A Letter from a Former Fan
Sep. 4th, 2010 12:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yukinoomoniPlease note that a copy of this was originally sent to Jim Richards via the NewsTalk1010 website.
Mr Richards,
I have been a fan of your radio programme for as long as I can remember, ever since you were featured as a late-night host in the wee hours in the morning. I have always considered you a fair and honest newscaster, one who always offers the truth while wording it amusingly.
Thus, you can imagine my chagrin when I heard a soundbite of you stating that you were surprised at hearing about black people living in Winnipeg, and as far as you were concerned, that it was "breaking a stereotype". Comments like this paint you as ignorant, Mr Richards, and I feel embarrassed for NewsTalk1010, that they missed such a derogatory and false remark.
Black people have been living in Winnipeg since the 1800's, and were actually the ignored backbone into building the city. Despite the government's early attempts to rid them from their province (including taxing newcomers with a "Negro head-tax"), many black people still call Winnipeg home and can trace their roots much further into Canadian soil than you probably could.
I strongly recommend you educate yourself before you make such ignorant and foolish comments, no matter how off-handed they may seem. Your attempt at humour is not appreciated - it was hurtful and racist.
If real research is far too intimidating for you, I urge you to at least read "Some Great Thing" by Lawrence Hill, which is a novel speaking at great lengths about the history of black people in Manitoba.
Quite frankly, this is a dealbreaker for me. Whether it was a joke or not, I can no longer listen to your show due to such a comment. I urge you to retract your statement and educate yourself with some facts before ever commenting on the subject ever again.
Sincerely,
Tara L Blackmore
What sparked this letter? Basically, it was a soundbite that spoke of a recent sex scandal in Winnipeg. I could really care less about the scandal itself, except that Richards ended the soundbite with a throwaway comment about "stereotypes" and how it was "breaking with a stereotype that there were black people in Winnipeg".
Seriously, Jim? Seriously? Are you that fucking ignorant? Do you really think that saying such disgusting things is funny? You're an idiot. You're not funny - you're an idiot, and you really need to pick up a book before you open your ignorant and racist mouth.
Mr Richards,
I have been a fan of your radio programme for as long as I can remember, ever since you were featured as a late-night host in the wee hours in the morning. I have always considered you a fair and honest newscaster, one who always offers the truth while wording it amusingly.
Thus, you can imagine my chagrin when I heard a soundbite of you stating that you were surprised at hearing about black people living in Winnipeg, and as far as you were concerned, that it was "breaking a stereotype". Comments like this paint you as ignorant, Mr Richards, and I feel embarrassed for NewsTalk1010, that they missed such a derogatory and false remark.
Black people have been living in Winnipeg since the 1800's, and were actually the ignored backbone into building the city. Despite the government's early attempts to rid them from their province (including taxing newcomers with a "Negro head-tax"), many black people still call Winnipeg home and can trace their roots much further into Canadian soil than you probably could.
I strongly recommend you educate yourself before you make such ignorant and foolish comments, no matter how off-handed they may seem. Your attempt at humour is not appreciated - it was hurtful and racist.
If real research is far too intimidating for you, I urge you to at least read "Some Great Thing" by Lawrence Hill, which is a novel speaking at great lengths about the history of black people in Manitoba.
Quite frankly, this is a dealbreaker for me. Whether it was a joke or not, I can no longer listen to your show due to such a comment. I urge you to retract your statement and educate yourself with some facts before ever commenting on the subject ever again.
Sincerely,
Tara L Blackmore
What sparked this letter? Basically, it was a soundbite that spoke of a recent sex scandal in Winnipeg. I could really care less about the scandal itself, except that Richards ended the soundbite with a throwaway comment about "stereotypes" and how it was "breaking with a stereotype that there were black people in Winnipeg".
Seriously, Jim? Seriously? Are you that fucking ignorant? Do you really think that saying such disgusting things is funny? You're an idiot. You're not funny - you're an idiot, and you really need to pick up a book before you open your ignorant and racist mouth.
