Was the Associated Press transcription of Obama’s CBC speech ‘racist’?

[ProSense]

Was the Associated Press transcription of Obama’s CBC speech ‘racist’?

By Dylan Stableford

By most accounts, President Obama gave a fiery speech at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's annual awards dinner in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, telling blacks to "quit crying and complaining" and support him in the fight for jobs, according to the Associated Press. But was the AP transcription of Obama's remarks racist?

That's the subject currently being debated after the issue was raised on Chris Hayes' MSNBC show on Sunday.

On MSNBC, the African-American author Karen Hunter complained the news service transcribed Obama's speech without cleaning it up as other outlets did--specifically including the "dropped g's."

Via the AP version:

"Take off your bedroom slippers. Put on your marching shoes," he said, his voice rising as applause and cheers mounted. "Shake it off. Stop complainin'. Stop grumblin'. Stop cryin'. We are going to press on. We have work to do."

Hunter called the AP's version "inherently racist," sparring with New Republic contributing editor and noted linguistics expert John McWhorter, who argued the g-less version "is actually the correct one," noting that the president's victory in the 2008 election was due, in part, to how effortlessly "he can switch into that (black) dialect."

more

[brendan120678]

1. I don't really see how it was racist...

It was a transcript of what he actually said, not a copy of his prepared speech.

[tibbiit]

2. did they treat bush speechs differently?

Of course. they clean up bush, palin etc speeches to make them sound more intelligent. Obama, make him sound more ethnic. Tib

[ProSense]

3. Here's the

video

It's at the very end, and there were no "gs" dropped. The fact is his cadence was the emphasis.

Also from the article, a person from AP specifically states that this is not common practice. Still, given that most news outlets reported the context of the comments inaccurately, it's almost as if they were deliberately feeding the RW stereotype.

[Empowerer]

4. I don't think it was "racist" but I do think it was highly questionable

First, I think we use the term "racist" too much - racism is a very specific and insidious thing that does not accurately describe other forms of bias, which usually don't come close to the extreme of racism.

That said, I do think that transcription was problematic, not because it may or may not have accurately described his inflection, but because the AP does not so treat similar inflections by white politicians.

There is a particular sensitivity to this in the black community because we are often quoted in this way while whites are not - as if dropping of g's is some unique "negro dialect" that must be accurately reflected when quoting African Americans - yet such special pains are rarely taken when transcribing remarks of white speakers who also drop their g's.

George W. Bush, Rick Perry, Bill Clinton, etc. are rarely quoted this way in regular news stories. So why do it in stories about President Obama?

I don't think this was "racist." But it does evidence a double standard - not to mention a woeful lack of sensitivity.

[ProSense]

5. Agree

"First, I think we use the term "racist" too much - racism is a very specific and insidious thing that does not accurately describe other forms of bias, which usually don't come close to the extreme of racism."

This is why Perry's point got lost, everyone focused on the use of the word "racism." The MSM will go for the sensational, and sometimes it seems they do it to provoke the overuse claim. The bias is very real. Then again, there is always something when it comes to Democrats. The problem is that now Obama is facing much of that with race thrown in as another divisive element. Everyone should reject biases and double standards.

[Karenina]

6. Again, you highlight the lack of a coherent vocabulary

within which to identify and isolate the emotional hot buttons, while moving on to productive discussion. Tante K's intuition; the very suggestion to many AMERICAN whites that they may harbor bias provokes a similar EMOTIONAL reaction that those of us have felt being called n-words to our faces. The denial involved remains up for discussion. We have an expression on this side of the pond, "Don't GO THERE with THEM!":rofl:

I was asked again today how I perceive racism in my adopted Heimat vs that in the US. My response, "Besserwisserei ist kein Thema." For the greater part, my adopted (and by blood) brethren here STFU and LISTEN. That is a luxury I seldom experienced in the land of my birth.

I do wish the time-frame could be slowed down... just a bit... just to give time for reflection...

[Number23]

8. Oh my God. What on earth is that like??

For the greater part, my adopted (and by blood) brethren here STFU and LISTEN.

I'm swooning just thinking about it! You mean they don't automatically switch into Defender mode and accuse people of "race baiting?" They actually listen without screaming "STOP PLAYING THE RACE CARD!" and accusing the entire universe of calling them racist when absolutely NO ONE has done that???

And on the flip side, are you trying to tell me they don't immediately try to change the subject to only to -isms that directly impact them and therefor simply MUST be more important than racism??! WOW!

That must be some hell of a utopia you live in! :crazy: :think: :crazy:
:hi: :hi: :loveya:

[These Eyes]

7. I noticed that the 'g's were dropped...

I don't really expect much more from AP. I think it was done to give the impression that the president speaks to black people differently than he does to whites, that he talks 'down' to them. I'm surprised the didn't report that he was using Ebonics. Clearly there is a racial undertone, but I think it more straight up ignorant than anything.

[Number23]

9. lol "how effortlessly "he can switch into that (black) dialect."

There ain't a black person alive that doesn't know how to make that switch. I don't care how many degrees, edu-ma-cation, and world traveling you've done.

My husband can walk in the door and he can tell IMMEDIATELY if I'm talking to one of my black friends/family from back home. I don't even do it on purpose. :)