I don't know why the room didn't close in on Mister Michaels. But he reportedly dropped the mic and just left, never to explain or apologize. At least not yet. I'm dying to hear him say that a few gin and tonics inserted loathsome worldviews into his loving mind. I hear that goes over large.

What am I to think of him? Do I pity his psychology, twisted and crimped in the slowly-smoking wreck of his career? O, the poor, bitter, star. On top of the world for a decade or so, and now he can't get more than stand-up routines? Hell, look at George, Kramer! He's doing KFC commercials, lookin' pasty and pudgy and old. Don't feel so bad. Some people even have to do harder things than acting to sustain themselves. And fame is not even in their heads one bit. Somehow they manage, without morphing into a poster for one of America's darkest chapters, or an author eager to take up the sequel.

Telling people who paid to see you that you approve of both lynching Americans because they have prettier skin than you, as well as using the memory of race-war to continue the hatred that fueled both...wow. Kramer, you just slipped the perfect punchline into your combo delivery. It's a solid 1-2-3, but don't call it a comeback. This low-blow just knocked you to the mat.

UPDATE: As I investigate further, it seems that his use of the N-bomb was in reaction to some hecklers. I don't care what it was in "reaction" to. Because those attitudes expressed are actions in and of themselves. Chosen, hateful, ignorant actions. No rematch. Decision final.

UPDATE: Shorter Earl Ofari Hutchinson:: Black singers and artists use the N-word, so Richards thought it was okay. It's the N--s' fault, of course! Whew.

I know I said I would not form further opinion on this (and feel free to represent if you feel you have more of a right to comment on this than I), but to overlook this rationale would be to aid harm to anyone under the verbal crosshairs of racism. I did not think I would, so soon, be reading a defense of what Michaels did. I certainly did not think I would see a Black man rushing to the rescue of White bigots who reveal themselves! That's rough. When you have the Brown trying to be so White, how can the rest get anywhere? I understand Hutchinson's point--that his people are hurting his own people (and that's really the conversation I said I would not rule on and I won't)--but with his conclusion of letting Richards off the hook while he blames his own people...well. Introducing that line of thought in reaction to this particular incident strikes me as...rather misguided. Again, feel free to argue this, if you like.

PS Earl, Black artists do not use the actual ugly word "N-------." I hate to tell you. They use "Nigga" and there is a huge difference to them. So dig: you and Richards are, right now, the only ones using the actual, spelled-out to-tha-R epithet! The word that speaks of ropes and hate and slavery and White Supremacy. Check yourself, because you throw that word all over your post. And while the point of your essay seems to be to criticize Blacks for thinking they can use that word with impunity...aren't you doing the very same thing? Aw shit, you've gone and nullified your entire post with the hypocrisy, and all that's left is a defense of White bigotry. Good job?

UPDATE: Shorter John Richards: "Those Niggers got what they deserved for interrupting a comic."

Man. I just can't keep up with all these black men defending a White racist. I guess I'll let it go. At least voices from the prominent black community (?) are letting us know what is acceptable when talking about Black people in public. If they interrupt us, that is.