Michael Richards, You Need To Call Oprah

There was the gathering of black leaders in LA outside the Laugh Factory saying that it's just outrageous for these kinds of things to be said in this day and age. Richards was summarily condemmed for his comments. As he should have been. Michael, Michael, Michael...Everyone declares his career is done. Finished. Finito. Kaput.
I don't know about that though. I think there is a definite way he can save himself.

It shouldn't be so hard for him to come up with a black relative from somewhere in his family tree...and his hair is kinda wavy so it's slightly believable. He can tell us how it's the hidden secret in his family and he just has always had this self-hatred that comes through at the most inopportune times.
Remember when Don Cheadle, Terrence Howard and Ludacris were on Oprah last year to talk about the movie Crash and she challenged them about their use of the n-word? Remember how they said it was a term of positive endearment? They also said that black foks could use it but white people couldn't. It's like talking about someone's mom: I can talk mess about my mom, but you better not say anything about her. So, if Richards is really part black, can we still be upset for him using the n-word? Not according to most rappers who use the same rationalization, even though somewhere around 85% of rap records are bought by white teenagers.
Yeah, if Michael repents on Oprah, he's all good. They can have a nice chat about how our double standards on use of the n-word make it hard for folks like Michael to know what they can and can't say in public...cuz we all know he'll still say it in private, right?
Comments
The truly distubing thing about Mr. Richards' rant was the "Fifty years ago" comment he started out with. Oh, don't go there. Fifty years ago the Holocost was just winding down. Fifty years ago, a woman could be barred from or shamed out of most career choices. What are you saying!?
Oh, Liz. You ask for two cents, and I so often toss in five. Hope you don't mind. Your provocative and thoughtful writing brings out the spare change in my brain!
I don't think even Oprah could save this one.