Dr. Boyce discussing Don Imus and Rev. Al Sharpton
What Up Dog? Did you Really Mean
What You Said?
By: Dr. Boyce Watkins
I just listened to the recorded phone conversation between Duane
Chapman (aka Dog The Bounty Hunter) and his son Tucker. The
conversation was about “that black girl”, also named Monique.
Apparently, Dog was worried about losing everything he has worked for
because some “f*cking n*gger” might overhear him using the word “n*gger”.
Dog explained to his son that the reason he could not work for him is
because they sometimes use the n-word around the house, and that he
didn’t want America to take it the wrong way.
So Dog, how are we supposed to take it?
I listened to Dog’s words with an open mind. I honestly felt bad
for the guy, who was just sold out by his own son. It was
clear that Dog was feeling the pressure of someone under a constant
spotlight, since the bigger you get, the more haters you have. He
made reference to people threatening to record him and take his words to
national magazines to embarrass him.
Too bad for Dog, it turned out his threat was right under his nose, as
his son Tucker sold him up the river by recording the very conversation
in which he expressed his concern about those trying to get him.
Man, that sucks. I actually feel bad for the guy. There is also an
almost comical irony to it all.
I am not sure where Dog is going or where he belongs. But from the
tone of his conversation, it’s clear that he doesn’t hold black people
in very high regard. He seemed to have a problem with his son
dating Monique, and I got a strong indication from his tone that it was
her blackness and not much else, that kept her from having an
opportunity to become part of the family. That’s the problem Dog…you
rejected her because she was black. You made that clear in the
conversation.
Before we all stand on our soap boxes and condemn Dog, we have to
realize something. Dog, in some ways, is nothing more than a Sean
Hannity with long hair. He says, in his own “Dog the Bounty
Hunter” way, what a lot of America is thinking or says behind closed
doors. He reflects sentiments that are quite common, as there are
plenty of white folks,
teachers-doctors-lawyers-professors-scientists-judges in America who
would not want their child dating a black person. What is most
ridiculously amazing to me is that these people will then turn around
and claim not to be racist.
Sorry to tell you this, but if you feel that African-Americans are not
good enough to date your children, then you are a pure cut,
USDA-approved, Grade-A, good old fashioned, straight off the assembly
line racist. White supremacy is very subtle, and many of us are
victimized by it. You can’t claim to believe in equality while
maintaining beliefs that are so blatantly laced with white supremacy.
As for Dog, I hope he pays a high price for his mistake. He has
the right to say what he wants at home, but he doesn’t need a show to
say it. Besides that, I am not sure if his network has any black
hosts anyway, perhaps it’s time they find one.
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