A Solid Call 2.0

AP Wire | 02/13/2004 | CBS apologizes for OutKast performance : CBS apologizes for OutKast performance even though it shouldn't have. This hypersensitivity really needs to stop. Outkast made no value judgments, did not portray anyone negatively, made no claims about a group of people. I am outraged at the outrage of groups like the Native American Cultural Center -- who called for a boycott of CBS.

The original NACC statement said "“It was the most disgusting set of racial stereotypes aimed at American Indians that I have ever seen on TV,” said Sean Freitas, a board member of NACC. “It was on par with white people dancing sexually in black face, or yarmulkes, or the vestments of the Catholic Church. I am shocked and outraged.” Clearly, Mr. Freitas has not watched much TV, especially any music video in the last decade which shows perople of the same ethnicity behaving is a much more lascivious nature without any sort of stylized dress reminiscent of Native American vestements. If anything, the participants in the Grammy performace were more restrained than usual. Clearly, to call it "most disgusting set of racial stereotypes aimed at American Indians that I have ever seen" is purely disingenuous and insulting to victims of real stereotyping and real racism. I would like to know how, exactly, a joyful dance in celebration of a big win will make people think that all Native Americans are somehow denigrated.

Unfortunately, this pitiful boycott call does more to damage racial legitimate sensitivity than Outkast's silly performance. All it does is stultify any real discussion of issues and media criticism and turn it into a knee-jerk reactionary exercise in intractibility. It's just sad.