Is Michael Richards (aka Kramer) a racist?
Everyone is talking about it. Michael Richards, also known as Kramer, flipped out during a stand up comedy routine and blasted some guy using the n-bomb, but does this make him a racist? No, it does not. Racism can be attributed to two things. Racism is defined, by the American heritage dictionary, as the following: 1. the belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others. 2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race. However, what he said does make him a bigot. A bigot is defined as: 1. One who is strongly partial to one’s own group, religion, race or politics and is intolerant of those who differ. My intention here is not to make excuses for Michael Richards or to come to his defense, but lets call it what it is. He never indicated that he thought one race was superior to another which is essential in establishing a claim of racism. What he said does not constitute a policy that favors one race over another, which
