I’m not allowed to have an opinion on racism or women
The race debate is heating up, thanks in part to more police-related violence in the U.S. and daytime TV.
As an entertainment reporter, I watched with interest the return of The Talk after Sharon Osbourne’s dramatic exit last month. Osbourne got into a heated debate with co-star, Sheryl Underwood, after discussing Piers Morgan’s continued attacks on Meghan Markle. It led to a month-long hiatus as CBS tried to figure out how the show went off the rails, following Osbourne’s claim she was set up by producers, and later claims Osbourne had a history of bad behaviour.
The discussion was about Morgan’s relentless commentary about Markle and if it’s racist. The conclusion was drawn that Morgan doesn’t like her and because of that he’s racist. Even though he’s never said anything about her heritage, the default is that, as a white man, he’s racist.
Osbourne was accused of being racist for defending her friend but at no time during that on-air exchange did she say or do anything racist. In the end, Underwood, a black woman, cried during the tiff, therefore Osbourne is racist and out of a job.
Aside: I know both Morgan and Osbourne from my time covering America’s Got Talent back in the day. I have pictures of Osbourne goofing around backstage with a boy of colour and I know Morgan also spoke highly of the contestant. This wasn’t while we were on the red carpet, this was afterward when they weren’t the characters they played on the show.
Having said that, I’ll be accused of supporting racists and people will bombard this publication with hate-filled messages and call for my firing.
I tried an experiment on Monday during The Talk’s episode. The show came back for an after-school-special-type program about racism. I added my comments and was met with a barrage of attacks because I didn’t agree with the social media mob. I’m a white guy so I was told I shouldn’t have an opinion on race or conflict between women. To me, that’s racist and sexist.
If I said to someone, “You’re a woman, you wouldn’t understand,” I’d be called sexist. But it’s OK for people to tell me I can’t comprehend racism. Somehow I can’t understand. Somehow I lead a privileged life and have no room to talk about race.
“White man says what?” tweeted @alexjaimesevyn, adding, “a white man, trying to claim racism is rich. It’s a nice try, but it’s pathetic. The fact that you are negating a conversation by women & women of colour is a go-to for privileged white males to silence women.”
People read my words and looked at me — seeing a white guy — and immediately discredited any opinion I put forth. Why shouldn’t I be heard? If I sided with the mob, I’d be accepted. If not, banish me.
So, my experiment continued by playing the victim when people came at me. I said people were homophobic because they were attacking a gay guy.
“Please stop attacking gay people,” I’d say. “Your homophobia is hurtful.” Hey, why can’t I be a victim?
If my comments can be twisted as racist when I said nothing about race, though I happened to comment on a situation involving a black person, why can’t I feel that people are picking on me because I’m gay? Why am I not allowed to be a victim? Oh right, because I’m a white guy.
For 17 years, my job in this newspaper has been to present an opinion and facilitate a discussion with readers. Oftentimes people agree with me and other times not. And when people don’t, I like hearing another point of view.
In recent years it’s ridiculous to see how many people call for my firing because I present an opinion — something I’m paid to do. I see the letters to the editor and messages on my website. It’s cowardly to say someone should be silenced because you disagree with them.
It’s a slippery slope when people are accused of racism yet they’ve done no such thing. The cycle will never end if inflammatory accusations continue to be made. Makes you wonder if people want to make progress or just continue to be a victim.
