MSNBC: ‘Spike Lee got really uppity.’
By on Jun 6th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
MSNBC: ‘Spike Lee got really uppity.’
Today on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, reporter Courtney Hazlett commented on the recent fight between Clint Eastwood and Spike Lee. Talking about Lee, Hazlett used the racially-loaded term “uppity” to describe the African-American film director. From this morning’s segment:
HOST: What’s going on here?
HAZLETT: What’s going on here is, during the Cannes Film Festival — I don’t know if you remember this — but Spike Lee got really uppity about Clint Eastwood and about how there were no African-Americans involved in the filming of “Flags of our Fathers” or “Letters from Iwo Jima.”
UpdateHazlett has put out a statement apologizing for her comment: "Today on MSNBC TV's 'Morning Joe' I chose my words poorly in describing the relationship between Clint Eastwood and Spike Lee. I take my responsibilities as a journalist seriously and know that words can have a strong impact. I sincerely apologize to Spike Lee and to the viewers for my comments."
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radically-loaded
- - Umm, I think you mean, racially-loaded,
June 6th, 2008 at 2:36 pmFrom the Dana Perino School of Hoping Your Looks Cover the Gibberish Coming from Your Mouth.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:39 pmBeat me to it, badmoodman. A little proofreading around here, please!
June 6th, 2008 at 2:41 pmGeez — why didn’t Hazlett just say “Spike Lee just doesn’t know his place”?
I daresay that Spike Lee is free to make whatever observations he sees fit. Now, whether Clint Eastwood deliberately went “all white” with those two films or whether it just turned out that way is another issue.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:41 pmAnd right after she described Lee in those terms Courtney Hazlett concluded her comments by mumbling “Yassuh, Boss” & shufflin’ along to the soon-to-be unemployed talking head area of MSNBC studios. In my dreams.
Christ.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:41 pmlol
June 6th, 2008 at 2:44 pmThat’s deep down dumb.
Damn.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:44 pmhere’s to uppity.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:49 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
I daresay that Spike Lee is free to make whatever observations he sees fit. Now, whether Clint Eastwood deliberately went “all white” with those two films or whether it just turned out that way is another issue.
It would be worth researching the makeup of the armed forces at the time of Iwo Jima. The Army was still segregated until after WWII and the Marines didn’t integrate until 1951. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to learn that the American forces at Iwo Jima were devoid of Black personnel.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:49 pmHere’s a link to an interview with Eastwood on this.
http://film.guardian.co.uk/ interview/ interviewpages/ 0,,2283921,00.html
This doesn’t seem like a big deal to me….the way the woman said it didn’t suggest she was race baiting IMHO. Insensitive yes, racist? Don’t think so.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:50 pmpresident obama.
i like those words.
^
June 6th, 2008 at 2:50 pmI don’t like the use of “uppity”, but, I dislike what Glen Beck did last night even more.
While his clueless guest ranted nonsense, Beck donned a hat, the kind with ear flaps, that had a hammer and sickle within a red circle on it and underneath that “Obama ‘08″.
I am not normally violent, but, if I ever have the chance to deck that creep I will.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:52 pmKeltoi Says:
good link.
spike reminds me of sgt. waters from “a soldier’s story”.
he thinks he’s doing good but he ain’t.
*
June 6th, 2008 at 2:52 pm4. misshusseinmolly
Eastwood states that he tries to remain historically accurate to the stories he tries to tell. Apparently, the was one company of black soldiers on Iwo Jima that were responsible for munitions and weren’t involved in the raising of the flag on Mt. Suribachi.
I really don’t believe Eastwood to be a racist…his explanation seems to hold up when you go back through his catalog of films he directed.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Courtney is the first one out of the gate and many many others will follow. This is just the beginning of more future racist comments to come. With the unemployment rate so how I’m sure their will be many people willing to earn a pay check for making hateful racist comments. Let’s see how the DNC handles this attack on their nominee as they saw no problem with the attacks on Hillary and her daughter.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:53 pmForgot to include the link…
June 6th, 2008 at 2:54 pmCan’t seem to include the link…
http://film.guardian.co.uk/ news/ story/ 0,,2284235,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront
June 6th, 2008 at 2:54 pmCourtney, that was mighty white of you.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:56 pmSheeesh!
We all need to contact MSNBC and express our view about Courtney Hazelett using such an obvious racist term.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:56 pmSorry for cluttering the thread…
Anyway, are we surprised at the racism apparent in the reaction to this flap between Lee and Eastwood at all? They stoke the fires of this kind of thing by promoting racist and sexist “controversies.” I use parenthesis because they always drum up things like this…total tabloid journalism, the American Mass Media.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:56 pmI’m glad to hear Spike Lee said something to Eastwood about this. The African American experience in WWII (not to mention just about everything else) is totally whitewashed in Hollywood. It’s especially painful given all the hero worship that U.S soldiers receive in the movies, and it’s like Black people didn’t even exist, when in fact their contributions were enormous.
Having been up till ungodly hours lately, I’ve had the distinct misfortune of Seeing “Morning Joe”. It’s brutal. This morning before I turned it off, Joe and some Republican “strategist” were going on and on about how the smartest thing Obama can do is to put Hillary on the ticket. You could almost see them salivating.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:57 pmEastwood’s point is that his films were about the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima (the famous photo was a POSED recreation of theactual event, by the way) and that no African Americans participated in that moment. If he had inserted a ‘token’ black actor, he would have been distorting history.
This is a valid point. Let’s say the director of “Glory” about the first all-black Civil War company decided to insert a white actor in the troop, for politcal correctness? End of argument.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:58 pmI think this one is a bit ridiculous. I use that term sometimes and it doesn’t have anything to do with race. Even the link in article to the urban dictionary doesn’t say it’s a racial term. If I was on TV I would want my own 10 second delay and a team of PC advisors to review my dialogue to make there was no possibility any group in the world could not possibly be offended by any of my words. It almost seems impossible. I don’t think Eastwood was being racist in making the movie either. This reminds of when Mos Def was on Bill Maher. His heart was in the right place, but he didn’t have a clue what he was talking about.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:01 pmHow would anyone here suggest organizing a MSM blackout day (pun NOT intended!)?
I mean, the real despicable way the coverage is presented, the penchant for focusing on controversies - usually one’s that they help propagate - and just the whole atmosphere of what goes for journalism today really should be protested on a larger scale than e-mails to networks etc.
How about settling on a day where we just shut them off? I mean, it could be that the number of people tuning out would amount to a drop in the bucket, but what if it could be widespread enough to register with the media conglomerates?
June 6th, 2008 at 3:02 pmKeltoi Says
June 6th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
This doesn’t seem like a big deal to me….the way the woman said it didn’t suggest she was race baiting IMHO. Insensitive yes, racist? Don’t think so.
___________________________________________
I agree — I don’t think that Courtney Hazlett meant anything racist by her remark. I think it’s more likely that she’s just pretty dim.
I remember when the people who talked to us on the teevee were required to have a brain, or at least some thought processes that worked. Now it seems that it’s more important to give the viewer something attractive to look at than to worry about what comes out of their mouths.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:03 pmTweedster Says
June 6th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
How about settling on a day where we just shut them off? I mean, it could be that the number of people tuning out would amount to a drop in the bucket, but what if it could be widespread enough to register with the media conglomerates?
______________________________________________
Would you exempt PBS and NPR from the blackout? I’d prefer to limit it to the media supported by commercial interests.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:05 pmI should clarify my point when I said:
June 6th, 2008 at 3:07 pmI’m glad to hear Spike Lee said something to Eastwood about this.
It wasn’t about those movies specifically. What I was trying to express is that I hope Lee planted an idea in Eastwood’s head about doing something in the future. Eastwood has the kind of clout and backing that dworf’s Lee’s. Whether it was a productive move or not, who knows.
Somebody better open a window, it’s gettin’ all racial up in this piece.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:08 pmOaktown Girl Says:
I agree with your main point about so much of Hollywood being whitewashed, but if you listen to Eastwood’s explanation, I think it stands up. The one black company on Iwo Jima was a munitions company that was not directly involved in the raising of the flag on Mt. Suribachi.
This isn’t to say that the many important contributions blacks have made to American society and the world at large should be ignored, but to insert a “token” black (I really dislike that term and what it implies btw, but I don’t know how to best phrase it) into a story for political correctness doesn’t seem to make sense to me.
Also, Spike is releasing his own movie about the contributions of blacks to the WWII effort in Italy, and any publicity is good publicity if it ends up selling tickets.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:08 pmthat was said poorly, no matter how you look at it. it probably wasn’t intentional but offensive nonetheless.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:10 pmSpike Lee
Claimed the “white man” was holding him down during his shitty film , Malcolm X ; meanwhile , he went pandering to the wealthy black community , and all they ponied up was $400 grand (between those including Oprah , Michael Jordan and Bill Cosby , among others)
The “white devil” , his film company , gave him $40 MILLION ; who’s holding you down , peanut head ?
Supposedly , Eastwood took a lot of shit for the way he portayed the real treatment of Ira Hayes , an American Indian who was one of the five soldiers portrayed in the hoisting of the US flag IN THE 2ND PHOTO SHOOT on Iwo Jima , and his battles with both alcoholism and PTSD ; Lee wants to insinuate that Eastwood is in some way racially driven ?
Yeah , Spike ; those Nike commercials really helped you with reality…..
June 6th, 2008 at 3:10 pmHistorical fact: American troops were segregated in WWII. Blacks were mostly porters, mess stewards, etc. There were exceptions like the Tuskagee airmen, and so on, but they were segregated units as well.
Truman desegregated the armed forces in 1947.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:11 pmOaktown Girl:
Whether you’re a fan of jazz or not, check out Eastwood’s Charlie Parker biopic “Bird.” As always, Forrest Whitaker gives a really good performance, and I think it’s a great movie about a man who helped shape jazz and is/was a cultural icon.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:11 pmstewarjt Says:
Somebody better open a window, it’s gettin’ all racial up in this piece.
I say the blame lays squarely with the race-baiting mass media on this one.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:13 pmTweedster - please see my comment up at 27. I think we’re on the same page.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:13 pmSorry, OT-
Oil Price is up today over $11 in one day. Stocks are down over 337
HALLLIBURTON stock hits 52-week high today
June 6th, 2008 at 3:15 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
Would you exempt PBS and NPR from the blackout? I’d prefer to limit it to the media supported by commercial interests.
I would exempt NPR…PBS too as long as it isn’t pledge-drive season. They always have some lame stuff playing when they get the collection plate out!
Who’s with me? :-)
June 6th, 2008 at 3:16 pmTweedster Says:
——————————————————————————–
stewarjt Says:
Somebody better open a window, it’s gettin’ all racial up in this piece.
I say the blame lays squarely with the race-baiting mass media on this one.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Oh please
This isn’t the “media” ; it’s one pretty young lady who is a Gossip columnist , making an accusation/assessment/statement , on a shitty morning show .
June 6th, 2008 at 3:16 pmTweedster Says
June 6th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I really don’t believe Eastwood to be a racist…his explanation seems to hold up when you go back through his catalog of films he directed.
______________________________________________
I don’t for a moment believe that Clint Eastwood is a racist, either. And because the military was racially segregated during WWII, it’s perfectly reasonable that there were no roles that could be played by an African-American actor. (Of course, when Lee said “involved with the filming”, he could have meant crew instead of cast — and I have no way of knowing if that’s true or not, or if it’s even worth checking out.)
But my point was that Spike Lee should be free to make any observations he wishes, regardless of validity, without being called “uppity” for it. Even though I think Hazlett’s remark came more from idiocy or ignorance than calculated planning, I’m having a hard time imagining that term being used about a white person.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:17 pmRacism, surprise! Lives on!
June 6th, 2008 at 3:18 pmMCMetal
The “white devil” , his film company , gave him $40 MILLION ; who’s holding you down , peanut head ?
C’mon…that’s definitely racist language…no need. I had to flag you.
BTW, anyone here see “He Got Game?” Not the greatest Spike Lee joint, but I was glad to see Jesus Shuttlesworth knocking down three pointers against the Lakers last night.
BEAT L.A.!!!
June 6th, 2008 at 3:19 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
——————————————————————————–
Tweedster Says
June 6th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I really don’t believe Eastwood to be a racist…his explanation seems to hold up when you go back through his catalog of films he directed.
______________________________________________
I don’t for a moment believe that Clint Eastwood is a racist, either. And because the military was racially segregated during WWII, it’s perfectly reasonable that there were no roles that could be played by an African-American actor. (Of course, when Lee said “involved with the filming”, he could have meant crew instead of cast — and I have no way of knowing if that’s true or not, or if it’s even worth checking out.)
But my point was that Spike Lee should be free to make any observations he wishes, regardless of validity, without being called “uppity” for it. Even though I think Hazlett’s remark came more from idiocy or ignorance than calculated planning, I’m having a hard time imagining that term being used about a white person.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
I am sorry , sweet lady ; as much as I (and many others here obviously) adore you (and for good reason) and your intellectual and well-thought out posts , I vehemently disagree.
Making unsubstantiated comments/statements , without any rationale or facts to back you up , makes you similar to McCain ; does it not ?
June 6th, 2008 at 3:21 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
But my point was that Spike Lee should be free to make any observations he wishes, regardless of validity, without being called “uppity” for it.
We’re in total agreement here…although I sense a little bit of business savvy on Spike’s part as well. He’s releasing his own WWII film that focuses on a black fighting force in Italy.
Even though I think Hazlett’s remark came more from idiocy or ignorance than calculated planning, I’m having a hard time imagining that term being used about a white person.
Imagine it being used on a woman - black or white. I can. It’s what the MSM does…
June 6th, 2008 at 3:24 pmTweedster Says:
——————————————————————————–
MCMetal
The “white devil” , his film company , gave him $40 MILLION ; who’s holding you down , peanut head ?
C’mon…that’s definitely racist language…no need. I had to flag you.
BTW, anyone here see “He Got Game?” Not the greatest Spike Lee joint, but I was glad to see Jesus Shuttlesworth knocking down three pointers against the Lakers last night.
BEAT L.A.!!!
June 6th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
——————————————————————————–
“peanut head” is “racist language” ?
Since when ?
BTW
My girlfriend , a gorgeous black woman , said you need to buy a clue……………..
June 6th, 2008 at 3:24 pmMCMetal
Making unsubstantiated comments/statements , without any rationale or facts to back you up , makes you similar to McCain ; does it not ?
Care to substantiate this? What exact comments/statements do you mean?
June 6th, 2008 at 3:25 pm“I think this one is a bit ridiculous. I use that term sometimes and it doesn’t have anything to do with race.”
Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
June 6th, 2008 at 3:26 pmTweedster Says:
——————————————————————————–
MCMetal
Making unsubstantiated comments/statements , without any rationale or facts to back you up , makes you similar to McCain ; does it not ?
Care to substantiate this? What exact comments/statements do you mean?
June 6th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Relax , Tweed
I was addressing missmolly , and her statement that Spike should be free to make any observations he wishes, regardless of validity.
If a statement has absolutely no validity , why should it be made or condoned ?
June 6th, 2008 at 3:28 pmMCMetal
“peanut head” is “racist language” ?
Since when ?
BTW
My girlfriend , a gorgeous black woman , said you need to buy a clue……………..
I was referring to that and the use of the pejorative “white devil”…AND giving you a hard time! Relax. Tell your girlfriend I’m accepting estimates on “clues” and would be happy to have her sell me a surplus one that she may have kicking around. Also, and this is a hypothetical, but what do you think the reaction would be on this board if Bill O’Reilly called Spike Lee a peanut-head?
C’mon…
June 6th, 2008 at 3:29 pmTheRight Says:
——————————————————————————–
Great!
Now we have to have racial quotas for historical events.
Eastwood’s movie should have had a Black, a woman, a homosexual, a Hispanic, and a left-handed person in the flag raising scene. Clearly Eastwood is a racist! And a homophobe. I will never watch any of his movies again!
Sorry I forgot to list a seeing impaired person. Oops.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
So nice that a Neo-Nazi shitstain like yourself , added your useless Confederate 2 cents………….
June 6th, 2008 at 3:30 pmMCMetal
Relax , Tweed
I was addressing missmolly , and her statement that Spike should be free to make any observations he wishes, regardless of validity.
If a statement has absolutely no validity , why should it be made or condoned
Point taken, and I guess I misspoke (haha, jeez, bad term…) when I was in agreement with missmolly’s statement that he shouldn’t have to be called uppity for expressing his opinion. If someone else’s opinion is that Spike was being uppity, then that would fall under the same protection granted Spike for his views on Eastwood’s movie. And the fact “uppity” is a really condescending thing to say, when it comes from white bobble head on TV about a black man or woman, it takes on racist undertones for some people.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:32 pmBrady B is right. It’s only racist because you people make it racist.I think if you actually find this racist you’ve watched Blazing Saddles one to many times.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:33 pmTweedster Says:
——————————————————————————–
MCMetal
“peanut head” is “racist language” ?
Since when ?
BTW
My girlfriend , a gorgeous black woman , said you need to buy a clue……………..
I was referring to that and the use of the pejorative “white devil”…AND giving you a hard time! Relax. Tell your girlfriend I’m accepting estimates on “clues” and would be happy to have her sell me a surplus one that she may have kicking around. Also, and this is a hypothetical, but what do you think the reaction would be on this board if Bill O’Reilly called Spike Lee a peanut-head?
C’mon…
June 6th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Tweed
I was actually using the words that Spike himself uttered , bud.
That’s why I have a problem with giving him , not because he’s black , but because of his idiocy and own racially driven agenda and views , the benefit of the doubt.
I am not personally questioning your intellect or views , nor is my lady……
I’m sorry ; I should have been much more concise……….
June 6th, 2008 at 3:33 pmSorry, TP, I’m a huge supporter of this blog, but this is a non-story if there ever was one.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:33 pmSo nice that a Neo-Nazi shitstain like yourself , added your useless Confederate 2 cents………….
Just a warning to those who use of sarcasm sucks, this is the reaction you’ll get. I got off lightly with a simple “get a clue.” The Right just blew it altogether though…
June 6th, 2008 at 3:34 pm56 - Bold quote from MCMetal :-)
June 6th, 2008 at 3:35 pmTweedster Says:
——————————————————————————–
MCMetal
Relax , Tweed
I was addressing missmolly , and her statement that Spike should be free to make any observations he wishes, regardless of validity.
If a statement has absolutely no validity , why should it be made or condoned
Point taken, and I guess I misspoke (haha, jeez, bad term…) when I was in agreement with missmolly’s statement that he shouldn’t have to be called uppity for expressing his opinion. If someone else’s opinion is that Spike was being uppity, then that would fall under the same protection granted Spike for his views on Eastwood’s movie. And the fact “uppity” is a really condescending thing to say, when it comes from white bobble head on TV about a black man or woman, it takes on racist undertones for some people.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Quite true (sadly)
And I don’t really mean to offend her ; but does Courtney Hazlett really seem as if she has an IQ of 150 ?
I mean , c’mon ; check the source……………
June 6th, 2008 at 3:35 pmNo, I don’t care how many “White males died in WWII“. I do care about the number of Americans and Allies that died liberating Europe and Jews.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:36 pmTheRight Says:
——————————————————————————–
How many White males died in WWII to save this country from Hitler?
Anyone know?
Anyone care?
————————————————–
Tweedster Says:
——————————————————————————–
So nice that a Neo-Nazi shitstain like yourself , added your useless Confederate 2 cents………….
Just a warning to those who use of sarcasm sucks, this is the reaction you’ll get. I got off lightly with a simple “get a clue.” The Right just blew it altogether though…
June 6th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
June 6th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
——————————————————————————–
The above seem like “sarcasm” to you , Tweed ?
June 6th, 2008 at 3:37 pmTweed
I was actually using the words that Spike himself uttered , bud.
That’s why I have a problem with giving him , not because he’s black , but because of his idiocy and own racially driven agenda and views , the benefit of the doubt.
I am not personally questioning your intellect or views , nor is my lady……
I’m sorry ; I should have been much more concise……….
I can see your point regarding Spike. Part of me really thinks that his comments were geared more to promoting attention to his own WWII movie “Miracle at St. Anna” than really trying to crusade for racial equality in film.
Anyway, can you, your woman, and me still be friends? :-)
I’m about done hashing out this non-story, as Dr. Hussein Matt so succinctly put.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:38 pmThe above seem like “sarcasm” to you , Tweed ?
Definitely not, and I was stupid to give that trolls-foot the benefit of the doubt.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:39 pmMCMetal sez
And I don’t really mean to offend her ; but does Courtney Hazlett really seem as if she has an IQ of 150 ?
I mean , c’mon ; check the source……………
Yea, not the sharpest knife in the drawer by a stretch!
June 6th, 2008 at 3:40 pmJoe Scarborough is a reichwing tool. I’m not one bit surprised that he’d have legions of babbling reichwing eejits on his show saying whatever floats through their empty heads.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:41 pmTweedster Says:
——————————————————————————–
Tweed
I was actually using the words that Spike himself uttered , bud.
That’s why I have a problem with giving him , not because he’s black , but because of his idiocy and own racially driven agenda and views , the benefit of the doubt.
I am not personally questioning your intellect or views , nor is my lady……
I’m sorry ; I should have been much more concise……….
I can see your point regarding Spike. Part of me really thinks that his comments were geared more to promoting attention to his own WWII movie “Miracle at St. Anna” than really trying to crusade for racial equality in film.
Anyway, can you, your woman, and me still be friends? :-)
I’m about done hashing out this non-story, as Dr. Hussein Matt so succinctly put.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Don’t be silly.
You , nor would anyone else , by my “enemy” ; I am not the Bush administration.
This story , in and of itself , is a “non-story” ; but racial divides still do exist , and should be talked about …….
June 6th, 2008 at 3:41 pmTweedster Says:
——————————————————————————–
The above seem like “sarcasm” to you , Tweed ?
Definitely not, and I was stupid to give that trolls-foot the benefit of the doubt.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
No problem
We are all guilty of the same…………..Every one of us
June 6th, 2008 at 3:42 pmLeftside Annie Says:
Joe Scarborough is a reichwing tool.
Ahhh, Scarborough Country…where decency and integrity take a back seat to moronic banter, race baiting, and way too much hair product.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:42 pmMCMetal Says
June 6th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Making unsubstantiated comments/statements , without any rationale or facts to back you up , makes you similar to McCain ; does it not ?
_____________________________________________
No, I don’t see any similarity between myself and John McCain. I’m pretty honest about stating my opinions as such (or I suggest something could be a possibility), whereas he states sweeping generalizations as fact.
Here’s how I framed my statements as opinion:
“I don’t believe…Clint Eastwood is a racist…” (opinion)
“[Lee] could have meant crew instead of cast…” (possibility)
“Spike Lee should be free to…” (opinion)
“I think Hazlett’s remark…” (opinion)
“I’m having a hard time imagining…” (opinion)
Perhaps I could do a better job of making it clear these remarks are merely my opinions — does anyone else here agree with McMetal? If so, I need to work on this.
Now, I did make one statement as fact, and I didn’t back it up with anything because I believed it was already accepted by everyone here — and that was the part about our military being racially segregated during WWII. And then I drew a logical conclusion based on that fact regarding the lack of African-Americans on screen. However, if you think I need to substantiate the segregation claim in some way, I’ll be glad to do so.
But I’m glad you’re watching out for me — it keeps me on my toes!
June 6th, 2008 at 3:43 pmThis story , in and of itself , is a “non-story” ; but racial divides still do exist , and should be talked about …….
Very true. This is a huge part of the reason why I am excited about Obama’s candidacy, he can help facilitate this dialogue nation-wide (I hope!)
I, personally, am at a loss as to how I can personally contribute to helping to solve this problem. I mean, I just am not sure, but I want to learn. Anyone have any suggestions/resources?
June 6th, 2008 at 3:47 pmHey all you peanut heads: check out the link below…
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Peanut+Head
And re 55:
How many African American Men died in WWII?
June 6th, 2008 at 3:59 pmDo you know?
Do you Care?
Can you breath through your nose?
MCMetal Says
June 6th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I was addressing missmolly , and her statement that Spike should be free to make any observations he wishes, regardless of validity.
If a statement has absolutely no validity , why should it be made or condoned?
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Ah — so that’s the statement you had an issue with.
I still believe (this is my opinion, not a fact) that Spike Lee should be able to say whatever he wishes without being criticized with a term that has more to do with his race than the content of his remark. Even if he made the remark in France, I still think an American citizen has a first amendment right to make a remark about another American, as long as it isn’t slanderous. And Lee was just making an observation, after all — it’s true that there WERE no African-American actors in these movies, even if there was a good reason for that.
Now, even though his remark is easily rebutted (Eastwood appears to have good, logical reasons for his casting), Lee shouldn’t be called “uppity” for making it. On the other hand, saying “Spike Lee should do his homework before spouting off” might be appropriate. Just because Spike Lee has the right to make observations doesn’t mean that others can’t respond to them.
June 6th, 2008 at 3:59 pmy’know… i think women use that word more than most…
and, it’s usually directed at other women…
yes, i know the historical use, but i’d bet it didn’t START with
the slave owners and southern racists…
not to excuse the “reporter”, but, the way media has devolved lately, with all kinds of bad behavior on display and basically absolved, is it any wonder that inappropriate labels slip out at inappropriate times?
June 6th, 2008 at 4:03 pmBobwurst,
Sometimes I feel like definition 4
4.
June 6th, 2008 at 4:05 pmPerson that is so stupid that he/she can’t even see it.
Spike makes a point about Clint’s movies, both on screen and off (viz. “involved in the filming. Clint msy very well have a lily-white production setup: it’s hard to confirm. It is, however, not uncommon in Holywood.
June 6th, 2008 at 4:05 pmArguing about half his accusation may be fun, but it’s not terribly useful or to the point.
And the response that the army was, in fact, segregated, while completely accurate, does, in my mind, pose the question So where is the big Hollywood War movie about the segregated army?
It’s a good question, and may be one of the reasons Spike made the comment.
(I like about two thirds of Lee’s stuff. He may be an angry guy, but he never does dogma.)
72. katy says
not to excuse the “reporter”, but, the way media has devolved lately, with all kinds of bad behavior on display and basically absolved, is it any wonder that inappropriate labels slip out at inappropriate times?
It’s par for the course with the MSM. Race baiting, homophobia, xenophobia, misogyny…they’re all ingredients in their heady barf stew called the “News”…
June 6th, 2008 at 4:06 pmI guess Brady Bonk didn’t like it when I said I used the term uppity and it wasn’t racist. I suppose you could mean it in a racist way, but I still think it’s a stretch. When I have used it in the past I meant it to apply to someone who was getting overly upset about a minor issue.
For example “Brady Bonk got all uppity about my comments but apparently couldn’t muster a meaningful response and so he copied and pasted the word ha over and over again to cleverly indicate my view was humorous to him.”
June 6th, 2008 at 4:08 pmPeople, this is what MissMolly said in #39, please get it right!
But my point was that Spike Lee should be free to make any observations he wishes, regardless of validity, without being called “uppity” for it.
There’s a big difference if you’re gonna leave those last 6 words out of the statement.
June 6th, 2008 at 4:12 pmMaybe Spike Lee is still angry that his finest film and the best film of 1989 was totally ignored by the old guard of the industry. If I was him I would still be. What a screwing that was
June 6th, 2008 at 4:14 pmpbq sez
“involved in the filming. Clint msy very well have a lily-white production setup: it’s hard to confirm. It is, however, not uncommon in Holywood.
This is hard to confirm, and also isn’t necessarily an indication of racism…I mean, a huge majority of the pizza places in Brattleboro, VT are run by Greeks(for a small town there are like 6-8 of them), this doesn’t necessarily mean that a non-Greek would have a hard time working at one of those places (they’re also family run so), but it doesn’t seem many non-Greeks do…doesn’t mean they are racist though.
This really might not make sense…but I hope you see what I’m getting at.
Plus! Lee pointed out black soldiers’ involvement in WWII so I don’t know if he was even taking into account which crew Eastwood hired to set up the lights and cater the gig.
June 6th, 2008 at 4:14 pmI remember when I was a kid and lived in Texas, the black adults would all the time tell me to stop getting uppity with them when they felt I was out of line. And I’m a white woman.
June 6th, 2008 at 4:14 pmI remember when I was a kid and lived in Texas, the black adults would all the time tell me to stop getting uppity with them when they felt I was out of line. And I’m a white woman.
June 6th, 2008 at 4:14 pmOOps! Sorry for the double post.
June 6th, 2008 at 4:14 pmI’ve never even heard of “peanut head”. Maybe it’s a southern thing. What’s weird is the notion that a “peanut head” is someone with a huge head; I would have thought it was just the opposite: itty-bitty head on a big body.
June 6th, 2008 at 4:20 pmI didn’t even know uppity was racially anything. I honestly wonder how many people would even put that together or if the person who said it even had a remote idea of what it meant.
June 6th, 2008 at 4:27 pmmargerine Says:
I didn’t even know uppity was racially anything. I honestly wonder how many people would even put that together or if the person who said it even had a remote idea of what it meant.
It the fact that it is a really condescending thing to say to someone, and coming from a white person’s mouth directed at a black man or woman (or any other minority probably), racist undertones are brought up. The whole thing about how we treat(ed) blacks and other minorities as second class citizens makes the condescension sting that much more.
June 6th, 2008 at 4:32 pmI too had no idea there was (allegedly) something racial about the word “uppity”. My dictionary says it means “self-important; arrogant”. Can anyone direct me to something authoritative explaining the racial connotations? I’d like to know the history and background.
June 6th, 2008 at 5:10 pmThanks for sharing
June 6th, 2008 at 5:14 pmThinkerton Says:
I too had no idea there was (allegedly) something racial about the word “uppity”. My dictionary says it means “self-important; arrogant”. Can anyone direct me to something authoritative explaining the racial connotations? I’d like to know the history and background.
I think it is more of the tone and context that can be taken as racist than the eytmology.
June 6th, 2008 at 5:17 pmThe problem here with this is that the movie biz is not pizza, but a hugely well-paying and massively prestigious business that people are dying to get into. And it’s very hard to break in.
June 6th, 2008 at 6:23 pmIf a Greek pizzeria hired an unrelated Greek at the expense of a blavck man, that ’s illegal and, yes, racist.
And the fact that your example raises an eerie echo of Spike’s Do The Right Thing is interesting…
“Uppity” is an incredibly racialized term with a very ugly history. Even though today’s younger generation may not be using it racially, that does not erase its origins, nor the fact that it’s still used in many quarters racially today.
For Black people, the term “uppity” was (is) not just an insult, it was a threat, a warning. To be accused of being “uppity” was (and in some places still is) a notice to Black people that they had better keep their place or they’d be swinging from a tree. More often these days it means the threat of losing one’s job, having trumped up charges reported to the police, or a host of other negative consequences.
“Uppity” is a term a superior uses to an inferior. This is why the commentor in #80 heard this term used to her when she was a kid by Black adults. Guaranteed she never heard a Black adult say it to a White adult, unless they were very, very good friends.
“Uppity” as a threat or warning is NOT ancient history. And even though this MSNBC incident may be a “non story” for those who’ve never been on the scary side of hearing it, that doesn’t mean it’s not a story. It’s just not a story for you. And it doesn’t mean people are being hypersensitive.
This is not to say that the TV host that used the term is a racist, and she looks young enough to be part of this younger generation where “uppity” isn’t racial. It is to say that it’s troubling that a term like “uppity” would be the first word to pop into her head when describing the confrontational behavior of a Black person, and it sends off a lot of warning bells to Black folks.
On the upside, this is a learning opportunity. My suggestion for people who sincerely want to learn more about the history of the term “uppity” and why this incident became a “story” is to actually sit down and talk to some Black people, preferably over the age of 40. And I mean talk to more than one - more than just your one Black friend. You’ll find that people are usually happy to share their experiences with someone who’s genuinely interested and who’s not trying to prove a point or be defensive.
There’s also a wide, wide world of literature and history out there to learn from. “Uppity” is a term of great historical context, and there’s not one specific place to which I can direct you on the web. You gotta do some leg work yourself.
June 6th, 2008 at 6:26 pmI agree with those who think gender matters. I’m a white woman and I speak often about my arrogant, nose-in-the-air sister as uppity. It never occurred to me that it was a racist word.
June 6th, 2008 at 6:37 pmOaktown Girl, awesome post.
June 6th, 2008 at 6:40 pmWhy, thank you, Crazy Cat Lady.
June 6th, 2008 at 6:47 pmI’m saddened by how some adjectives are off limits. Either way, when Lee produces a movie forum the Russian, English, Polish, or Jewish perspective (wrt ww2) then I’ll take him seriously.
June 6th, 2008 at 7:33 pmOk, brand me a racist if you want but I’m sick and tired of having to know the historical context of every freakin’ adjective and verb and if someone ever used it as a slur 70 years ago or whenever. I don’t think I’m a racist, I have a number of black friends where I live now and a number of native american friends back home where I grew up (yeah, I know, “some of my best freinds are black!” But it’s true here nonetheless).
This is totally a non-story and probably should have never had any attention called to it. I don’t remember who said it first, but people need get over the idea that they somehow have a right never to be offended by anything that someone else does.
The spat between Spike Lee and Eastwood is obviously a real story, but I thought Eastwood did a pretty good job of explaining his position on the casting and until someone can show me evidence that he only hires whites for his crew I think we can give him the benefit of the doubt on that. He has made some pretty incredible movies in his career, btw. Both of the two movies about Iwo Jima are awesome.
June 6th, 2008 at 10:28 pmpbg Says:
The problem here with this is that the movie biz is not pizza, but a hugely well-paying and massively prestigious business that people are dying to get into. And it’s very hard to break in.
If a Greek pizzeria hired an unrelated Greek at the expense of a blavck man, that ’s illegal and, yes, racist.
And the fact that your example raises an eerie echo of Spike’s Do The Right Thing is interesting…
you’re right, the movie biz generates more money so the comparison to any other sector of industry is off base unless the box office scores are comparable.
i mean you’re right it is exclusive, and prestigious, but MORE people are involved in flipping pies across the country than shooting hollywood pictures. the dynamics considered to reach those profession (education, opportunity etc.) are also precipitated by a history of racism. we need to address this and start bridging these gaps. i don’t see accusations really changing things at this point - they just stir up animosity and contrived media controversy. we know these conditions exist, lets work on them. point fingers and waste time, i say.
part of the point (and good catch on the spike lee reference), is that contracts and “cronyism” go hand in hand. it’s sometimes (a lot of times) who you know rather than who is the most “qualified” that gets you hired. but whether or not clint eastwood only hires “white” film crews isn’t even part of what spike lee was pointing out, in my opinion. and it wouldn’t be automatic grounds to charge racism for a white guy to hire a crew comprised of white people. emphasis on automatic.
yeesh…
June 7th, 2008 at 1:13 am