Michael Richards' racial tirade was definitely a surprise, because we do not expect that type of activity from those of us who are responsible for making people laugh.   Comedians and comedic actors are viewed in a different light.  These are people that regardless of their skin color have been embraced by people of color.  Ultimately, for black people if you can make us laugh you kind of get a pass. 

  I am absolutely sure that he is not the only person not of African American decent that holds those values deep within their daily façade.  I venture to say that if Michael Richards had managed to  accompany his racial tirade with some FUNNY this would not be an issue today.  Comedy history is not void of those comedians brave enough to attack racial issues, but at the end of the day those racial comments are more of a social commentary than an attack on one individual race. 

  I thank Michael Richards for at the very least helping to start this dialogue.  The perception is that the racial problems of the 50's and 60's are a thing of the past.   There couldn't be anything further from the truth.  The racial wounds are still open and painful.  In examining the Kramer comments the N-word (for get that) Nigger stands out but the most hurtful comments were the ones referencing lynching.  Even more than the comments themselves I tripped off the shear arrogance that allowed him to bypass his normal filter.

  One question still left unanswered in reference to this issue is the fact that after Michael Richards' racial tirade, he was permitted to perform two more times before he was banned.  Only after the media got involved did the Laugh Factory management make moves to rectify the situation. Why? What would I have done?  The position of most black people is that the brothers that were there were not real black folks.  I hear comments about rushing the stage, or throwing glasses.   I can not say that if I would have been there that I would have done either of those things.  As a black man I always have to consider the repercussions of my actions, how it's going to affect me, my family and my race.   Kramer did not consider the affects of his actions at all. 

  Chris Spencer and Pookie Wiggington run Chocolate Sundaes which is located inside of the Laugh Factory.  I will continue to support them where ever they are.  I do not believe that black people should be penalized for one man's racist views.  

  There is a call among black folks and others to simply ban the word NIGGER.  Paul Mooney has said that he will not use the word.  I will believe that when I see it.  I believe that black people should consider abolishing the word NIGGER, but not as a quick fix to this issue.  The Laugh Factory has banned the word and has imposed fines to anyone that uses it.  I think with us beginning to focus on the word NIGGER we cloud the issue at hand.  Simply addressing the word will only put a band-aid on this racial sore.

  Those of us that are in the word business must always protect our right to say words.  Some words are offensive, some words hurt, and some words heal.  I submit that it is never the word that is the problem, but it is the intent of the author of that word.  The decision to stop using the word NIGGER should be an individual choice.  We must recognize that we have great power in our words.   That power can be used to divide or to unite.  

  So again thank you Michael Richards, Kramer or what ever your name is; thank you for the dialogue, the conversation and the racial slurs, thank you for the wake up call… Good Lookin' out.  But dog if you do it again, the next time you see us we will be acting like NIGGERS.  Much Love and Happy Holidays rp.