July 30, 2009

RACE CRISIS OF THE DAY

Looks like they're going to fire Boston cop Justin Barrett for calling Professor Gates a "jungle monkey".

First, a little nitpicking: the correct racial slur is either "jungle bunny" or "porch monkey". Mixed metaphors irritate the piss out of me. It's like when someone sings along with the radio and screws up the lyrics.

Second, Barrett isn't a racist. While the insult is based on Gates's race, it's also specifically directed at Gates himself. Barrett is not calling ALL blacks jungle monkeys, just Gates. As I mentioned in a previous post, I don't have a problem with race-based insults if it's personal between the giver & receiver, and I think that's the case here.

Granted, Gates & Barrett never actually went toe-to-toe, but Gates screwed with Crowley because he was both white and a cop. I think anyone who fits that description has a right to declare open season on Gates and say whatever the hell they want, because they could've just as easily been Gates's target.

posted by Harvey on July 30, 2009 at 08:34 AM | Permalink | 0 Liars | TrackBack
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