Jon Stewart uses the racist Oklahoma frat chant to show conservatives racism isn't dead
There is no excuse for the horrible, racist, caught-on-video chant by a group of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) frat members on a bus, said Jon Stewart on Wednesday night's Daily Show — unless you were on MSNBC Wednesday morning, when "Morning Joe" Scarborough and some of his conservative guests argued that the University of Oklahoma frat bros were only using words they heard on the rap music they purchase.
Stewart was having none of it. "The kids on that bus weren't repeating a rap song that they'd heard," he said, "they were gleefully performing one of their fraternity's old... let's call them anti-Negro spirituals." Also, Stewart added: "How come when conservatives talk about African-Americans, they say, 'These people need to take responsibility for themselves, pull up their pants, get a job' — but when white people do something racist, they're all, 'Well, you can't blame them, how could those poor children know wrong from right after being driven to madness by the irresistible power of the hippity-hoppety'?"
And this was the larger point Stewart was steering toward: Conservative media outlets try to argue both that racism has been reduced to a string of isolated incidents, and that other, actual isolated incidents are symptomatic of huge attacks on their viewers' way of life. "I guess in Fox world," he said, "poverty is a choice, but being racist is a product of your environment." Watch below. —Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published