Frank Beckmann, Det News article, uh-oh [LOCKED]
It has taken a few days, but a piece that UM football p-b-p radio announcer Frank Beckmann wrote regarding fried chicken and the Woods-Garcia flap is starting to get a lot of negative attention for Frank.
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130524/OPINION01/305240023/1268/OP…
To the politically correct, the mention of fried chicken is an immediate endorsement of slavery rather than a testament to the innovative determination of the American slave population to improve its own physical wellbeing by creating a readily available dish which improved their diet.
Making fried chicken and popularizing it could thus be viewed as an accomplishment that should serve as a testament to the determination of a group of people who found an inventive way to subsist while enduring unimaginable and deplorable living conditions.
From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130524/OPINION01/305240023#ixzz2UcLfUjwE
mods, feel free to delete if this should not have been posted.
Mod edit: This seems a little like the Brandon for Senate stuff where it's related enough to get posted, but not worth sorting out politics from not-politics in the comments, aside from the fact that it will all inevitably become politics at some point. JGB.
Which is why we shouldn't have discussions of the elections or policies of the regents on here.
Section 1 is not the same as all posters. He is certifiably insane.
Maybe the rule against "no politics" ought to have an exception.
The last time I ran afoul of it, I had posted that Carl Levin had announced he was not running, and that Dave Brandon's name might get mentioned as a candidate. The thread got pulled, fast.
And a couple of days later, MLive.com was reporting that Brandon was saying he wouldn't be a candidate. (And there was serious indication that it had been seriously considered.)
I don't envy the mods, but I'd think that there should be some 'no politcs' exceptions.
The alternative is that this public discussion is left to MLive, or to 97.1, or the newspapers' bottom-feeders.
I come here to get away from the FoxNews/MSNBC blah blah blah of the world. This is my "happy place"
This isn't the Oxford Debating Society. And it isn't Hyde Park Corner. Nor the steps of the capitol.
The MGoBoard is like a bar, or a call-in show. Where people might disagree, but only within carefully-prescribed limits, without regard to free speech rights. The goal is not debate. The goal is entertainment. In fact, the MGoBoard is a bit like 97.1 in this regard. They aren't doing sports journalism at 97.1 and Valenti (is that his name? Valenti?) is the first to declare that he is an entertainer, not a journalist.
Just personally, I'd let this go. And let people blow off their political steam if they must. I don't mind political disagreements. I mind political dumbness.
If Frank Beckmann's future as the radio voice of the Wolverines isn't On-Topic, then how the hell did we ever get a post on Barack Obama at Glick for a political event?
Employees of the university say much more controversial things routinely. Universities are open marketplaces of speech and ideas. Take a stroll through the offices of Haven or Lane Hall some time.
Are they all given space in one of the area's two largest newspapers? Do they host a radio show? Do they call a game where the majority of the players are African-American?
They could get one. And they teach at the University of Michigan, so their classes are filled with a plethora of diversity, some of whom no doubt are offended (sometimes on purpose as a teaching method!!!).
It is an ill concieved article trying to say that Spanish people don't understand American sensibilities to stereotypes based on "ethnic" food, especially those stereotypes that are connected to slavery/racism and that Americans shouldn't be so sensitive to those outside of America breaking those sensibilities.
It's not that big of a deal for anyone who actually takes a deep breath and thinks about it. Ethnic foods exist and someone from Europe made a stereotype about it. There are much more controversial things happening that are connected to Michigan.
Michigan students and fans should not be afraid of open discussions about important issues, but they are, because it is hard to be tolerant of other viewpoints...even for those who fancy themselves as open-minded.
comfortable. He tried to pose a very literal explanation of the "fried chicken = racism" idea while poo-pooing the fist biters and cross nailers and simply missed the mark. Big. Fucking. Deal.
While ignoring the actual explanation of the stereotype which is that African Americans enjoy fried chicken because they are unsophisticated and occupy the lowest rung of our society. THAT'S the stereotype. Not this bullshit about the triumph of the will of the African American slave in the Antebellum South. Glossing over that is stupid and ignorant on his part.
It's not like they didn't know that Frank is a political commentator. He thought he had a smart commentary on ethnic food being used to stereotype different people and trappings of political correctness. He missed the mark.
By the time of his next editorial it won't even be remembered.
Yowsa. I know he thinks he's just addressing the pc crowd, but in the end, he's lecturing a group of people he's not part of that instead of feeling insulted, they should feel proud whenever someone makes a reference they find insulting.
For all who don't know, Beckamann has his own show 760 WJR M-F mornings where he mainly addresses political, not sports, topics. He made similar comments to these on his show last week prior to the piece in Detnews. Apparently, the regents are looking into this:
According to sources, two regents want Beckmann ousted as U of M play-by-play man immediately following "Fried Chicken-Gate."
is how university governance should work. I'm not sure if he will lose his broacasting job over this, but I am glad the university is meeting immediately to discuss the issue.
I hate when people add ''gate'' to any controversy.
It was really stupid of Beckmann to write this. I am not so sure his job broadcasting Michigan games is as safe as people seem to think it is.
I wonder who Beckmann will pick in the first round of the race draft. "Now wait just a god damn minute, Rondel".
Kind of smells like Rush Limbaugh during his stint on MNF talking about Donovan McNabb. That didn't end well for Limbaugh.
Nor do I want him to. This is, at best, extraordinarily poor judgment on his part. Let me put it this way: if you were 18, an elite athlete, and African-American, would you want a guy trying to claim that jokes about fried chicken aren't racist calling your games? And if you were the coach of a team loaded with such players, would you want that same guy calling your games? And if you were the AD of a coach who wanted him gone, would you want Beckmann still there?
Etc. Up to the president and regents (who have already said they want him gone).
People said "why would any black athlete go to Ole Miss, they have a student group that said racist things! This is going to kill their recruiting!"
They ended up having the number 7 class in the country. It turns out that these recruits have different priorities than random student groups.
You really think that a recruit is going to say, boy I like Michigan, Brady Hoke, Mattison, etc, the facilities, the teachers, the campus, the stadium, my future teammates, the academic center, the possibility of having a top degree, playing in The Game, going to the Rose Bowl....but, their radio guy wrote a crappy article almost no one read saying we shouldn't get bent out of shape over a golfer making a stereotype out of fried chicken and Tiger Woods.
Ole Miss might be a bad example, because we all know why players go there: the cash.
Allegedly.
I thought it was pretty widely agreed that the reason Ole Miss had the number 7 class in the country was due to some HOLY CRAP THATS INCREDIBLY SHADY HOW IN THE HELL DID ALL THOSE KIDS COMMIT TO YOU ALL AT THE LAST MINUTE WITHOUT YOU PAYING THEM MONEY kind of dealings.
My only point is that these recruits have different priorities and are a lot more sophisticated than they're given credit for. The Ole Miss thing was just the most recent "OMG something happened at school X that is completely unrelated to the football team that's going to hurt the football team."
Sure. And the point that I'm making is that if you want to make that point, you should probably use an example that didn't involve the school in question cheating unabashedly.
posters - there is no reason to say "MODS, FEEL FREE TO DELETE."
they are mods, they care little for your feelings
I thought they really liked me. I know they like Section 1.
If I had posted this, it wouldn't have lasted 30 seconds. So I didn't. I am not against this thread. Indeed, my tastes for political discourse on the Board are broader than the mods'.
It is easy for me to say, I don't have to moderate the outrageous comments. Additionally, I lean towards conservatism, when the young demographic that dominates the Board leans progressive. And that is another problem.
I knew that I couldn't post this, but I am glad somebody else did.
"... I lean towards conservatism ..."
That is -- very seriously -- interesting. From the comments on this board and other places I've been led to believe that anyone defending RichRod for any reason was probably a LIBRULL (!!!).
They are a vicious and malevolent folk. Some day we shall rise up and remove them from their throne of tyranny.
VIVA LA REVOLUCION!
Carousel is a lie. There is no Sanctuary.
To the politically correct, the mention of fried chicken is an immediate endorsement of slavery rather than a testament to the innovative determination of the American slave population to improve its own physical wellbeing by creating a readily available dish which improved their diet.
Arguing that it isn't offensive because it represents the POSITIVE results of slavery is a tough territory to break for an old rich white dude.
Besides, regardless of whether fried chicken has a place in African-American cultural history (it does), referring to fried chicken as a way to slight a black man is inarguably racist.
the people who hate everything pc and want to be able to say whatever they like come across as:
i should be able to say whatever i like, and you shouldn't be offended. i should be able to make jokes at your expense, and not worry about feeling like an asshole. grow a pair!!!!!?
He has openly and publicly attacked the Fab Five (not just one who lied to the government) for being who they were, just because his old white self didn't like the way they were. I am just as old and white as Beckmann, and I am angry that the U did not get rid of him when he made those statements, which I specifically brought to their attention. He is a fine announcer, but the rest of him is just too much to allow to speak for the U in any capacity.
Second, this is highly political and has no place at mgoblog. You can't avoid it even though it is about a Michigan radio personality.
Third, this only took off as a story because people (not the same race as those who were the subject of his comments) are overly offended. You may not agree with him, but his opinion is his. It does not promote hate. If it was said by a black man, no one would bat an eyelash. It's as though a white person can't express that black people may want to find strength in overcoming adversity. Is that really a taboo idea? That only a black person can raise that as a possibility. Isn't it racist to say that a persons color dictates whether they can raise a point?
When I was at UM I was overly concerned about anyone who might offend anyone else with comments. I shuddered at any hint of racism.
Then one of my classmates who focused his studies on racism in American Studies explained to me how often white, liberal college students take more offense to crap like this than people of the subject race. Apparently, there is some feeling of superiority that is exhibited by "defending other people." Part of it might be called "white guilt" and part of it might just be a paternalistic feeling that you have to defend other races. Plus, you can pretend you are more progressive than other people (even if you are not).
If Tiger is offended by Beckmann p's comments, fine. Why do you care?
"Apparently, there is some feeling of superiority "
Apparently?
Apparently some academics think that there is a level of oppression of other races through the act of being overly-politically correct. It is a pretty liberal idea to me to think that those who race to condemn any potential racist remarks are really just sub-consciously regaling in protecting "weaker people" and are ....therefore racist themselves because they view other races as weak and in need of help when none is needed. Do we really need to roast Beckmann for his opinion?
Who knows for sure.
If Sergio would have actually served fried chicken as a kind gesture to a friend, there is no issue here. But to use it as a negitive like he did should not just be accepted. It does not make society "thin-skinned" for pointing out that a public figure just poked fun at an entire race.
You shouldn't let people off the hook for being racist. I do agree with everything else in the article besides that. I am willing to explain more, but do not feel that this is the right forum to do so.
Oh, hey. More questionable comments by Frank Beckmann about race. How incredibly shocking. The worst part is, these weren't some off color remarks said in the heat of whatever, or a brain fart on his part. He actually planned this shit out. Thought about it seriously, and took the time to write it all down, and at no point was there ever a moment where he was like, "Hey, Frank. This looks kind of fucked up, and maybe you shouldn't try to defend the guy flippantly using a negative stereotype against black people that literally everyone who isn't a racist knows was wrong."
Why Black People Should be Happy to Sit in The Back of the Bus
by Frank Beckmann
To the politically correct crowd, racial segregation is an immediate endorsemet of slavery rather than a testament to the innovative determination of the American slave population to improve its own physical well being by creating a space speficially for "slaves" to sit in peace while improving their safety, as everyone knows there is an emergency exit located conveniently in the back of every bus.
Making the American slave population sit in the back of bus could thus be viewed as an accomplishment towards racial harmony, because everyone knows that the cool kids sit in the back of the bust while all of the nerds get stuck up front talking to the bus driver. So I mean, really guys? Who is ultimately winning here?
In summation, black people (A.K.A. "The American slave population) get to both be the cool kids in the back of the bus AND have access to their very own emergency exit in the case of an accident. So everyone pack it up and go home. I think we've pretty much solved racism, guys.
-Beckmann out!
P.S. FAB FIVE SUXXXX!
All I got from reading that article was hungry.
Among other things, his piece posits a false parallel between German culture, and associated stereotypes, and African-American culture. There is not a history of derogatory and mean-spirited jokes concerning Germans and whatever the Hell Beckman's mother cooks, or Spanish and paella. Can there honestly be any doubt that the purpose of Garcia's comment was to cut Tiger Woods down?
This piece is either naive in the extreme, or intellectually dishonest.
All those years of speaking glowingly of African American players on Michigan's football team was just a clever ruse?
No need to let him go, just wait a bit and let the IRS audit him , yeah?
also - what happened to the no-politics rule?
I am absolutely outraged! As an African-American, I have lived with this my whole life. I can't even eat fried chicken in pulic anymore because of the fear of validating this sick stereotype. Fried chicken has ruined my life! How can something so delicious be so destructive?
Seriously though, he should probably just stick to sports in the future.
"Fried chicken has ruined my life! How can something so delicious be so destructive? " It's yer arteries man..yer arteries!
Frank is a great play-by-play man. I love his calls and his passion for the maize and blue. I don't give a damn about his politics. He can be as conservative as he wants, so long as his poiltics don't bleed into UM football broadcasts.
That being said, his commentary was sad, insensitive and completely divorced from American history and the African American expereince.
I completely agree wtih The Last Hoke's comments above: The worst part is, these weren't some spontanious, off color remarks on this radio show. "(Beckmann) thougt about it seriously, and took the time to write it all down, and at no point was there ever a moment where he was like, "Hey, Frank. This looks kind of f'd up, and maybe you shouldn't try to defend the guy flippantly using a negative stereotype against black people that literally everyone who isn't a racist knows was wrong."
I don't think this is a fireable offense. I do hope its a "teachable moment."
Except he's not such a great play by play guy. To make such a thoroughly stupid comment defending a thoroughly stupid comment calls into question what sort of bizarre logical leapfrog postition he may stake out next.
too sensitive, I know Beckmann fumbled the way he said things regarding this issue, but talking about fried chicken shouldn't get you fired. I love fried chicken, I don't care about the origins, I'm just glad it exists, let's move on from this PC crap, please.
My family immigrated here when I was really young and trust me when I say that we were discriminated against often but we don't go around yelling discrimination at every little comment. People need to be thicker skinned just a bit or we'll all hurt each others fellings at the drop of a hat.
Just check out the people who want him fired for this or who wrote mock racist stories to make fun of him. They are not interested in being reasonable. They are interested in being intolerant and better than Beckmann.