Wednesday, December 18, 2013

The homophobic and racial obliviousness of Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson

Robertson
My aim this afternoon was to create a comedy post showcasing a number of music videos focusing on the "butt" in mocking tribute to anti-gay comments made by Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson:

“It seems like, to me, a vagina -- as a man -- would be more desirable than a man’s anus," (Phil) Robertson told GQ. "That’s just me. I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical.” “Everything is blurred on what’s right and what’s wrong. Sin becomes fine," he later added. “Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men. Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers -- they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.

But wouldn't you know it? Robertson proceeded during the same interview to compound his vocal faux pas by implying that black folks were happier in the days before integration:

"Where we lived was all farmers. The blacks worked for the farmers. I hoed cotton with them. I'm with the blacks, because we're white trash," he said.  "They're singing and happy. I never heard one of them, one black person, say, ‘I tell you what: These doggone white people’—not a word!... Pre-entitlement, pre-welfare, you say: Were they happy? They were godly; they were happy; no one was singing the blues.”  

It's a testament to the greatness of this country that someone as racially oblivious and as homophobic as Robertson has his own television show. He reminds of a character from the novel The Color Purple who was under the false presumption that the black maid who took care of her family actually felt any sympathy or love for her or her parents. She found out that the woman had been forced to work as a maid for her family as the result of a ridiculous offense.

The fact that Robertson didn't hear any complaints from the black farmers was a testament to them, but not for the reasons he described. I'm a few generations from those farmers and I can remember always being advised by those who lived back then to be careful as to how I behaved and what I said around white people. It was less about racism on the part of African-Americans and more to do with safety. You see, back then, a word or movement by blacks taken the wrong way by whites was the difference between being safe in your bed and swinging on a tree as a mutilated corpse with your "johnson" as a souvenir in someone's pocket. And that included any white person - whether it be the owner of a store, a white woman you walk by on the street, or even the so-called "white trash" who worked the field with you and would probably snitch on you in exchange for more privileges or money from the other whites who could dole them out.

Of course, the big question regarding Robertson's comments is not what will happen to his show. I have never watched it so I don't care what happens to Duck Dynasty.

The big question has to do with the black and gay communities. Will we take Robertson's comments to heart the next time we are fooled into playing the futile game of "oppression Olympics?" Or will we forget that more times than not, some people will put us both in the same boat and while drilling holes in the bottom.

9 comments:

EvenSteven said...

This is very interesting, but I don't expect much from those types of people. That's why things are the way they are, I guess...

olandp said...

" They were godly; they were happy; no one was singing the blues.”

And just where does he think the Blues comes from?

Erica Cook said...

See, now you've made me want to go find "the color purple". And here I was about to get all up about this dick. Damned ADD. I'm With Evin, expecting better from someone like this man is like saying he ever had better to learn. He's clearly uneducated, clearly a hick. His attitude is an insult to rednecks. He lacks far more than class, he lacks an understanding of what it means to be anything but him.

Anonymous said...

ironically enough, he is not uneducated, which just means he went to college on a football scholarship. in a way, that makes me more disappointed in him. why must every christian god fearing person in the public's eye end up being a judgemental racist jerk? doesn't seem fair for a religion supposedly based on love and tolerance.

Anonymous said...

Just as we have the right to our opinion, so does he (and anyone else), that doesn't mean that we have to agree with it or live by it. I DO find it interesting though that he was obviously asked about this as it was an interview & he mentioned MANY other "sins" but everyone just focuses on & and takes offense to what they see fit. Did everyone just sking by “Everything is blurred on what’s right and what’s wrong. Sin becomes fine," he later added. “Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men. Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers -- they won’t inherit the kingdom of God", there are many other sins mentioned, it was made to be an example, just as the rest.

BlackTsunami said...

Robertson isn't paid to be a preacher and he has no freedom of speech regarding his employer. Also how come you don't mention his racist comments?

Kat said...

Good point about him not mentioning blacks. Why do these types forget that bestiality is legal in a something like 15-16 states of the US and bestiality porn is legal in all 50?

John said...

FYI he does have a biracial grandson.
Just sayin'

Anonymous said...

At least the young woman in THE COLOR PURPLE had the basic decency to be horrified and break ties with her parents when she discovered the real story. Somehow, I don't think this fellow will have a similar moment.