wish we hadn’t, but how many times can you be accused of the same thing and it not have any validity to it? Hopefully she’ll get Mel Gibson to answer this question the next time she has him over.
Josie
July 15, 2010 at 7:21 am
how ironic is it that she’ll go to bat hard for a misogynistic, antisemitist, undeniably racist man, and a terrorizing rapist whom no sane parent would want anywhere near their child, but she was so vocal on The (stupid) View, in her disagreement with Elizabeth Hasselcrack’s political stance?
I mean, does she think these sick men are poor, defenseless creatures whom she’s nobly protecting from the delusional backlash of the people? Whoopi needs to check herself and reevaluate the gravity of these men’s actions, and how they affect people.
Josie
July 15, 2010 at 7:24 am
also, I wonder if she thinks it’s the politically correct thing to do, as far as not addressing the big pink elephant in the room goes. I’m probably reaching, but I wouldn’t rule that out as one of her motives, seeing as her crazy ass is amputating her arm in an effort to reach a justification for these atrocities.
sickwitit
July 15, 2010 at 11:40 am
I agree about mel being a jackass AND racist, but i dont see why people are going at whoopi. Aren’t we all entitled to our opinions? If it’s HER “view” why are people questioning it? i also dont agree with people calling her an uncle tom and all the shit. Whoopi has been black her whole life, i’m sure she’s seen more shit than most to recognize racism when she sees it. She can continue to think mel’s not a racist….but i will.
Drew-Shane
July 15, 2010 at 5:30 pm
I totally agree. I hate when people say statements then try to retract or back peddle. Let’s not play the word game or switching syntax. I wasn’t shocked she would defend him. Like you pointed our her views are sometimes too far for me to comprehend but those are her views, what we say?
I think we should compromise and label him both terms of endearment.
RemTheMulatto
July 15, 2010 at 11:40 pm
I think the confusion lies in the definition of racism. Truth be told, lotta black folks cry prejudice if a white guy sneezes in their direction. We’ve played the race card so hard over the years that the lines that white people aren’t supposed to cross have been blurred.. and we’re not all in agreement.
Some feel stereotyping other races is racist. “All black people eat chicken” Is racist to some and just amusing to others. Some feel the words carry the racism. This is hard to admit for me because the word burns my ears every time I hear it, but some white people just think of niggers the same way educated black people think of niggas. Remember Chris Rock’s rant? “I love black people, but I hate niggas.” There’s a difference. I don’t appreciate the word in any respect, but just because u refer to niggas or niggers doesn’t make you a racist. Some people equate ignorance with racism. Just because a white man’s idea of other races comes from the stereotypes he’s heard and the things he sees on TV, he is likely to get the red R. And then there’s discrimination and racial profiling. These are tricky. Can go either way sometimes.
But genuine racism, what racism was to our grand parents was hate. Forget words, ignorance, and stereotypes. Someone is racist if they profess to hate people of a particular race. No confusion there. So the question is, does Mel Gibson hate Jews? Probably not. Does he hate black people? I doubt it.. He may not be too fond of what he perceives to be “niggers” tho. Again, not necessarily synonymous with all black people.
Also, for him to say that Jews caused all the wars in not generally a racist statement. Some people genuinely believe that just the same way people believe America was built from slavery, slaugher, and flat out theft. Hell I believe that one cuz history tells us that’s how it went down.. All races and ethnicities got their dirt and everybody’s got their own opinion about it.
Mia
July 16, 2010 at 10:35 am
You know that one phrase really truly burns me up
“Blacks keep playing race card”
When will people realize that blacks can only play the cards that are dealt to us?
RemTheMulatto
July 16, 2010 at 1:24 pm
@MIA I said virtually the same thing back in 2005 when this white girl said I was playing the race card after I had something to say about black people and how the police treat us. White people will never understand the trials and tribulations of black people. One problem though is that some black people feel we have the exclusive right to judge the negative aspects of our race but want to call it racism when others do it. That’s when racism is less of a genuine struggle and more just a card played to beat the odds in a game.
Sheena
July 16, 2010 at 4:55 pm
There’s only one thing I can say about Mel Gibson because a man no matter the situation should be able to stand for himself. I don’t believe anybody should have to tell us what Mel Gibson MEANT to say. We’ve all heard the saying “a drunken mind speaks a sober heart” and this situation should not be exempt from that thought.
J2201987
July 17, 2010 at 12:31 am
For one thing, there is no “Rehab” for racism. Either you believe in the superiority/inferiority of different races/ethnic groups or not. I can speculate that Melly Mel feels some kind of way about Jews, past and/or present (though, I did think that POTC, at least the way I was taught, was sort of on point. I guess I’ll have to evaluate that later).
As for Whoppi Goldberg, let’s be honest. She is a highly respected, academy award winning Black actress, who’s still very much relevant and possibly still easily catch those movie roles that she wanted. She wants to keep her job. Until most of Holly”weird” catches Mel and throws him under a steam roller (f-a bus), she’ll defend him to no end.
Kevin Luckerson
July 18, 2010 at 6:25 pm
I just came across your site today…It’s refreshing to see that there are more people like me in the world.
As far as racism is concerned, I personally think that WE as black people should stop being surprised when we see racism here in America.
I mean…people…this is a pattern that has been repeating itself for over 400 years.
We see racism from black America towards blacks … conformists and black republicans amoung others…
We see racism from white America towards blacks … average white man who feels he is better than you ….
We see racism from the world towards blacks … blacks are lowest on the totem pole for the human race …
Do you think it’s gonna change? Do you think people want it to change?
NO!!!
Whoopie and the rest of Black America needs to wake up and smell the coffee!!!!
Whites do not like the black race….they just put up with us. They make an exception for a few of us… and they say …. “He’s different” or “He’s smart” or “He’s funny” … and then invite us into their social circle … and this social circle has boundaries of it’s own … believe me.
So stop acting surprised…you know what they think about us.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different result.
Does that mean we are crazy??? Maybe they are right about us….
People … let’s get with the program!!!!
Yours truly,
The Angry Black Man
jayDeeEm
July 20, 2010 at 2:40 pm
my reaction after watching this = “Girl… bye”
charles
July 27, 2010 at 1:04 pm
I have to stop here and comment even though i have much more reading to do! Yes Kenny Rogers never lied and to date those uber opinionated sirens*no pun intended, have yet to heed his calling or even have him on the show! Even an enlightened black man from from an urban ghetto knows Island in the Stream is DOPE! But I digress…Your blog is DOPE. love following you on twitter and i cant think of any writer here in Seattle dope like you. If you ever wanted to be the big fish in a little pond…SEATTLE could use your talents. TheStranger is the coolest thing we have to brilliance and the SEATTLEWEEKLY would be transformed by your words.
But again…who EVER leaves LA?