Discussing “post-racial” inauguration, CNN doesn’t call Lee on outdated racial term.
We’ve heard ad nauseam from a hopeful media -- Daniel Schorr of NPR, commentator Juan Williams and The New Republic among them -- that Obama will be a “post-racial” president. At least some of his supporters haven’t gotten the message.
Popular filmmaker and Obama supporter Spike Lee used a passé racial term for Washington D.C. when he appeared on Friday’s CNN Newsroom. Lee called the nation’s capital “Chocolate City.”
Speaking from Utah, Lee was promoting his Jan. 19 “Inauguration Forum” at D.C.’s Howard University, when he rhetorically asked anchor Fredricka Whitfield’s permission to call the capital Chocolate City. Whitfield is a Howard graduate.
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LEE: “I'm jetting straight to -- you know, you’re in my, we're a little of the same generation. No, I’m just call it ‘chocolate city.’ Can we do that?
WHITFIELD: “We can say that!
LEE: “Like Parliament Funkadelic”
WHITFIELD: “People said it forever.”
LEE: “Chocolate, P-funk. Choc, Chocolate City.”
Washington, D.C. earned the Chocolate City nickname from its majority black population. However, the African-American population has declined from 71 percent in 1970 to 56 percent in 2007. These new demographics make Lee’s use of the name somewhat of an anachronism.
Lee has persistently used Chocolate City to describe a prospective Obama administration. Back in June, Lee said that if Obama won the election, a “real Chocolate City” would emerge.
Lee has often courted controversy, both with his movies and his mouth. Most recently he started a very public dust-up with actor and director Clint Eastwood. Lee criticized Eastwood for not including any black marines in his two 2006 films, “Flags of Our Fathers” and “Letters From Iwo Jima.”
Despite the historical reality that black GIs on Iwo Jima fought in segregated units and that those units were not a subject of both movies, Lee insisted it was a slight.
“Many veterans, African-Americans, who survived that war are upset at Clint Eastwood. In his vision of Iwo Jima, Negro soldiers did not exist. Simple as that. I have a different version,” Lee said.
Matt Philbin is the managing editor for the Culture and Media Institute. Erin Brown also contributed to this article and is an intern at CMI.
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Well I guess Chocolate
January 16, 2009 - 18:16 ET by MidAmericaWell I guess Chocolate City has a better ring to it than Murder Capital. With DC and Chicago strong competitors for the title of the US Murder Capital obama should feel right at home. I wonder, when the gunfire in the streets gets really intense does the President and his family have to sleep on the floor or maybe in the bathtub for their own safety?
Nah, they got SS protection
January 16, 2009 - 22:27 ET by Indiana JoeThe average, disarmed folks of DC... they're the ones who have to "duck and cover."
But, hey, who cares about them?
"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss..." - The Who
Why is D.C. such a
January 16, 2009 - 18:14 ET by SRPwrdWhy is D.C. such a Chocolate City anyway?
"two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century" - PEBO
I thought Mayor Nagin said
January 16, 2009 - 18:17 ET by motherbeltI thought Mayor Nagin said a "chocolate city" meant a blending of white and black, to get, you know, milk chocolate.....
I guess Spike won't have to equivocate; no one will call him on it.
motherbelt,
January 16, 2009 - 19:57 ET by R D HelmLOL-Milk chocolate would be the messiah scheduled for his anointing on Tuesday.
After all, he is half & half. :-)
-Dave
“Them that’s going get on the wagon. Them that ain’t get out of the way.” -While there is still time.
MB
January 17, 2009 - 09:37 ET by thebutlerdiditI was thinking the exact same thing when I first read this! Well, we know how well New Orleans has fared being the "Chocolate City!" The good folks of NO seem more than ready to do away with old Nagin. I listen to Rush radio out of NO a good bit on the laptop, and when they play the local commentators, they really slam Nagin hard. As for Spike Lee, he is in the Oprah, Kanye troop of big time racists. I cringe when I see this bitter, ignorant man. I love how he threw hissy fits at Clint for his war movies. Hey, Spike, if you didn't like them, why don't you make one of your own? Rumor has it that you sort of know how to do this, so quit yer whining.
Bringing the government in to run Wall Street is like saying, "Dad burned the dinner, let's get the dog to cook." PJ O'Rourke
Change you can believe in
January 16, 2009 - 18:20 ET by Robert S LaRuersl775
Gosh I wonder who will be the first to believe it and do it. This certainly isn't a good sign from someone who gets maximum publicity when he speaks. Sure has been lots of MSM cheering to force everyone on board. I guess they are not getting to the right folks.
Oh Goody
January 16, 2009 - 19:14 ET by DelsaThis explains why everytime I hear the news or see a photo of Obama or Pelosi, or Reid, or...
I GET THE "HERSHEY" SQUIRTS
"Can we do that?"
January 16, 2009 - 19:17 ET by choselife3xDid he think she would say no?
Spike Lee might one day be worthy to shine Eastwood's shoes. He'll have to stop licking Obama's boots, first.
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
Beyond "race"
January 16, 2009 - 19:39 ET by iveseenitallIt's funny how the "liberal" blacks (including Barry himself) are the folks who inject "race" into everything. They just can't seem to grow up and get passed it. Or maybe it's their meal ticket, a la Algore and Global "Warming".
NEVER, NEVER trust a "liberal"
Not only
January 16, 2009 - 20:13 ET by UpNorthis Spikey wrong on the Obamunist, he's wrong on WWII, but then, I'm sure he never paid attention in History class. The blacks were not in combat arms, at least in the Corps during WWII. So, Spikey, in a movie about combat, either on Iwo Jima, or a movie like Band of Brothers, there would be no black soldiers, or black Marines, engaged in front line combat.
BTW, for most of us Americans, it's Washington D.C., not Choc City, or anything else asinine like that.
UpNorth
January 16, 2009 - 20:56 ET by Miss CheviousWhile the basic premise of your post maybe "theoretically" correct in regards to most black soldiers assignments' during WWII your premise that there were NO black soldiers engaged in frontline combat is TOTALLY inaccurate.
One of my Grandfathers closet friends was a black truckdriver who lost a foot to frostbite at Bastogne during those dark days when they were throwing anyone who could carry a rifle into the lines. My Grandfather lost two fingers there to the same condition and one of their biggest pleasures in their later years was to sit around and "gripe" and joke about which still hurts more when it turned cold, his missing foot or my Grandfathers missing fingers.
I can assure you sir that BOTH of these fine men would be aghast at your statement.
Your attention is also directed to the 92nd Infantry Division which saw service in Italy. They like the 9th and 10 Cavalry (Colored) before them were also known as the Buffalo Soldiers.
Miss Chevious,
January 16, 2009 - 22:41 ET by Indiana Joe(LOVE the s/n, btw!) When Lee first made his complaint, I heard that there were a very small proportion of "Negro" troops on Iwo, something on the order of low single-digit percentage, and in segregated units. The point was made at that time that statistically, it was no great snub to not have any black soldiers in a film about Iwo Jima, unless it was a movie about black soldiers in the first place. I think Lee should feel free to make such a movie, if it suits him.
I have no idea where UpNorth heard the "no front-line troops" story, but I have a problem with absolute statements. I never heard, and wouldn't believe, that not one single black soldier ever saw action in WWII, or any US war for that matter. The Revolution, 1812, Civil War, etc, etc... I'm sure there were black soldiers in them all, from Crispus Attucks (sp?) through "Glory," and up to the present. Always a minority, I'm sure, but they were there, I have no doubt.
Just btw, how can missing appendages "hurt?" I know, "phantom pain!" Or was that just part of the joke? ;^)
"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss..." - The Who
Hi Joe :)
January 17, 2009 - 08:41 ET by Miss CheviousThat always puzzled me too until I grew to realize that the "pain" seemed to have some strange scientific inverse relationship to the amount of liquid left in their shared Jack Daniels bottle. :)
Lord I miss hearing their "war stories"
White bread city
January 16, 2009 - 20:44 ET by nkviking75If I called my small, rural Iowa town a white bread city, or a snow white city (true in the literal sense right now), or a milk white city, I'd probably be called a racist.
Welcome to the era of unity, you racist!
nkviking,
January 16, 2009 - 22:45 ET by Indiana Joe"Probably???"
Are ye daft, man (or woman)? You'd be chased up a tree and they'd set fire to it.
"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss..." - The Who
Foggy Bottom
January 16, 2009 - 20:55 ET by CobraManDoes this mean that they will rename Foggy Bottom?
Obama: My job is above my pay grade
CM, yes, Foggy Bottom will now and henceforth be known as...
January 16, 2009 - 21:03 ET by R D Helm...Fudgie Bottom.
Ewwwwwwwwww.
-Dave
“Them that’s going get on the wagon. Them that ain’t get out of the way.” -While there is still time.
A.K.A...
January 16, 2009 - 21:22 ET by CobraMan...Hershey Squirts.
Obama: My job is above my pay grade
Double Ewwwwww.....
January 16, 2009 - 22:46 ET by Indiana JoeI vote for Smoggy Bottom. It's less graphic, but smog can be brown.
"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss..." - The Who
Spike Lee is...
January 16, 2009 - 21:02 ET by PrairieSkya pathetic, hateful race-baiter.
"Popular filmmaker and Obama supporter Spike Lee used a passé racial term for Washington D.C. when he appeared on Friday’s CNN Newsroom. Lee called the nation’s capital “Chocolate City.” "
If any white person called an American city a "vanilla city" they would be called a racist so fast their heads would spin. So, with that in mind, let's all call a spade a spade, shall we? I'll put it very plainly...
Spike Lee is a racist.
"...peace is the highest aspiration of the American People. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will never surrender for it, now or ever." President Ronald Reagan~ January 20, 1981
Popular? Who decided
January 16, 2009 - 22:14 ET by motherbeltPopular?
Who decided Spike Lee is popular?
Well-known is not the same thing.
mb...Spike Lee "popular" ???
January 16, 2009 - 23:29 ET by PrairieSkyHey...those aren't my words...They're Matthew Philbin's, who wrote the article...But, you're right. Who decided that Lee's popular? That is not the word I'd use to describe him. His films generally appeal to very limited and narrow demographic groups. I think it's safe to say that his work doesn't have broad appeal.
"...peace is the highest aspiration of the American People. We will negotiate for it, sacrifice for it, we will never surrender for it, now or ever." President Ronald Reagan~ January 20, 1981
Lee's fortelling the future.
January 16, 2009 - 21:13 ET by pitter43Lee's fortelling the future. It will be the chocolate city. Just like L.A. and Chicago, murder capitals of the world.
See, Lee can get away with
January 16, 2009 - 21:16 ET by mostlymoderateSee, Lee can get away with saying that; however, if a white guy comes along and says it is "chocolate city" because of all the government jobs, then that person would be a racist.
→ Not really moderate
January 16, 2009 - 21:20 ET by Cool ArrowRemember Joe Biden said Iowa Public Schools outperform Washington DC schools because there are more African American kids in DC?
Joe's statement was seen as nothing more than a gaffe, and an insignificant one at that.
It just so happens that
January 16, 2009 - 22:05 ET by BlazerIt just so happens that crap is also chocolate colored and is fitting when describing DC (dodge city). So the pint size Idi Al-Amin is right again.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
" The Cake is a lie."
Dear Spike Lee, The real
January 17, 2009 - 00:07 ET by TN MomDear Spike Lee,
The real question is: Is it a Chocolate Administration? Chocolate easily MELTS and too much will make you sick.
Hey good one
January 17, 2009 - 00:19 ET by bigtimerHey good one T-Mom....
You know the left...they always want more, never satisfied, over-indulge...they will have no choice but to be purged in the end, one way or the other.
Golly gee...you think
January 17, 2009 - 00:33 ET by RR GOPGolly gee...you think Spike's a racist?
Oh, that's right...blacks can't be racists because they don't control the country...forgot.
Having the Emperor Jones live and work in Handout D.C. does seem rather apropos.
One of the 24% who thinks George W. Bush was a great President. One of the 89% who wants to bring back the stock and pillory.
Didn't Ray Nagin proclaim New Orleans as the Chocolate City?
January 17, 2009 - 02:11 ET by riff_raffDidn't Ray Nagin already proclaim New Orleans as the Chocolate City? I guess that since the recent massive influx of hispanics into New Orleans has reduced blacks to minority population status there, maybe Spike began to feel uncomfortable in the old "Chocolate City". He obviously prefers the dark brown of DC's population to that of the lighter brown currently inhabiting New Orleans.
And you'd think that the guy that produced the race-baiting film "When the Levees Broke", accused the Bush administration of racial cleansing: "It's not too far-fetched. I don't put anything past the United States
government. I don't find it too far-fetched that they tried to displace
all the black people out of New Orleans" , suggested that Charlton Heston be "shot with a .44 bulldog" , and claimed that Trent Lott was a "card-carrying member of the KKK", would at least show some small measure of loyalty to the feckless, unwitting bit-players of New Orleans that helped make Spike Lee the wealthy, successful, race-pimping "artist" that he is. I mean, as soon as they were no longer useful, he threw the black residents of New Orleans under the bus faster than Barack Obama did his own grandmother. That's gotta hurt.
"Don't blame me.....I voted for Palin"
And professional
January 17, 2009 - 01:34 ET by ConservativeRexAnd professional politicians like Obami have a lot of experience running "chocolate city's". They've done a bang up job of running Detroit, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Atlanta and so on .
Expect the same for the United States. You just gotta hang on for the next four years. So goes Detroit, so goes America.
But is that DARK Chocolate
January 17, 2009 - 08:33 ET by Jack BauerBut is that DARK Chocolate D.C. or MILK Chocolate D.C?
Given Obama's mixed race heritage I'll have to say it's a Milk Chocolate President -- so by default it must be a Milk Chocolate D.C.
And may I say, how glad I am that we've all gotten past this racist name calling. Thanks Spike!
→ Post Racial Bran Crunch
January 17, 2009 - 08:57 ET by Cool ArrowJust thought I'd throw that one out there before somebody else beats me to it. (low hanging fruit)
But isn't this "First African American to . . ." getting old?
National Championship game, I swear, they lauded the "First African American" ever to be selected Head Referee at a National Championship game.
Are there other "firsts" we've missed? Like "First Mexican-American Coach" to win a Super Bowl? - Tom Flores
Where's the "Trivial Pursuit" edition devoted strictly to the "First African American to . . ."
CA
January 17, 2009 - 09:40 ET by choselife3x'First AA head referee'
My husband mentioned that and I looked at him blankly and said "So?".
You'd think there was still 'Whites Only' signs everywhere the way they trumpet this crap.
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
→ More Trivial Pursuit
January 17, 2009 - 09:52 ET by Cool ArrowWho was the First African American to announce on National Television, a desire to surgically remove Barack Obama's testicles?
Clock is ticking.
Cool
January 17, 2009 - 10:02 ET by choselife3xI'm afraid Michelle beat him to it. :-O
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
→ Bonus Question
January 17, 2009 - 09:56 ET by Cool ArrowFirst African American actress to win an Oscar.
Good morning Cool
January 17, 2009 - 10:06 ET by cocodrieI'll get Oddjob to research these for you when he gets home from school. Where are these tough questions coming from anyway?
Jesus Loves You
Ummmmmm
January 17, 2009 - 10:08 ET by choselife3xDon't have a clue, Alex. I'm gonna guess.....Whoopi?
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
→ Hattie McDonald
January 17, 2009 - 10:12 ET by Cool ArrowGone with the Wind.
Although it's currently claimed Halle Berry was first because Hattie played a Black Woman, so it doesn't count.
Sheesh.
More like "Hey Halle Berry's a real hotty with beige skin and honky features. Let's forget there was another "First"
Alex
January 17, 2009 - 10:17 ET by choselife3xWow. Just a weeee bit before my time.
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
Good morning chose
January 17, 2009 - 10:20 ET by cocodrieNot before my time, I just didn't remember.
Jesus Loves You
Good morning coco
January 17, 2009 - 10:27 ET by choselife3x'Not before my time'. Showoff. ;-)
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
close but no cigar ...
January 17, 2009 - 11:29 ET by Miss CheviousI beleive you meant Hattie McDaniel hun ;)
→ Another First
January 17, 2009 - 10:06 ET by Cool ArrowFirst "AA" First Lady?
Trick Question, Alex
January 17, 2009 - 10:11 ET by choselife3xThat ain't no lady.
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
LADY??????
January 17, 2009 - 10:17 ET by cocodrieWhere did you see a lady? The only lady in the White House is going home to Texas on Jan.21.
Jesus Loves You
Barack Obama's Presidential Firsts
January 17, 2009 - 09:53 ET by Retired GeekBarack Obama will be the first President in American History, who backed and campaigned for a Crime Ridden governor.
Barack Obama will be the first President in American History, to have 'Strong' ties to the Chicago crime scene.
Barack Obama will be the first President in American History, to start his political career in the home of an 'unrepentant terrorist', who was dedicated to the destruction of America.
Barack Obama will be the first President in American History, to be supported and endorsed by the Communist Party USA.
Barack Obama will be the first President in American History, to be a member of a 'Racist Church' (23 years), which preached 'Hatred of America' and 'Black Separatism'.
Barack Obama will be the first President in American History, to support, champion and defend 'Partial Birth Abortion'.
Barack Obama will be the first President in American History, to support, champion and defend the 'Torture of American Citizens', babies who have survived abortion and are starved to death and denied any medical aid.
Barack Obama will be the first President in American History, to hire two Communists to blog on their official campaign site.
Barack Obama will be the first President in American History, whose wife said she had never been proud of her country (until her husband ran for POTUS) and wrote a racist thesis.
Barack Obama will be the first President in American History, to have stated he will stand with the Muslims (terrorists against America) should he have too.
→ I'll Listen
January 17, 2009 - 10:27 ET by Cool ArrowBeyonce will sing "At Last" - (Etta James, 1961) for the big Inaugural Ball.
Wouldn't a Marilyn Monroe moment be hilarious?
Visiting
January 17, 2009 - 10:33 ET by cayenne523Will I need special papers to visit DC now since I am a white man?
→ Yes
January 17, 2009 - 10:42 ET by Cool ArrowYou can send request for special papers to
Obama Worshipers and Liberals = Perpetual Children
January 17, 2009 - 11:08 ET by Retired GeekLiberals thrive on moral relativism.
Liberals live in a universe of ME and are trapped in limbo, neither a child or an adult.
Liberals arrested development results in labeling, name calling, inane comments, pointing to other aberrant behavior to justify their own.
Liberals personifies the world of a Perpetual Child, never able to use facts, reason and logic for decision making, but rather emotion, feelings, sensations and intuition.
Perpetual Children are 'Narcissists', demanding to be the center of attention and so enamored with self, anything or anyone that detracts from them or their childish blurbs, are virulently attacked.
Liberals will throw tantrums, similar to a child who prostrates himself on the floor and kicks and screams until one finally accepts his brilliance in defense of their own sanity.
Liberals suffer from 'dyslexic logic' and 'myopic reason'.
'dyslexic logic' is simply that all facts are seen 'mirrored' or 'reversed' becoming unintelligible and 'myopic reason' is so narrowed by ideology that Liberals become intellectual Mr. Magoos.
Washington DCCC
January 17, 2009 - 12:06 ET by RackieFrom the back of the bus to the back of the limo. I'm down with that.
If Obama is a "post-racial" president, then . . .
January 17, 2009 - 13:21 ET by CKA in Red State USA. . . Bill Clinton really was telling the truth that he didn't have sex with Monica Lewinsky--and that he's been monogamus in the entirety of his marriage to Hillary.
Face it: If you're black or white and liberal/leftist/anything-but-Christian, you can get away with anything you say or do now in America. Helps, too, if you invoke your victimhood status.
Especially if CNNCBSNBCABCMSNBC and the NYTLATBGWaPo and others of their ilk see or hear about it.