THE SCOURGE FROM SOUTH-CENTRAL
Mr. Elder would lead us to believe that the scorn leveled at him from blacks is a result of his enlightened ability to speak to what he considers a painful truth--that much of the black community is comprised of what he calls “victicrats,” individuals who see themselves as hopeless victims of society, and therefore, too heavily dependant on government to lift them from their impoverished condition. He has based his entire career on that simple premise.
But the truth is, that’s not why the black community finds Elder so distasteful at all. What makes this individual so objectionable is that he’s built his entire career on playing the race card in reverse. Day after day Elder promotes his radio show by catering to the absolute darkest attitudes of the white community toward his own people. And day after day he goes out of his way to find, create, or put his very special spin on issues that portray the black community as listless, ignorant, out of touch, coddled, or foolish. The following is a case in point:
FIFTEEN WAYS TO AVOID BEING
CALLED AN "UNCLE TOM"
By Larry Elder
1. See every Spike Lee movie. Pronounce each brilliant (even School Daze). Attack any non-black who disagrees. ("You wouldn't understand. It's a black thing.")
2. Whenever possible, disparage the success of other ethnic groups. Never attribute their success to hard work, discipline and sacrifice. Jews cheat. Koreans deceive. Japanese sneak.
3. If you are black, never publicly acknowledge hard work as the key to success. If living in a suburb, driving a nice car, you've "sold out." So whenever possible, disparage your own success by citing racist enemies conquered and enemy terrain (all offices, factories, non-black customers) "overcome."
4. Remember every racial slight and slur that's ever happened to you. Forget how long ago or what idiot said it. All racist remarks should be retained, remembered, regurgitated.
5. Always construe unpleasant remarks as racist. Dumb statements made by non-blacks are never just dumb, insensitive or naive. When a curious non-black classmate asks why so many blacks sit together, accuse him of racism.
6. Never look happy or comfortable. Rap artists don't smile. Neither should you. Snoop Doggy Dogg, Ice-T and Public Enemy never grin. This would suggest, "Hot damn, I'm rich! America works!"
7. Jessie Jackson is always right. Never question 30 years of welfare, jobs programs, public housing or minimum wage laws. To challenge these policies is to blame the "victims."
8. Treat "black problems" separate and apart from "America's problems." Never suggest that high taxes or excessive regulation destroy jobs, denying opportunities to the weakest segment of society.
9. Show no interest in "non-black" things. Do not read Russian literature, study European or Asian art or attend plays without black themes. Never say anything positive about Barbara Streisand, the MacNeil-Lehrer Report or haiku.
10. Feel guilty about success. If you prosper, others will demand that you "give something back," that you "don't forget your roots." They will ask, "What have you done to help others?" Working hard, paying taxes and raising productive children are inadequate.
11. Discount positive news. Polls show many non-black Americans favor Colin Powell for President of the United States. The black middle class is growing faster than the white middle class. Nearly 10 percent of black families now earn $50,000 a year or more. The combined income of black America exceeds that of all but 10 countries. Ignore this.
to mention good things means a "lack of perspective."
12. Purchase books by angry blacks. Read books by former gang-bangers who attack "the system."
13. Show outrage and indignation whenever a white kills a black. Whenever a black kills a black (as is most likely the case), sigh, shrug your shoulders and mutter something like, "Well..."
14. Avoid having too many non-black friends, especially white ones. Don't' want to lose your "sense of identity."
15. Refer to the 1992 Los Angeles riots as an "uprising." (Don't ask.)
What Elder is saying here is that one must feel a moral obligation to be stupid in order to be accepted by the black community.
That is the thrust of the Larry Elder Show–to drag the black community through the mud, downplay the concerns of the black community, and titillate his white listeners by portraying the black community in the worst possible light at every possible opportunity. But when you think about it, it makes sense. What could possibly be a better way of helping the white commuter unwind after a hard day’s work, and facing a long drive home? It’s the perfect formula for a show that can’t avoid success– The Let’s Dog Black People Show, hosted by the ever-grinning black man, Larry Elder. It’s a programmer’s dream.
The foregoing scenario may sound outlandish, but if one compares the Larry Elder Show to that of Rush Limbaugh, it becomes immediately clear that Limbaugh is anti liberal and Elder is anti black. In fact, Limbaugh couldn’t get away with Elder’s diatribes against black people. Therefore, while it seems unbelievable in this day and time, and in a city as sophisticated as Los Angeles, it is more than clear to the black community that Elder is allowing himself to be used to propagate an attitude toward the black community that couldn’t be done as effectively without someone like himself. And radio station KABC is shamelessly allowing itself to benefit from such an atrocious disregard of the black community. So, it’s not Elder’s position on issues that we find objectionable–it is the way, and the reason he espouses those positions that we find so unconscionable.