Friday Fire: Was Jemele Hill’s Hitler Remark Racist?
Should not be fired
I have a daughter who is interested in journalism so that’s where my support for Jemele is locked. I truly feel she could ascend to the heights of Gwen Ifill (R.I.P Tim Russert) and I hope she gets there. This is about building a connection to the responsible yet foreseeable future. I want Jemele to get there. I will never give up on her…Whitlock either. That’s just how it is and how it will ever be…
This is not about me having a crush on Jemele. That’s ridiculous. She has eyes of fine wine of my Mom’s kind but let’s be real here. If My Homiez Call, I do not disappoint never ever. Plus, I sortakindanotreally gotta girl.
Sup Wow? How you doin’? Yeah plan on getting Julyed up real soon 
Seriously though…
This is not about me not being able to be objective…I just know why the analogy was made.
You all know Jemele is a friend, so I do have her back in any time of need regardless of what’s going on. That’s how I am with all my people and I’m not changing now.
Do I agree with her or any of my people at all times?
Hell no, but I gotta be there for her. That’s just me.
Can you compare her remarks to Imus?
No. Chill on that. There’s no comparison. Don Imus has a 30 year history of making asinine comments and is back working.
Can you compare her analogy to Kelly Tilghman?
No. Are you serious? She actually said on television to hang Tiger. Yeah she said it in jest, but where’s the comparison?
Did she use a bad choice of words given the history of her employer and some segments of society’s hard lustful dream for the Imus get back?
Of course, but who really is upset about this and give me real reasons why and I’ll listen. Seriously, I’m open to dialogue here.
Don’t just say Imus. That’s straight bitchassness. Come with something substantive.
I say this because Jemele and I had a conversation pre Finals. I asked her who she had and being from the D, there’s no way she could pick the C’s. That’s where the Hitler analogy originated and is firmly grounded.
She was not saying Hitler was a victim. If she used Stalin (who killed more people) would she be suspended? Probably not.
Am I upset her superior edited her piece from the original copy to pander once again to ESPN’s readership?
Ya damn right! That’s just foul.
Remember people, this is coming from a talk radio station (they originally posted her address and telephone number which is crazy) first. Listen to the show and judge for yourself whether or not they have any credibility in all of this (outside of Jemele’s words obviously).
For the record, if Jews are offended, then that’s their right. Just make sure the same people criticizing Jemele do the same when one of their own speaks something that can be considered offensive.
That’s all I ask.
It’s crazy when people speak out only when they have to.
Dig the intro in her last interview with TSF.
Jemele you need to take a stand in your writing and stick to it. It’s as simple as that.
Should Jemele be fired?
Hell no! Why is that even a consideration?
Man up America. We are giving the appearance of the softness of baby food! You should know by now what the hell is racist.
Why are you defending Imus any way out side of free speech?
Gotta go to work and read this fast. Maybe I missed it but what did she say?
I am not a fan of the sista but this is what it is. When the news first hit that the editor missed it (yeah right). I told my boy she was done. And I still believe she is on her way out.
But as Ice Cube said in be true to the game “but they don’t care they’ll have a new N^%$& next year”.
Maybe its just me, and maybe I read WAY too many blogs, but I feel like people have had it out for Jemele for a long time now. I dont know exactly when it started, but more and more I see her name attached to negative energy amongst the people and I really don’t understand it.
That’s why I fight for her. I also fight for her because of a conversation I had with David Aldridge prior to the Finals. Just check her blog.
Why are people calling her NIGGER?
I defend Jemele Hill’s right to say what she said.
I defended Don Imus’ right to say what he said.
As D.L. Hughley has said, freedom of speech is a zero-sum policy. It’s either for everyone, or no one.
I didn’t find what Imus said funny by any strech, but as Ms. Hill has shown, we’re all a second away from saying or writing something that could offend someone, which doesn’t take much in this day and age.
But if you going to call for the firing of someone based on a statement you find objectionable, you better make sure your shit don’t stink. THAT’s why Ms. Hill is where she is today.
Intersting piece from a brother from Canada:
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/3541
If the editors let it run on the site then they are the ones in need of discipline. I hope she sees what she’s up against now.
Honestly…. I read the column in its unedited form. And I never picked up on the Hitler thing as anything more than a line in a screed about how she could never root for the Celtics, and that doing so would be like rooting for Hitler. It was a heavy-handed (and IMO fangirlish) thing to write, but I wasn’t thinking that Jemele was somehow comparing Larry Bird’s steal off against Isiah Thomas to people getting gassed in ovens.
The reation to this is really overblown, and really ridiculous.
You know how I feel about the whole thing. If you lie with dogs…
Right temple. There’s no way an editor missed that by accident or maybe he/she thought like a lot of us that it was no big deal. Either way she needs to be paying attention now.
Given the way her writing was constantly scrutinized, she and her editors should have made sure that joke was able to pass muster. Unless you know for sure you have the skill to pull a joke like that off, you still may want to think twice about using it.
Hill should not be fired. She doesn’t have a history (as Imus did) and people are allowed to make mistakes, plus since then she’s done a good job of accepting responsibility and apologizing (as Imus did not). Plus the comparisons to Imus are ridiculous there not in the same ball park. However, under no circumstances can Hill be excused for what is a needlessly offensive remark. There’s no reason she couldn’t have compared rooting for the Celtics to rooting for some other unlikable character who wasn’t responsible for the deaths of millions of people. She has to have the presence of mind to know that that statement is going to bring fire and she didn’t. The suspension is what she deserves, lets hope it doesn’t last that long and she can get back to her fine work. The reaction is overblown, no doubt, and yes, of course there’s a racial undertone, but if she goes back to writing columns it should (I hope) blow over quickly. She’s been upfront in her apology and people want to forgive so a suspension is all she needs.
But Mizzo, when you say “If Jews are offended that’s there right,” you miss a broader argument. She was comparing the Celtics (who’s 2008 incarnation has no rape accusations on its roster, by the way [I understand an aquittal is wholly different than a conviction but come on, Kobe Bryant isn't the world's most likable athlete]) to a man that considered not only the Jews unworthy of life but a large section of gentile white people (slavs) as well as a man that considered blacks more worthless than Jews to them Africans were sub-human. He should offend more than just Jews, as he killed more than just Jews. It was a silly statement to make.
See that’s where I beg to differ. How many Atilla the Hun references do you hear?
I don’t care who the hell she is writing for..sports is a huge part of our culture.
I’m not for this bullshit notion that folks should get up in arms just because it’s Hitler.
If she came out and said something stupid about an individual or slammed an entire race then that’s obviously different.
We celebrate founding fathers in this nation every day who owned slaves and had people killed.
Where’s the uproar?
There’s a huge racial undertone to this that is disgusting.
Look…
I want to keep my personal beliefs out of this. I’m just showing some support for a friend.
That’s a fine point, Mizzo. And as I said, I’m not for the firing of Jemele Hill. It’s more than admirable that you’re standing up for your friend, she needs the support around the blogs to say the least. And The racial undertones ARE sickening, I agree. If this was Rick Reilly or another white columnist, IF there was a public outcry it would be muted and over quickly. Especially in Boston, this has gone too far to the point that the reactionaries (especially the radio station) have far outsinned the original statement. Everybody has been waiting for an “Imus-like” comment from a black member of the media to extract some revenge. And of course there’s a double standard regarding the Hitler and Founding Father’s aspect, but my point is that the comparison is needless. She could’ve avoided it by using a different example and she could have said the same thing. Plus, I can’t agree with comparing a basketball team to the murderer of millions. How about “Rooting for the Celtics is like calling Roger Clemens the victim?” or “calling Tim Hardaway the victim?” or even “calling Don Imus the victim?” I’m all for an edgy, push-button columnist, but this wasn’t meant to provoke thought or question beliefs. It was just a poor choice of words. ESPN seems to have accepted it as such, and they aren’t leading the league in even keeled, cool headedness, the Boston media should do the same. Plus, they won the damn thing so get over it.
Exactly. Thanks for stopping by Nick.
No problem, Mizzou, I visit everyday. Keep up the good work. Also, I want to clarify, just because I believe that if Rick Reilly or a white columnist made the same statement the reaction would be minimal does not mean that I believe the statement would have been less offensive from a white typewriter or any other typewriter for that matter.
Who among us doesn’t think in today’s political climate, that Jemele just handed over a “gimme”……there is a rabidness (is that an insult to diseased animals?) out there that is just bubbling over. There are folks that live for one of “us” to make little comments like that so they can award themselves full rights to make every racist comment in the world about the angry black person. Michelle Obama anyone?
Miranda,
In 1988, one of Ice-T’s best albums was ” Freedom Of Speech, Just Watch What You Say. ” Twenty years later, it’s become one of our country’s slogans. The notion of comparing which phrase was more offensive is, IMO, bullshit. If the wrong person gets riled up, that will set the wheels in motion to potentially cost someone their career. I couldn’t stand 2 Live Crew, but when they were arrested in Broward County, FL and their CD’s and cassettes were destroyed, it became a threat to everyone’s right to free speech. The loss of free speech wouldn’t just be confined to Jemele Hill, or Don Imus, or Michelle Obama. If anyone of us says something considered controversial, as Biggie asked : ” Whatchu gonna do when Big Poppa come for you? “
Until we are in TOTAL control of our OWN media, things like this will happen. As a black journalist, we have to be EXTREMELY GOOD at our jobs and at the same time walk that fine line to make sure you do not fall out of the “good graces”
Peace.
The most known unknown.
Des,
Loss of free speech isn’t the problem because it doesn’t really exist, everything has a price…..its the loss of being able to speak freely. No one can be or ever will be that completely conscious with every word or thought that springs forth, just impossible, just humanly impossible. So this game of round robin on who-said-what-that-offends-somebody, will continue until heaven and earth pass away…unless we let the machines take over.
I am not a fan of Jamele,quite the opposite,I don’t think she’s a good writer and I think she uses certain issues as a crutch.However there’s no way in hell she should be fired.A suspension sounds right,what she said was deeply offensive and stereotypical(I’m not going to use the word racist as its the most misused word in the popular vernacular)
I’m not sure how you go about saying what she said wasn’t as bad as what Imus said,both comment came from a place of ignorance,and I think neither were meant to offend but that’s just what happens when you say stupid things.Jamele won’t get as much heat as Imus because she isn’t as well known.But both comments were as bad as each other.
Nick Renkowski — you are dead wrong about Imus. After his insulting and idiotic remarks, he apologized profusely on his show and elsewhere. It wasn’t good enough for the lynchmob and he was fired for it (obviously, he later got a job with WABC). It’s fine to hate on Imus. I don’t care for him myself. But, don’t make things up as you build your case against him. Distortion of the truth, or just plain lying or ignorance, is not commendable.
Here’s an interesting quote from Jemele Hill in regard to the Kelly Tilghman (Golf Channel) incident:
“…those who, like Woods, believed this is a “non-issue” would understand that the word “lynch” is off-limits to most blacks, just as joking about the Holocaust is off-limits to most Jews.”
I don’t see how anyone can sugarcoat what she said and her past positions on matters like this. It’s pure hypocrisy.
Hasani, great point with Hill’s previous statements but concerning Imus, it is true that he apologized but that was two full days later after it was clear the controversy wasn’t going to go away. Plus he was indignant the entire time. I don’t care that he was fired, I didn’t and don’t listen to him, he has a history of that kind of talk and that isn’t my thing. I don’t have a problem that he has a job now, every voice should be heard in America, I guess I’m just sad there is an audience for that particular voice. Anyway, the comparisons between Hill and Imus are mostly made up to create a storyline anyway, the two comments couldn’t be more different. But we agree that a suspencion should do, not a firing.
When homegirl first appeared on the scene one of the first pieces she wrote for page 2 argued that black athletes were more violent than their white counterparts. I tripped because it seemed like I was reading Whitlock jr. Even though she reps the 313 like I do, I don’t have the same degree of sympathy for her.
Nick — I again have to disagree with you about the comparison between Imus and Hill. The context and details of the comments are obviously very different. However, the ultimate effect is not. Black women, in particular, who suffered to hear Imus’s bullshit would not be blamed for feeling dehumanized. Now, imagine you’re a Jew, perhaps even a Jew who lived through the Holocaust. You think it doesn’t have a similar dehumanizing effect to have basketball rooting interests compared in a trivial, flippant way to one of the sickest atrocities of the 20th century? If black women and Jews are deeply offended by such unthinking remarks, and offended on a racial/ethnic level, then what’s really so different about the comments? Sorry, but it sounds to me that some of you are bending over backwards to defend Hill simply because, unlike Imus, you previously liked and respected her work.
Dr. Spence:
I often wonder how that happens. I know the 313 – not like you do – but I know that this is some strange fruit which has been shipped to Bristol. Strange indeed.
I think Hasani hit the nail on the head-the hypocrosity in Hills words:
“…those who, like Woods, believed this is a “non-issue” would understand that the word “lynch” is off-limits to most blacks, just as joking about the Holocaust is off-limits to most Jews.”
What I find interesting-is that TSF is saying yeah she said that BUT….but nothing. Her intent (which wasn’t to offend) isnt the issue-the issue being fanned by those-who-werent-offended-but-dont-like-her is that she is now viewed as a hypocrite and she DID offend people once her ‘words’ got out. It doesn’t matter if the tabloid radio-hosts latched onto her words and fanned the falmes, its out there and the damage is done. Hill may wearing a scarlet swastika at the moment, but its gonna fade and people will forget…but as a ‘journalist’ Hill should have known better-especially penning stuff for ESPN-and especially after the Imus backlash-she should have seen this coming the second she typed the word “Hitler”…remember her response to your question in Part Three of her Interview-when you asked what advice she would give to young aspiring female writers?
“The main thing I would tell her is that you have to be as prepared or more prepared than your male counterparts. That is just a fact…You also have to believe in yourself. As you travel along the road to success, there are going to be many people that try to knock you down and discredit you. You have to believe strongly in what you do–that you have something relevant to contribute. I have to stress being prepared.”
Guess Hill wasn’t as prepared as she professed to be.
Delinda…did Jemele say I love Hitler? Did she say hang Jews? Did she call Jews out of their name like Imus did?
You know my explicit opinion on this.
This shit is not about buts..that’s for damn sure. We as Blacks are criticized for not celebrating a flag we were hung under so we’ve been hearing buts our entire existence here.
What is it with you getting me fired up on Saturdays?
And another thing…the outlet in this instance DOES matter because stirring up controversy is what talk radio shows are all about.
Stop bitchin’ and appreciate that your town has just won it’s first bball title in 20 years.
What the hell happened to men in this world?
Take that shit back to week day afternoon television where the chicks hang out and eat bon bons or whatever
Talk radio hosts rarely go back to their journalistic roots unless the listener engages them in a decent sports conversation based on personal experience. You know that.
We have become a society based on tabloid information..and that includes ESPN.
Im bout to grab a box of bon-bons and plant myself on the sofa.
Shhhhhhhhhhhhh.
So Mizzo, will she go back to the plantation, all contrite and obedient, or will she escape to freedom. You know, maybe start a blog, write indepedently for some one else, write a book or some sutch?
I may not know much, but I know whie supemacy enough to over stand that she is done at ESPN. Bet be making plans for after, ’cause this maybe a golden opportunity to go from being a…”girl, nigger, race card bearer at ESPN” to a …”girl, nigger, race card bearer controling her own shit” .
Holla back Jemele!
Mizzo:
I don’t think Tupac is the best link in this instance. Mr. Shakur and Ms. Hill held/hold VERY different positions when it comes to the BEHAVIOR and ACTIONS of Black people. Why, someone might say that they’re as different as night and day. Mr. Shakur himself warned, “Don’t get caught up in the mix ’cause the media’s full of dirty tricks.”
I just want to add that while we disagree, your loyalty is commendable. Loyalty is the only thing left when there are no rules.
Sankofa – You could be right, but the “F$@#! Jesus” Lady is back at work. I don’t think she missed much time at all. Of course, the setting was different. She wasn’t broadcasting when she said it.
Real talk: Jemele is not a talented enough of a writer to survive this in the long run. Bottom line. And I wouldn’t be shocked if ESPN editors let the comment go through to have a reason to let her go …
Regardless, I don’t shed on tear for Jemele or think she should be treated any differently than anyone else has been in similar situations.
Remember, Jemele makes it a point to ensure that race is included in most of her articles or topics.
In her article about Thiglman, she even said that joking about the holocaust is off-limits to Jews… and then she drops a Hitler joke a few months later?
Play with fire, you’re going to get burned eventually.
The rules are simple now: If you make an insensitive comment about race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected group, you’re going to get slammed.
Everyone knows the rules. Or at least they should. And if Jemele didn’t… then that’s on her.
She should have known better.
Jemele’s article does not even rise above the racism claim these numnuts are stating and didn’t Imus make 80 million dollars for being fired/rehired? White sports fans have no leg to stand on this issue. I hated the Celtics in the 1980′s because they represented White America’s worst elements in sports and if you read the book “the selling of the green” the fianical rise and moral decline of the Boston Celtics by Harvey Aaranton and Fillip Brody you will see why I hated those bastards and the city so much and I live in the South !!!
The Celtics themselves cultivated this racist attitude during and after the Russell era and always had to have a white hero to represent the Celtics first Havlichek, Cowens to Bird and Mc Hale and any third- rate white player. When they fell like the Red Sox because star black players didn’t want to play for the Celtics or the Red Sox because of tha’s city’s attitude towards the black population. Hill was expressing an attitude that white americans cultivate on the sly, teams like Notre Dame (when they are good) in Football, Duke in Basketball and players like Tim Tebow that these teams and players “play the right way”.
Well to me that’s they play “properly white american style” and they don’t brag, bring attention to themselves, and act like sportsmen which is the biggest crock of shit I have heard. Bird was the biggest trash talker along with Lattener and Tom Brady but you would never hear that amongst MSM types. Hill was not racist in her statement but a reality she was rooting for Pierce, Allen and Garnett to win a championship so they don’t have to bear the budren of being great players who never won a championship and Doc Rivers who almost did with the Knicks as player. Boston is still a racist city and I still hate the Celtics but Jemele should not be fired.
This is “Racial Correctness” run amuck
Eric — you obviously wear highly filtered glasses that are sensitive only to potential instances of racism or prejudiced directed toward black folks. Your rant just isn’t a very credible perspective.
Shut Up Friedman, Hassani or whatever your name is at the time, Hill was just stating a fact Asswipe about an attitude the Celtics themselves cultivated. You white conservatives practice “racial correctness” like a pimp trying to get his money !!!
And who would take Bob Parks seriously Des !!!! he is a right-wingnut out of the Ann Coulter/Neal Boortz mode.
Ok, I know I’m slow sometimes but how is this comment racist?
Michelle, this is about “racial correctness” on the part of whites who are offended when a black person says something that goes aganist the ” so-colorblind paradigm” of race in this country.
example no. 1 – God Damn America because America has pursued Empire it got what it has dished out on 9-11
example no. 2 – George Bush and the GOP race-baiting politics is repsonsible for the genocide of 2400 Americans in New Orleans in 2005
If you say those things ‘good white americans’/and others will ask 38 million African- Americans to condemn those statments and “assimilated blacks” will demand you apologize or you will set race relations back 60 years because you told the truth about your country.
Problem is, Eric, is that this field of “racial sensitivity” isn’t a level one. Imus was fired for his insensitive comment. Hill was not. And yet you rant as if the playing field were actually reversed, which it isn’t. You can pop your cork all you want, but you’re completely blind to reality, and your immediate retreat to insulting anyone who disagrees with you with ad hominem attacks is pretty pathetic. Grow up and make your points with calm intelligence.
Hasani,
Why would anyone compare her comment to the comment that Imus made? Imus has a history of making nasty comments about black women. He should have been fired a long time ago. That being said Hitler was a horrible human being. Ms. Hill used him to make a point. I say bad choice of words but racist. NO!
I agree Michelle – Imus was specifically trying to insult a group of women with a derogatory slur, Jemele was not – its that simple…but like Eric says, this is a whitey “get back” that although isn’t close to being a comparison, will be used as such.
Problem is, Thandiwe/Solongo/Hasani/etc., Imus was fired for his “racial insensitivity” because, as the ladies say above, Imus has a history of being intentionally “insensitive,” whereas Hill, as much as I disagree with what she writes (so do not accuse me of homerism), does not.
Also, Imus was “rehired” at a new company where he’s making more money than ever before. We can all rest assured that such a fate does not await Ms Hill.
So what was that nonsense you were saying about the “reversed” playing field?
Poet, to the tune of 80 million dollars and “hassani” when Jemele could sue ESPN for wrongful termination and collect 40 million from CBS and get another 40 million from some conservative prick then we will talk about a “Level racial field”. Whites don’t lose careers when they say dumb Shit Blacks never get back into the major leagues.
And Jimmy the Greek and Al Campanis were old and nearing retirment so don’t even try it.
Well……did anyone hear the latest Imus comments?? (smh)………..
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Don-Imus-opines-on-the-artist-formerly-known-as-?urn=nfl,89741
Imus? Here we go again!