Its a racist remark....if the intent is malicious. Which in Richards case is clear...it most certainly was.
The word itself is not necessarily that though. Its a way of identifying a minority, albeit in a really crappy way...and one I would never use myself.
I live in an area that is 25% black and hear the term used way too often for my liking. By both whites and blacks. most of the whites using the term do so without even thinking about it...just the way they were raised. That in no way means they "hate" black people nor are they "hatemongering". Though there certainly are those that do mean it as such.
The blacks use it both ways as well. I hear it alot, though i have to admit the older they are, the less likely you will hear the word used in either way.
Do I think Michael Richards is racist? Nope. I think he snapped and lost control. Being in the business he is in, he has had to of met hundreds of minorities and I highly doubt he hates any of them based on skin color. I guarentee he is sorry about it today, if not the second he calmed down.
this doesn't excuse his actions of course, and this episode will be sure to follow him forever.
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