Andy Rooney: Negro 'perfectly good word'

[Corals]

MINORITY REPORT: Andy Rooney: Negro 'perfectly good word'
CBS commentator states he has problem with frequent use of 'African-American'

Posted: November 4, 2005

By Joe Kovacs
Andy Rooney

Veteran CBS commentator Andy Rooney says he has a problem with the frequent use of the term "African-American" and suggests people use the word "Negro" instead to refer to blacks.

"I object every time I hear the words 'African-American,' you know?" Rooney told radio host Don Imus this morning. "The word 'Negro' is a perfectly good word. It's a strong word and a good word. I don't see anything wrong with that. Mostly it's not necessary to identify anyone by skin color. But I don't care for 'African-American.'"

The remarks came as Rooney was appearing via telephone on Imus' show, which is simulcast on MSNBC.

Imus had referenced a frequent guest, Rep. Harold Ford Jr., D-Tenn., and noted that Ford is African-American.

Rooney: "I object every time I hear the words 'African-American,' you know? I don't know why we have gotten caught with that."

Imus: "Yeah, I don't either."

Rooney: "I mean, am I an 'Irish-American?'"

Imus: "Yeah, I know what you mean. What should I say, just 'black' right?"

Rooney: "Well, I don't think there's anything wrong with 'black.'"

Imus: "I don't either."

Rooney: "Growing up, it's funny how words get to be opprobrious. The word 'Negro' is a perfectly good word. It's a strong word and a good word. I don't see anything wrong with that. Mostly it's not necessary to identify anyone by skin color. But I don't care for 'African-American.'"

Imus: "I won't use it anymore."

In a 2002 commentary, Rooney addressed the use of the term "Negro" this way:

Our thoughts about words change over the years. In 1968, I wrote a television show called "Black History, Lost, Stolen or Strayed" for Bill Cosby. I remember being uneasy with the word "black" because the acceptable word back then was "Negro." Today, I wouldn't use "Negro." It's a good, strong word, but now it sounds wrong to me.

Different ethnic groups of Americans have always had terrible nicknames for each other. I remember hearing them as a kid. You don't hear them much anymore because they always make the person using them sound like such ignorant jerk.

Italians were wops. Germans were krauts. Kikes ... Spics. Irish Catholics were "harps" or "micks." Wetbacks. Koreans or Vietnamese were "gooks." Chinks ... Slant eyes. ... Towel-heads.

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/articl...TICLE_ID=47237

...................

In 2002 he hated the term 'negro' because it didn't sound right to him, now he hates the term 'African American' and think that 'negro' is a strong word. What he needs is a kick up his a**.

I'll have to come back to this.

[saraphen]

Well you know, Andy Rooney got "disciplined" by CBS a few years back for some inappropriate commentary, but he's such an old fixture, that they can't seem to get rid of him. He'll have to die out.

I'll see if I can find something on that thing he did back when.

[jimihaze]

You have it right saraphen when you said *OLD* and FIxture* and that he would have to die out. CBS may discipline him but they won't fire him or force him out like they did Dan Rather. Why I have no idea, cause it is way pass time for him to retire.

[msqueen]

Its so sad that we get treated in such a cruel way! Racism is alive! You are right! He'll have to die out! He got a little slap on the hand a few years ago but let that had been a black person. His butt would have been gone 3seconds after he made a comment like that! The ways of this world are so wicked! Keep ya head up!

[saraphen]

In 1990, he was suspended by CBS News for 32 days for inflammatory comments he made about gays to a gay newspaper that, in turn, ended up on a CBS news special.

In 1992 he found himself in hot water for saying that American Indians should lighten up on the topic of sports nicknames such as "Redskins."

In 1997, he angered that group once more by declaring that "so-called Indian casinos are a joke," and denouncing their owners as "sleazeballs."

In 1999, without naming names, he complained that "the most beautiful woman in television news" had had cosmetic surgery and now looked "as if she had been in a minor automobile accident."

http://www.suddenlysenior.com/andyro...timoresun.html

The old geezer is 84 years old. I guess he thinks old people can get away with saying anything they want.

If I make it to 84, I'll probably do the same.