Nov 27, 2006 10:54 pm US/Central
Jesse Jackson Calls For Ban Of N-Word
CBS 2's Jay Levine and Dorothy Tucker contributed to this report.
LOS ANGELES (CBS) ―
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Rev. Jesse Jackson is calling for entertainers to stop using the N-word.
CBS
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Michael Richards appeared on Rev. Jesse Jackson's Sunday morning radio show.
CBS
Rev. Jesse Jackson is calling for entertainers to stop using the N-word.
He and other leaders held a news conference in Los Angeles Monday, calling for the voluntary ban. The move comes one day after comedian Michael Richards appeared on Jackson's radio show to apologize for his racial rant last week.
As CBS 2's Dorothy Tucker reports, Jackson is going after TV and film stars, as well as musicians.
Jackson says he plans to meet with TV networks, film companies and musicians to talk about what they can do to stop using the racial slur.
Richards, who played the wacky neighbor on the popular Seinfeld show, was captured on a video cell phone using the N-word after two African Americans heckled him during his comedy routine.
At Monday's news conference, Jackson and others said the insult highlights issues of racial problems in America.
"We will challenge and urge all artists and comics to stop using this word," Jackson said. "What other group is subjected to such a degrading terminology?"
"This is about understanding that this is pervasive, that this happens in all of our institutions in one way or another," said U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters.
But as Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports, some feel a complete ban is going too far.
"As a comedian, its my job to say it, if they say don't say it, I'm supposed to say it. That's what an artist is supposed to do, break rules," said comedian AaronFreeman.
"I think if something is said in pure spirit of comedy and it's not said hatefully, and it's not said with any hate in your heart when you say it, I don't see where it can never be used again," said radio host and comedian Tony Sculfield.
There's not much debate over the spirit in which Richards used the word, but banning it, Freeman feels will backfire.
"If you've worked this hard to suppress it, you know what anybody with any kind of a beef on anything is going to be throwing it out as a sign of their rebellious individuality. It will be great for my business," Freeman said.
Jackson is also asking the public not to buy a DVD box set of the seventh season of the Seinfeld TV show. The DVD was released last week.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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