"The View" Heats Up Over Racism, Whoopi Declares, "This Is A Racist Country"

Things got heated on "The View" this morning as the ladies discussed race and racism, prompted by Barack Obama's relationship with the controversial pastor Jeremiah Wright and his comments last week about his grandmother, who he called the "typical white person."

The segment, excerpted below, gives a glimpse into how heated the discussion became: Whoopi declared, "This is a racist country," and told Elisabeth that she, like Obama's grandmother, would be scared if she saw six young black men standing on a corner. Elisabeth, for her part, denied that this would alarm her and demanded (in harsh tones and with exaggerated hand gestures) that someone "write [her] the rules on racism."

Watch:

From ABC, 3/24

Comments

[nicaw]

02:19 PM on 03/31/2008

We have to admit that racism exists. I think that when we put our heads in the sand and act like it doesn't exist we create more problems. And it does exist within cultures and toward others.

I'm black and I would be uncomfortable, depending on what neighborhood I was in, walking past six young black men. The biggest problem goes back to not being honest.

Now that we have acknowledged that it exists, how do we fix it? Can it be fixed? What would be the first steps? Where does racism come from?

Maybe we start with trying to understand the why. Why do some people feel others are inferior (this exists within cultures as well)? Are these feelings based out of general fear, third party fear (what someone else has experienced), or our own experiences?

I guess we can say it's not an overnight problem so there is no overnight solution.

[BetterDays]

01:03 AM on 03/29/2008

Elisabeth's Rules for Racism: Rule 1) Opening a dialogue about racism by making an analogy using Jeffrey Dahmer eating a peanut butter sandwich immediately makes you ineligible to communicate intelligently on racial issues. Rule 2) If the only people you have associated with from other races are NFL players and your co-hosts, you are again ineligible to intelligently discuss race Rule 3) Spewing the Fox News Talking Points about race is mere reading of a teleprompter, not intelligent discourse about racial issues. Rule 4) Could The View please find an intelligent and objective Republican to communicate conservative values and weigh in on issues such as race or else limit the discussions to lipstick and hairspray. Rule 5) You simply must remove your head from your ass, Elisabeth, before you try to discuss anything that required thought.

[saranya3s]

12:16 AM on 04/01/2008

The fact that she demands (of a black woman) the "rules of racism," is in itself asserting her power, and is racist. She won't see it like that. Most people won't see it like that, actually. Making the "other" group prove it to you, that what you're saying is racist...is racist. I cannot believe she actually wanted rules...
Fellow white people. Listen up. You (we) don't get to be comfy and be given the guidelines. It's our fault (and yes I know YOU personally didn't have slaves. Not the point) and we've gotta live with it. Just accept that for ONCE we don't GET to be comfortable in a situation. Wow, what an idea.

[bsworld]

05:17 PM on 03/28/2008

There is horrible horrible racism in this country and it has been directed towards black american people. We have endored more than any other race out there. I think that it is completely insensitive and naive of anyone in the opposite race to not be more understanding and sensitive to anything that is said by the Rev or any other black person for that matter. However, I have to keep in mind that racism is still alive and there are some white people who are still very much racist. So that explains alot of these insensitive and ignorant postings.

[mitchie]

12:56 PM on 03/31/2008

"However, I have to keep in mind that racism is still alive and there are some white people who are still very much racist. "

HUH? Are you saying there aren't any blacks who are racist in America? Only the whites are racist?

Racism is indeed still present in America, it crosses all religions/colors/sexes - it is everywhere. America is also not the only country where it exists... it is a world wide problem.

Yes I'm white, but i refuse to believe that only whites are racist.

[Dadoftwins]

04:39 PM on 03/28/2008

One young black man is enough to scare me, most white people and probably most black people. That is a rational response given the violence of young black men. Wasn't it Jesse Jackson himself who said that he was relieved to see that a bunch of young men behind him were white rather than black? Let's all follow Barack Obama's advice and have an honest discussion about race instead of all the PC bullshit that passes for a dialogue.

[StateofTaxes]

12:54 PM on 03/30/2008

Sad, but so true. Actually, in the present day and time, the growing crime rate in our Country, don't honestly think it would matter if Anyone, black, white or otherwise, was following, it would cause alarm. We definitely need honest dialogs, followed by a course of action to address these problems; I am old enough to say, it has not always been this way, and can remember a time when I could feel safe in walking down a public street, without looking behind me, or being afraid. I would so love to see those days back again!

[AbdulScarface]

03:11 PM on 03/30/2008

Crime, high rates of out of wedlock births and incarcerations and inadequate education are all symptoms of the institutionalized racism in this country. It's sad to say that all those plagues the black community. If we are really to get rid of these ills we must first and foremost discuss racism in an honest and open fashion. Only then this will be land of the free and home of the brave not only for the dominant majority but for all. Obama is that chance. Should we pass that we will regret it all.

[2sleepy]

03:03 PM on 03/28/2008

I doubt that anyone who has gone to church for any length of time has not had their minister, priest or rabbi say something they disagree with.I went to the Catholic Church many years ago, when the Good Friday Prayer included the following:
"Let us pray also for the faithless Jews: that almighty God may remove the veil from their hearts; so that they too may acknowledge Jesus Christ our Lord. Almighty and eternal God, who dost not exclude from thy mercy even Jewish faithlessness: hear our prayers, which we offer for the blindness of that people; that acknowledging the light of thy Truth, which is Christ, they may be delivered from their darkness"
That offended me every time that I heard it but I continued going to church. I guess if I were running for office I would risk having someone try to pigeon hole me as an anti-Semite and run the loop of that prayer on tv 24/7
It seems that some people are unable or unwilling to understand that we can maintain our own principles and still participate in a faith that might at times seem to run counter to our beliefs, so for those of you who can't grasp the logic of this, (and can't find your cap lock key) I offer you this
http://donkeyod.wordpress.com/2008/03/27/hillarys-prayer-hillary-clintons-religion-and-politics/

[heywhat]

01:40 PM on 03/28/2008

I'm a Whoopi fan, not an Elizabeth fan and I have no doubt that there is racism in this country and it would all depend on the look of the black guys on whether or not I crossed the street; sometimes I cross the street when I see six white guys. I am not entirely sure that Reverend Dr. Wright's comments were racist but I do know that I am disappointed that while Senator Obama thought it necessary to educate the population at large on the issue of race, he did not find it necessary to stand up in his own church and address the issue of race. I am not saying he should repudiate JW or leave his church, I am saying that the fact that he did not challenge these views makes his national stance less valid for me.
http://strictlyanecdotal.com

[Trinidad707]

01:06 PM on 03/28/2008

I'm sort of tired hearing how predjudice white people are. I was probably the most unpredjudiced person around, but after watching the OJ trial something in me said this is wrong, this is a judgement as a group not an individual judgement. It would seem from Rev Wright's soundbytes imagine if we had heard more..my god, I never knew black people hated white people so much??? One of the black talking heads on a news show was attempting to defend Obama’s pastor by saying that the way he is preaching is not unlike most black churches, so I guess this is across the board ..........african american people are very predjudice....................and we haven't had slavery for hundreds of years

[PhilosophicalPotato]

01:45 PM on 03/28/2008

They aren't predjudice, they are angry. And rightfully so in my opinion. After all, if someone wrongs you, you have the right to be mad about it and talk about it. Have you never said bad things about America? You must be absolutely blind of the Bush Admin if you haven't. But that doesn't mean you hate America itself does it? I know I've said bad things about America (namely Bush Admin) BECAUSE I love America so much that I'm furious that there are people out there who want to turn it into Father-Knows-Best/Leave-it-to-Beaver Christian whitetopia. America is beautiful because it is diverse, and America wouldn't BE America if it weren't. If Blacks in this country weren't mad about slavery and the CONTINUING discrimination of African American's then they would be stupid. But that doesn't mean that ALL Blacks hate ALL Whites. And to say that they are is disingenuous. Some Blacks are probably so mad that they are prejudice against whites. But on the other hand, there are STILL KKK members who protest MLK Jr. parades. Neither prejudices are morally right, and neither represent the whole of each group. But to discount the justified anger that exists is to be ignorant and uncompassionate.

[knixphan]

04:35 PM on 03/28/2008

well-said.

[CAMBEL]

05:16 PM on 03/28/2008

Ok so let me get this straight, if it is ok for all blacks to continually be angry about slavery hundreds of years later, is it also acceptable for Irish people to continue to be angry because they weren't allowed to rent apartments in areas of NYC when they got here? If somebodys grandmother was beat up and mugged by a black man is it ok for her grandchildren 50 years later to be angry at all black people? If a person loses his job because new Hispanic immigrants are working for less money is it ok 2 decades later for his children to hate Mexicans? Give me a break. Fine, if it is ok for blacks to still be angry, then lets take it to the extream. Every woman who has ever been abused must hate all men, every man who has ever been tricked into paying child support for another mans child should hate all women and children etc... you could keep going on. What has happened is that somehow culturally it has been made ok for people to wallow in this victim mentality which does nobody any good. Would Obama be running for president if he just sat around thinking about how angry he was over something that happened centruies ago? Of course not.

[BlondeLebanese]

04:25 PM on 03/28/2008

This is how you see America? Where have you been?? I've got to say that there is some extreme predjudice down here in Tennessee. Not from the people who are black and brown...for the most part they are very cool about the crap they have been dealt from the white folks...they are certainly more cool than I would be in their place. I've lived all over the United States and unless you have lived in the deep South you have no idea what hatred toward a large segment of the population is. Why it is always some white dude complaining about how unfair the white people are being treated by blacks?? It amazes me and reminds me how screwed up the situation is. It will probably not surprise you, Trinidad707, but I agree with most of what Reverend Wright says...even though I am a caucasion woman. I have to agree with Philosophical Potato...there is every reason to be angry. It makes no one less love American any less, no matter how much you may try to imply that anyone that disagrees with you, or Hannity or Limbaugh must hate America. I LOVE America but I surely hate what the bush regime has done to my country...all the more reason to expedite his exit from power.

[corymac]

01:01 PM on 03/28/2008

Whoopi says that if Elsabeth was being approaced by 6 black guys on the street, she would cross the street. Uh, Whoopi, if 6 black guys were approaching me on the street, I would cross the street, too. AND I'M A BLACK GUY!!! Straight up, as much violence against women as there is in this society, if ANY woman walking by herself is being approached by 6 men of ANY race, she should cross the street! Be smart, don't even risk it. White women, don't let stupid liberal white guilt make you make a decision that could get you hurt. CROSS THE STREET!!! MAKE SURE YOU ARE SAFE!!!

[unenrolled]

10:03 AM on 03/28/2008

Liz, the strong republican , you praise the clintons all the time. No need to wonder about racism when it comes to her!!!!!!!!!!!!

[eshaneua]

08:10 AM on 03/28/2008

We have something in common--the fact that we were ALL created in God's image, are Divine in Essence and have been imbued with a Divine Spark that can ONLY be lit through Unconditional Love and Compassion. The SOUL has no color and neither does God. He is an Infinite Being and everything that Is Good, Pure and True comes from him. To hate ANYTHING that God created is to hate myself and only when that fact is realized in the hearts and minds of every human being will things really change.

[PhilosophicalPotato]

01:54 PM on 03/28/2008

Yay you!! I love to see someone who is religious actually use their brain too. What you just said there isn't rocket science. But for some reason, for a lot of people, being "right" is more important than actually practicing compassion. Go figure.

[AlligatorShuz]

10:28 PM on 03/27/2008

Elizabeth Hasslebach, is dumb as a rail. I am questioning Barbara Walters on why would she put Elizabeth and Sherry Shephard on because those two women are dumb. Sherry Shephard is an idiot, she makes no sense. Joy jokes are dry and not funny! Whoopi and Barbara are the only women on the show that have intelligence. She is a republican because her husband told he she was because that woman couldn't tell you any thing meaningful about the republican party.

[sajc05]

08:38 PM on 03/27/2008

people here are idiots... i live in philly, a man was killed yesterday by a group of black teens in broad daylight by city hall... now if its late at night and i'm walking by a group of young black men HELL YES I'M NERVOUS and not because of RACISM but because people are getting killed everyday in philly by YOUNG BLACK MEN!!!

and dumb people on this site try to make excuses for this behavior and would blame some one like me for being racist. i don't care how poor you are, you don't need money to know not to kill people.

so to recap, philadelphia had the highest homicide rate in 07 in the country... 99.9% of the perpetrators (and victims) were black men. so if some one who gets nervous walking down a dark street in philly toward 6 black men... are they racists or are their fears based in the reality of actual crime statistics and facts? and lets not even go into the fact that black white crime is far more prevalent then the opposite. (so says the DOJ)

[TheKeshava]

07:53 PM on 03/27/2008

Obama does not attend a racist church. Rev. Wright is neither racist or anti-American. The Main Stream Media has spread this fantasy based on carefully selected seemingly racist and anti-America sounds bites of Rev. Wright taken out of context from the sermons from which they were taken. The truth is the following.
Rev. Wright built a large, nationally renowned and respected congregation within the predominately white Trinity United Church of Christ. Rev. Wright and his congregation have been active in community service and promoting God, Christ and self empowerment and responsibility. Obama has every reason to be proud of the work Rev. Wright has done. Rev. Wright is not only a respected biblical scholar who has been invited to the White House and many other respected churches and organizations. Rev. Wright and his congregation have been highly praised by visiting white ministers within his church. It is a tragedy that the media has virtually ignored the good works of Rev. Wright and his congregation. Instead, the MSM misrepresented what Rev. Wright and Sen. Obama stood for and believed in based on controversial statements taken out of context from the sermons in which they were made.

[ohboy]

05:41 PM on 03/27/2008

I'm surprised that the Whoop let Miss Teen South Carolina take the quote out of context. But, hey, get real. Where would this polyester Republican lilly have been to see six black guys all together, except possibly one one of her porn videos.

[sonofdy1]

04:47 PM on 03/27/2008

Lets see, Obama goes to an anti-american racist church for 20 years and then tries to get arround the issue by saying he just didn't notice?
Please...

[Ivette]

06:17 PM on 03/27/2008

You are really ignorant.

[afif]

06:35 PM on 03/27/2008

People who fought for this country and then had to come back and sit in the back of the bus have every right to be anti-american!.