Let’s begin by stating we at the Womb think Al Sharpton is a douchebag. So he’s done some good deeds for the black community but lately, it seems as though he’s made it his personal quest to become savior to American blacks, a colored Jesus Christ if you will. But the Reverend’s douchebaggery isn’t in question for us, the issue at hand is racism in conversation.
In the first week of this year, Kelly Tilghman (Golf Channel anchor and former touring professional) and Nick Faldo (Golf channel lead analyst and golfing legend) were on television as usual for one of the channel’s PGA tour telecasts. They were discussing Tiger Woods’ sublime form and his tendency to rout the field. Faldo casually suggested an effective technique would be for other players to collectively play strategy against Tiger in order to unseat his position. Tilghman then made a casual reply which would stir up a shitstorm eventually resulting in the Golf Channel suspending her for two weeks and Sharpton publicly demanding she be fired. Here’s how it unfolded. The two hosts are discussing strategy for younger players who want to challenge Tiger:
Faldo: As you said to take Tiger on, well yeah, maybe they should just gang up for a while, until…
Tilghman (chuckles and then interjects): Lynch him in a back alley.
Faldo (chuckles): Yeah that’s right, and then…
You can watch the YouTube video HERE (the sound is a bit soft).
Now on the face of it, it really does seem a questionable or controversial intercourse. However, when seen on TV, it’s evident neither host is being racist (besides, who would be daft enough to be so blatant on national television). Since the term lynch is defined (per Merriam-Webster Online) as,
to put to death (as by hanging) by mob action without legal sanction,
it is obvious Tilghman is not actually suggesting Tiger be executed in a back alley, rather, she is concurring with Faldo that younger players need to collectively go after him. Whereas lynch is often associated with heinous crimes against black people, it is not exclusive to them nor is its meaning fixed in the vernacular (just as swastikas are often associated with Nazis but are commonplace in Hinduism and just as shit does not always mean faeces).
It’s bad enough affirmative action emphasizes our racial differences, now people are picking at benign conversation. Worse yet, the networks are so sensitive to the issue, they would suspend anchors for it thereby exacerbating the situation. One could argue Tilghman is a closet-racist and that she spoke her subconscious mind but we think that’s a stretch. Indeed, she demonstrated a remarkable disregard for the issue of race, which makes us ask the question: is being racist disliking someone of a certain race or is it the refusal to acknowledge race? Tilghman refused to acknowledge race as a distinguishing factor and made a comment, likely the very same comment she would have made should Tiger Woods have been white (or a midget). i can’t think of a better indication that the stigma of racism is slowly disappearing.
Sharpton’s diatribe, however, would lead us to believe Tilghman is a racist bent on humiliating the black race. What he fails to understand is that his misguided and provocative thinking, scarily-coiffed person and general XXXXXXX is more humiliating to the black race than Tilghman’s supposed bigotry. Everyone knows Tiger Woods is a black man (well, blackish really). What sets him apart are his fine golfing skills; the man is an exceptional athlete. His race is unimportant and irrelevant to those who live above racism.
What, then, is a comment that should rile the media and Sharpton’s shackles? Consider our message to the Reverend, “Simmer down, don’t make us put you back in them fields, boy.” Now that was racist intent. What say you, embryos?
You can read the CNN news article HERE.
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I always thought of her as an out of the closet rascist.
As a professional newscaster isn’t her job to choose her words wisely? I mean, there is only one definition of getting a good lynching right?!
Always thought of her as a racist? As in, you had these suspicions before?
If lynching has only one meaning, it should be the formal one, murder without due process usually by hanging. Tilghman is obviously not suggesting this. Just like an “ass-whupping” could involve getting kicked solely in the nuts with no ass-abuse in sight. It’s a figure of speech. Black people do not own the rights to the word “lynch.” Black people have been lynched, yes, but so have asians and native americans. Are they in uproar, erm no.
Would Tilghman have been suspended if Tiger Woods was white? If yes, then the implication is that “lynch” is an offensive word, which it is not. If no, the implication is we can’t say lynch to black people. And i suppose we can’t make gas-jokes to Jews. Or real-estate comments to native americans…
I don’t believe Tilghman is necessarily racist. I don’t know anything else she has said, and this is of course just a small piece. However, she is a fucking idiot.
As a professional newscaster, and on the job, she really should have better judgment than to say a comment like that over the air.
I personally however, wouldn’t fire her for being a racist. I would however her beat her over the head for being an idiot.
As for the network, they really have no choice but to suspend her. Unless they want a massive portion of the population screaming bloody murder, they have to take some sort of action. It’s just PR.
I believe that both commentators where somewhat out of place by having such a conversation on a golf channel. I agree, that it was definitely unprofessional. However, not at any point in the conversation I found it to be racial. Or be deeming of a 2 weeks suspension. Thats just ridiculous! What ever happen to freedom of speech? or freedom of press? those are the rights that are being oppressed by the issue at hand. Yes, Tiger deserves an apology. But has he even demanded one? I haven’t heard any comments from Tiger himself??
As for Al Sharpton, he is always looking for any kind of media attention. As we say during our Wed Night Mayhem show, Mr. SHarpton is nothing more than a media whore. He reminds me of those ambulance chasing attorneys… you guys see the resemblance?
and by the way… let us not forget about a real american hero who led the civil right movement back in the 60’s. Martin Luther King!!
Mr. Sharpton needs to go back and learn a thing or two from MLK.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080121/pl_nm/usa_politics_dc
@ Gonzo: I agree Tilghman is likely not a racist. I don’t think it was that stupid of a comment to make either. Perhaps that’s because I simply don’t associate certain words with certain races.
The networks certainly suspended her because they felt some action was needed on their part. It is a PR thing. Nevertheless, it is setting the wrong type of precedent. We should be trying to remove race from the table, not put it higher on the pedestal.
@ BennyBoy: Good point on freedom of speech and certainly were the comments aired in the general public she would have been protected. As an employee of the Golf Channel, they naturally have the right to discipline her in whatever way they see fit. Also, Tilghman apologized to Tiger and he accepted. I’m sure he had no idea what all the ruckus was about because like you said, he didnt comment on the issue. I couldn’t say it better myself, Sharpton is a media whore.
This is nothing to do with freedom of speech. Freedom of speech referes to censorship by the government. It is also what allows private entities to do as they please. Just like the Boy Scouts are allowed to prevent gays from joining their organization; just like private schools are allowed to prevent people of a certain race or religion from attending their schools. It is what gives the KKK the right to have public demonstrations (after acquiring the proper permits, of course).
However, freedom of speech does not give everybody the right to be heard. Here’s the difference: you are allowed to say whatever you want, but you are not allowed to force others to repeat your message. NBC is not, by any means, required to allow her to say anything she wants on her channel. And it is NOT censhorship. It is PR and smart business.
Now, if the government passes a law saying that certain words cannot be used, THAT is censorship.
The thing with lynching (and nooses and burning crosses) is that they have no history in the United States except as part of slavery and segregation, and because of that, they are considered to be “terms used to incite violence or fear” (I forget the actual legal words.)
I have no doubt Al Sharpton is also taking it overboard, like he did with “nappy-headed hos”. However, at the same time, this woman is a fucking idiot. There are ways you speak to your friends or your cowrkers around the water fountain, and there are ways you speak professionally. She most definitely should be reprimanded for being extremely unprofessional.
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