Is Howard Stern Racist?

[Domison]

Originally Posted by Istlota

Or a politician running for re-election.

Hmmm I know this topic is a bit old but I would like to continue it . . . even for just a shot stint. I am an avid Howard Stern Listener . . . I would say I'm not really the typical listener. Since I am Black, college educated, well spoken . . . and well off. But I find the show very funny, and entertaining. However there are many times when racism rears its ugly head on the show.

Since I listen almost everyday and pay for the on-demand service I might have some incite into whether Howard is racist or not. And this is not an easy question to answer since the obvious correct answer is YES. But . . . not all the time. Howard is a shock jock . . . one of the best out there . . . but he has to pander to his mostly white . . . blue color audience who do harbor racial bigotry and ignorance (generalization).

Also Howard grew up in a different time in a different place. During his early years he lived in an all Black and very poor neighborhood that had little to no resources. He was beaten up and made an outcast for being different. He had no support system (insensitive parents) and he couldn't identify with anyone around him. Again he grew up in a different time, where "White Flight" was very common and Blacks were just overcoming the glass ceilings, and there was a rampant bigotry engulfing the US.

I feel in order to understand someone you must understand their origins. It's very easy to create a label for Howard . . . but he did come from desperate times. And most of us know the whole nature vs. nurture argument . . . your upbringing can define you.

Fortunately Howard usually is able to control his deep seeded bigoted feelings . . . but it does come out in many ways. Such as hiring Sal Governali, a rampant bigot and comedy writer on his show, that categorizes all Blacks in one group. To the need for Black Talk every time a Black person is quoted or spoken of during the show. To the caricature's . . . to the fact that someone at some point on the show says the word "******" everyday. To be honest there is so much evidence towards racism that it would be very hard to defend Howard. But again . . . one questions if this is satire, or the pandering to his audience or is it innate?

My personal opinion is that yes he is and most people are biggioted in someway or another. If the hatred is toward Hispanics, Jews, Blacks, Whites w.e. it there, and I'm sure that everyone has had thier say. Unfortunatly Howard has a bully pulpit to express his views, even if its not responsible . . . I have to admit it is funny.

JP

[afrocentric]

why am i finding this hard to shallow when i know that he has a black right arm person sitting next to him?

Fortunately Howard usually is able to control his deep seeded bigoted feelings . . . but it does come out in many ways. Such as hiring Sal Governali, a rampant bigot and comedy writer on his show, that categorizes all Blacks in one group. To the need for Black Talk every time a Black person is quoted or spoken of during the show. To the caricature's . . . to the fact that someone at some point on the show says the word "******" everyday. To be honest there is so much evidence towards racism that it would be very hard to defend Howard. But again . . . one questions if this is satire, or the pandering to his audience or is it innate?

[Domison]

Originally Posted by afrocentric

why am i finding this hard to shallow when i know that he has a black right arm person sitting next to him?

Well Howard is a smart man . . . he has stated that he is more than willing to deal with or tolerate anyone on his team as long as they make him successful. He actually mentioned this fact in this weeks broadcast. Robin used to have a lot of emotional problems, and he knew that she was needed for the show to succeed so he dealt with it (albeit he confronted her about her attitude 3 years later) he still dealt with it.

Howard is worth hundreds of millions of dollars . . . he knows how to find talent . . . it's what has made his show so successful.

Now speaking of the "black right arm person," she is considerably neutral when you compare her to an inner city black female. She grew up in an all white school, is very educated and has a somewhat well rounded view of the world. She doesn't rock the boat . . . and more often than not can be heard laughing when racist remarks are being spewed or bigotry is being expressed.

She also knows that he is the boss and she has on occasion kept her head down and her eyes closed during the moments when some Blacks would speak up and express their outrage. In a since she was raised on the farm too and knows the rules. Again I hear the show everyday so it's hard to justify her as the end all to this argument.

Robin has also expressed many times that she has no black friends except for her family which further separates her, she may in fact identify with their humor. However I can't say that she doesn't speak up ever. I have heard her time from time complaining that Howard won't vote for Obama because he's Black. Which a lot of white middle class people fall into this realm. She expressed and I agree that his policies are 99% identical to Hilaries (Howard stated many times that he was going to vote for her), but for some reason Howard has an issue with Obama. Is race the underlying issue . . . maybe.

I think the show is in many ways is a conduit to America's social evolution . . . many Whites fall into the realm of Howard and can identify with his ideologies. Whether if their beliefs are subconscious or readily apparent . . . the show does a great job of bringing them to light.

[afrocentric]

hmmm, her book says differently.. i'll have to come back to this.

[JamieC]

There are several members on this forum who are Black, college educated, well spoken . . . and well off. So you are not the only one

Now back to the topic at hand. I don't think he's racist, because if that were the case I don't think Robin Quivers would've worked with him for as long as she has. "WE LOVE LINKS"!!!!!!


Robin Quivers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[MadameX]

I don't think he's racist, because if that were the case I don't think Robin Quivers would've worked with him for as long as she has. "WE LOVE LINKS"!!!!!!


Robin Quivers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Valid point. In this climate of overly political correctness, people have become so uptight. Some need to realize that Howard functions like most comedians with no boundaries may it be (race, gender, sexual oreintation, socio economic status,or creed). So for those who are overly sensitive/anal then, they need to stay clear of comedians or Howard who will exercise their Free Speech to the limit not giving a what you or anybody thinks.

[Istlota]

I haven't suffered thru a Stern show for years. The last time I did, he had some stereotypical brother on, calling himself Big Black, whose only responsibility was to be big and black. Groan ...

Stern's function is the same as the other shock jockstraps like Limbaugh, Hannity, and Imus. They make huge salaries because corporate america contributes mega-millions to their shows in the form of advertising dollars. Corporate america makes these huge investments because we the sheeple have to be kept dumb and unenlightened enough to ignore what is _really_ going on in the world around us.

Stern Signs $500M Radio Deal

Rush Signs Record-breaking Contract

Imus might make $30M for getting fired and rehired

So, ugly, inarticulate, uninformed, bad-hair, white guys who would otherwise be lucky to get a job managing a 7-Eleven are given contracts worth tens to hundreds of millions of dollars to go out and holla, gripe, whine, complain --- whatever is necessary to tittilate our lower self -- to stroke our lust, greed, envy, and ego.

Miles was talented. Lady Day was talented. Lenny Bruce was talented. Stern is not even remotely talented. He is just like a car wreck on the highway. We check it out because our lower self is fascinated by disasters.

[The Dragon]

Originally Posted by Domison

My personal opinion is that yes he is and most people are biggioted in someway or another. If the hatred is toward Hispanics, Jews, Blacks, Whites w.e. it there, and I'm sure that everyone has had thier say. Unfortunatly Howard has a bully pulpit to express his views, even if its not responsible . . . I have to admit it is funny.
JP

Whats so damned funny about bigotry?

[Istlota]

Originally Posted by The Dragon

Whats so damned funny about bigotry?

The Smiths have programmed the sheeple to think bigotry is funny. Which also, by the way, explains why teenagers think it is so much fun to beat up homeless people. This is all tied into the same mindset which provoked Michael Savage to call autistic children spoiled, Rush to call Michael J. Fox a faker, Bush to make fun of a female inmate who was about to be executed, and this sick, twisted, ignorant klanswoman to be so amused:



It all reflects certain prejudices surrounding the sunnum bonum which were first documented in Plato's Republic during that Matrix of European culture, ancient Greece. Basically, the idea is that rich white males are gods and everybody else are jokes existing for their pleasure.

[MadameX]

Miles was talented. Lady Day was talented. Lenny Bruce was talented.

You need to closely examine the crux of your comments by even remotely associating the likes of Brotha Miles, Lady D in the same caliper of Lenny Bruce because Jazz Music and comedy are entirely different disciplines which on has to gifted to even make a dent in the industry. Now, the only thing both of the disciplines share in common is that they represent the Freedom Of Expression to the fullest( either subscribe to vibe or keep it moving).