Yes, I was on O'Reilly last night. Yes, he did the whole "That black man is crazy" routine. Yes, my inbox was full of email from people who are dumb enough to pay attention to anything this ridiculous hack has to say. Here is my standard response. I felt the need to protect the poor chancellor, for I hated seeing her getting chased around by the cameras. She is a good woman, and she didn't ask to have Boyce Watkins on her campus. Curing the disease of racism is a nasty, scary process, and not everyone is ready for the backlash from a country that remains ignorant and in denial.
O'reilly and others are nothing new to America. For the past 400 years, there have been those who fight against racism and those who work to oppress those individuals. Terms like "reverse racist" or "black racist" are designed to alleviate America of the guilt of what it has done to every black man woman and child for the past 400 years. Our country has not even apologized, nor taken personal responsibility for the damage done by slavery. 400 years of continued, terroristic destruction doesn't go away with 20 years of Affirmative action.
O'Reilly, Hannity and Limbaugh are in the same tradition as those who killed Dr. King and Malcolm X. Unfortunately, such individuals and those who support them are always on the wrong side of history. But it is safe to stand with them because they tend to have the most power. I don't expect that any piece of my contribution to Syracuse University will be recognized today. Rather, it will be acknowledged 30 years from today, the same as that of Jim Brown and the 8 black students who protested racism on the football field. The pattern is: punish now, ostracize now, and apologize when the person is old and gray. I accept that.
Do not hold Chancellor Cantor responsible for my words.
I speak on my own behalf. The Chancellor is an amazing and capable human being who has brought wonderful intellectual light to the university and to this country. I even feel sorry for the headaches I cause her from my viewpoints. I cannot apologize however, because there are tens of thousands of voiceless Americans who agree with me.
I speak on my own behalf. The Chancellor is an amazing and capable human being who has brought wonderful intellectual light to the university and to this country. I even feel sorry for the headaches I cause her from my viewpoints. I cannot apologize however, because there are tens of thousands of voiceless Americans who agree with me.
I refuse to stand silent as Jeremiah Wright, an ex-Marine, scholar and accomplished human being, is reduced to a worthless hack by those who don't even have the guts to fight in the very same wars they promote.
Syracuse's business school, to my knowledge, has not tenured a black man in over 100 years, and I do not expect to be the first. So don't worry, I don't anticipate you're going to have to deal with me for much longer. But I am going to keep telling the truth, since someone has to make that sacrifice.
Be well,
Boyce Watkins
Dr. Boyce Video Response to Bill O'Reilly
20 comments:
As an American that descends from several revolutionary war solders and from a family that never had slaves or servants of color and furthermore when the war to end slavery commenced, 4 of my great, great, great grandfather's son's fought for the Union, Dr Watkins what apology do I owe you? To the 340,000 Union solders that gave their lives to free the slaves what word do you have for them? To the 2.5 million Union solders that fought to end slavery what do you have to say to them? Apologize? It was not a small sacrifice to attempt to end a tremendous injustice. In white ‘civilization’ documented slavery had gone on for more than 3 millenniums, not just the last 4 centuries. For the millions of Americans that immigrated here after the civil war and were discriminated against, such as my father in law, what apology do they owe you?
You state “O'Reilly, Hannity and Limbaugh are in the same tradition as those who killed Dr. King and Malcolm X” you declare they are akin to murderors; you are doing nothing but advancing your own hate. As the 13th ammendment abolished slavery, it is the 1st ammendment that protects free speech, even for the trio you mention. I cannot profess to know you well enough in reading half a dozen blog entries to know your heart, I would only ask you consider your rhetoric and not assume you are hated or bearing a cross. We have issues in our own front yard- just come down off the hill to Salina and Fayette Sts about 3:30 on a school day- and wait for a bus at that corner.
I do hope you receive your tenure and I hope you stay in our community to make a difference, not just for the kids that can afford 50K a year for an education.
You don't owe me an apology. Your government does.
Anonymous, like countless others become so incredibly defensive about this issue. They cannot and will not face up to America's history because they haven't the courage to confront the reality of a crime so vast and so evil. In stead, they constantly try to excuse themselves saying 'my ancestors weren't slavers' etc etc. What they fail to undertand is that no one is pointing the finger at them for what those before them did. Surely - all we are asking is that they acknowledge the past in a way that will help the present and future to be less oppressive and unjust. By living in denial it is like having a cancer that you are too scared to treat. And Dr Boyce - you are right about Oreily and the others being an axis of ingnorance. They are a disgrace and would be wearing white sheets if they could. I can't believe broadcasting in America has stooped to this level. Keep up your good work.
Dr Watkins: Great exchange with Bill O'Liely, the hypocrite and phone sex pervert. Juan Willians isn't the only "happy negro" who needs to be taken to the woodshed. I saw him on O'Liely the other day, and he was beside himself over what you said about him, and Bill was letting him vent, not in his so-called fair and balanced way, but using Juan as a club to bash you. Juan did not have one single coherent comeback, other than using the new fear buzzwords of white America..."black liberation theology," (whatever that is), "hate speech", "black separatism," Is this guy for real?It was a sad spectacle, because Juan and I are the same age. Even though he was born in Panama (Canal Zone) he obviously hasn't been in the United States long enough to realize how people like O'Liely use people like him as their attack dogs, so their own racism won't seem that obvious. Juan isn't the only one either. Michael Steele, Bill Cosby, Brian Dubose, and Erik Rush represent a new generation of attack puppets(dare I use the old familiar pejorative?)who relentlessly attack blacks and the black community, at the behest of their masters, offering no commentary or solutions. They are too blind to realize what is going on, and never stop to ask themselves why those people never ask them about John McSame, or George Bush. "Well Juan, it's because unless you're berating someone black, they don't care about your opinion, and will tell you to your face, if you would get off of your knees and look them in the eyes." Keep up the good work Dr. Watkins. The black middle class, silent though they may be, has your back.
And to the previous anonymous poster. You seem to be a poor student of history. Blacks have fought in every war and conflict this country has fought in, including the Revolutionary War, a fact conveniently left out of white history books. Over 180,000 black men served in the American Civil War, and I'd like to remind you, that the first struggle for civil rights in this country began with black soldiers who refused to accept less pay for the same risks as white soldiers. By the way, Congress eventually gave in, and paid black soldiers the same as white soldiers. This too is left out of your history books. As for your ancestors not owning slaves, that isn't the issue...the issue is that this country was founded on liberty and justice for all, but in a stunning bit of hypocrisy, denied liberty and justice to blacks slave or free, BY LAW. Slavery was legal...killing a slave was legal. Raping a slave, male or female was frowned upon, but never prosecuted. Blacks were considered 3/5ths of a human being. The government regulated and controlled every facet of black lives up to and after the Civil War. The government did this, not you or your ancestors, and this country was built on the graves and toil of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of Native Americans, Blacks, Asians, and Hispanics. A classic example of your own hypocrisy, is how you babble about the 1st Amendment and free speech, but was probably in the front of the crowd for the lynch mob when the issue of Reverend Wright was dug up. Free speech for Billy Graham (anti-semetic comments in the White House to Nixon), Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell (9/11 is God's punishments for tolerating gays)(McCain called him an agent of intolerance, then went back to kiss his butt for an endorsement), Dr.David Duke, and the list goes on and on. When they're white, it's free speech...when they're black, it's hate speech, or anti-semitism, or black seperatism, or inciting blacks to "kill all the white people in their sleep" speech. If you want to have a debate, bring it on...and bring your history book.
The last rabid comment at 2.04pm is a good example of the kind of person Hannity & O'Reilly preach to. Those broadcasters give license to hatred and ignorance and that vile comment is what you get as a result. Whoever wrote it is ignorant beyond words but he/she probably doesn't know any better and thrive on hatred. I am white but have never been under any illusion about the real situation in America. To me it's very clear but for some reason - most whites, certainly in the US are so incredibly dumb and strangely enough seem to enjoy their ignorance. When 9/11 happened I thought maybe, just maybe African-Americans but get a break from the hatred - given there was now a new target for the right-wing hate machine. But no, it seems there's an unlimited supply of bile, ignorance and venom for everyone..
First of all, it is ignorance to make a statement that the journalists (those with an opinion that may be controversial) of Fox News are of the same mindset as assassins (what a crock). Assassins are filled with an evil demon, sorry, don't see that in those guys. Anonymous post at 1014, a revolutionary war descendant - I know you already know this, but you are only raising your blood pressure for no good cause. Until the government pays every man of color a million dollar paycheck and buys them a brand new cadillac and a triple wide trailer, and maybe gives them the state of Montana we will continue to hear the "oh, poor me" attitude. Listen, I was born into a line of poor farmers who didn't go anywhere. I don't complain or blame my lack and having to WORK hard for all I have on my government. Do you still hear those in the country of Israel bickering at the Africans who held them in slavery for hundreds of years (oh, we have forgotten about that haven't we). Africans actually enslaved a country of people long before any of your ancestors - maybe that was just payback for your wrong to another culture of people. There you go - our government owes you nothing - your ancestors just got the "eye for an eye" judgement that was due. And have you ever considered that if your people were not brought here (yes under terrible circumstances), you all would still be living in a land of poverty, famine and an epidemic of HIV and AIDS. Oh yeah, how did the American gov't manufacture a virus that reared its ugly head in Africa? Nothing of hate meant here, just food for thought. FYI...if you think i'm a racist bigot, ask my pastor, i'm a white guy with a white family and I actually attend an all black church - I thing the brothas and sistas have more spirit in their worship than the stuffy white folk. Peace to all - and by the way, i'm considering writing in Colin Powell for president! I can't stand any of the current candidates...especially your poster boy - Hussein Obama
Previous comment: Well - you obviously know absolutely nothing about anything. Sick. Just sick. If I was African American I'd rather live in Africa any day than live in America with ignorant fools like you. And by the way, unlike you, I've been to and worked in Africa and know a little about that continent. From what you say you know nothing. (why do you even go to church? - you've obviously learnt nothing there either and deserve to be thrown out!)
Dr Watkins,
Personally I think your way off base in your criticism of Bill O'Reilly. After everyone of his opening commentaries,O'Reilly will ALWAYS have a guest with an opposing point of view. Dr Marc Lammont Hill is a regular on his show. Others with opposing views have been Jesse Jackson (Sr & Jr)
Rev Al Sharpton and many others.
And he NEVER gets personal as you did in your commentary of him ( I'm probably more educated than Bill O'Reilly's whole family...)
But like you say a hit dog will always holler,right? O'Reilly's problem with your commentary is that you brand people who disagree with you. If they're white, they must be a racsist. If they're black, they must be an Uncle Tom.
Why can't they just have an opposing view? TONY L. Chicago
Hey
Before you get your apology, I want mine. For having my family ripped out of my hands, by having paid government employees coerce my ex wife into lying, and coming to court,FO THE FIRST TIME IN MY RELATIONSHIP WITH HER, LOOKING DISHEVELED AND HAGGARD(to give the "victim" look), and to be jailed for a debt(child support on a child not biologically mine), and the culmination of being made a pariah cost me three years of the worst hell any person could be subjected to, depersonalization, where one is so traumatized and disillusioned one even loses the ability to feel hunger and thirst. Yes, this government owes a lot of apologies, especially to the founding fathers and every man and woman, white or black, or any other color, that gave his or her life, to defend the freedoms that blacks are just beginning to realize, even though it could be a fleeting taste of true freedom, for many are fighting to take it away.
Signed Formerly(what I called myself during the 3 years of hell on earth,
Walking Dead
I would call it an honor to be called a PINHEAD! I would say you have made it...take it as a compliment :)
Mr.Watkins,
Why do you expect that you will not be the first black man tenured at Syracuse?
Mike,
to answer your question about why I don't expect to be the first black man tenured....because controversy is not a good thing when it comes to race. Standing up for racial equality seems honorable to some, but throughout history, those individuals are rarely rewarded. Even Muhammad Ali and Martin Luther King were hated and attacked for their work, so I expected the same reaction.
I am a business school professor, implying that my work in the black community does not fit the conservative model of business schools. Also, most of my colleagues (most of whom are not black) do not consider work in the black community to be scholarly or important. However, I feel it is critical that scholars get into the community and make a difference, so I do my work anyway.
At any rate, there is also the sad reality that every black professor hired for the past 100 years has left the university with the exact same fate (i.e. "You're being sent away because you are not good enough to be here"). Most American institutions were not created to fit the mold of the black scholar, since we were not around when the cultural, social and institutional infrastructure of the campus was created. Therefore, the academic structure is one that tends to benefit white males more than others. That's just the reality.
To make it plain.....it's like sending Garth Brooks to perform in the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. While Garth is an amazing country singer, he would probably be booed off the stage. The audience and the platform was not designed to recognize his contribution, since the Apollo existed for quite a while before country singers were ever even invited to perform.
The same is true for many black scholars in America. Thats why many of the top 20 business schools have not tenured, or even hired, a single black person in 100 years of existence.
White supremacy teaches us to believe that black scholars don't succeed because they are simply not good enough. Many in academia assume that "being different" means that you are "lower quality". When a system starts on a crooked foundation and keeps giving crooked results, it might make more sense to evaluate the system to correct the inequity.
But it is easier to kill the messenger than it is to honestly take a look at the message. That's the sadness of it all.
I am a conservative and probably will not vote for a liberal due to conflict of ideas. But, I feel terrible that the powerful political and media personalities are willing to split the country down the racial divide to further their gains. I had expected better from Rush as well as from Mrs. Clinton. My appologies to my fellow brothers and sisters of all colors. Sorry !!!
To the previous commenter: You may be a conservative but you obviously know the difference between right and wrong on this issue. Surely, you can vote for what in your heart must be right. What kind of America do you want? Listen to your conscience - you have one.
MY heart knows that handouts, and taxing those that have made something of themselves is not right, therefore my conscience clearly knows who to vote for. As if it mattered to an America Hating YES-TROLL anyway. Or I guess, like so many other countries, you are hoping for a winner that fills all of your open hands, with hard working American tax dollars? Your ego is apparent, and I am sure you will quip in a last word here. But do not think in one minute, that everybody in America is like what this clearly mentally ill and delusional blog author wants you to think we are like. And who cares what you think anyway? You hate America, and have found a forum by a poor pathetic fool to promote your ignorant agenda.
I love it - you may be 'anonymous' but you've exposed yourself now!
I don't hate America. I hate racism.
And if you didn't care what I think why are you spending so much time attacking me?
And you really shouldn't disrespect Dr Watkins in such a rude and nasty fashion. He is a gentleman when he speaks of you.
And I'm doing fine - I wouldn't want any of your money but thanks for offering!
I love Dr Watkins, and respect him, but from my own experience, as a human with an extraordinarily high IQ, I suffer the demons that go with that gift. I just see in his actions, as a "loose cannon", such as his speech in Kentucky, that to the average person, we who change without going thru the "proper" channels, are mentally ill, and pathetic. I do not know the answer, and am sorry if I offended you, I just hate seeing a good man go down, and having others prod him on. But, once again, I have realized a newfound respect for him, and apologize to him for anything I might have posted that may seem offensive. And mentally ill, is in the eye of the beholder, for it is just a label put on those that stray too far from the norm in their behavior. There are some who label many, if not all, religious people as mentally ill, for they suffer from a mass delusion(the labelers think), but most would think this poppycock, for most are religious.
It is just that, unless he checks his behavior, he will be labeled across the board, as being a "loose cannon"(similar to Reverend Wright and how he did Obama), he will lose his position in Society, and then he is no good for much change at all. And that is sad.
Mr. Anonymous above. It appears that you would also define Martin Luther King in the same way. He also was a "loose cannon". You can't condemn a man just because he is speaking truth to power. That is what our country was built upon. Cowards are the ones who are afraid to confront the lies. Anyone who can't see America's racism after watching this election is just so dumb and blind that there is no help for them.
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