THE TENSION: Racism: Alive and Well Update

If it looks and sounds like a Seinfeld episode ... perhaps it is.

First he went on national television to apologize for his racial tirade against two black hecklers. Now Michael Richards is taking his contriteness to the next level: he's hired a public relations expert with deep contacts in the black community according to AP.

"Michael apologized profusely. He wants to heal the tremendous wound that he's inflicted on the American public, and on the African-American community," New York publicist Howard Rubenstein said.
"Clearly he needs some race sensibility training, and some psychiatric help. His anger is volatile and dangerous to himself and others," Jackson said. "I hope he gets the help he needs. But the culture that's producing this kind of animosity toward blacks must be addressed. ... We're increasingly facing cultural isolation in Hollywood, in the movies and in TV."
It's too bad Richards stooped to blaming Bush for the whole triade in the apology.

Adding their collective voice to the Kramer fray, the NAACP on Wednesday rejected comedian Michael Richards' claim that he is not a racist after his much-publicized outburst at a comedy club, reports DC metro NBC 4.

"Mr. Richards' commentary was clearly racist and revealed racist thinking. His declaration that he 'is not a racist' is indicative of the type of denial that too often accompanies racist rhetoric," said Vicangelo Bulluck, director of the NAACP's Hollywood Bureau.
"What is so disconcerting is these recent racist outbursts are coming from notable personalities that have benefited from the support of millions of minority fans around the world. Their behavior is totally inexcusable because they should know better," Bulluck said.
"Those that are given access to the public through mainstream media must be put on notice that they have everything to lose by spewing racist ideas and rants," the NAACP said in the statement, adding that its Hollywood bureau has placed calls to Richards' representatives and is awaiting a response.

ABC News reports Joe Mroszczyk, president of the College Republicans at Boston University, admits he set out to stir up a hornet's nest when he came up with the idea of offering a whites-only scholarship at the school. But he got a little more buzz than he bargained for.

"To tell you the truth, we didn't see this coming," Mroszczyk said. "The Drudge Report picked it up yesterday, and today I just finished a round of national interviews. It's kind of overwhelming."
All the media attention is focused on a $250 Caucasian Achievement and Recognition Scholarship offered by Mroszczyk and the BU chapter of the College Republicans. Applicants must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher; they must write two essays; and, here's the kicker, they must be at least one-quarter Caucasian.

Native American students at Dartmouth College in Massachusetts are alleging racism over a series of events including a "cowboy and Indian" theme party, according to UPI.

In an ad by a campus Native American Council in the school newspaper this week, several incidents were cited as racist, including the theme party and an incident on Columbus day where fraternity pledges allegedly disrupted a Native American drumming circle.

DC metro Fox 5 reports an eastern Missouri high school student is suing his school district after being suspended for wearing a cap and T-shirt bearing the Confederate flag. Bryce Archambo, a freshman at Farmington High School, filed suit in federal court in St. Louis Tuesday, alleging the school district policy is unconstitutional and discriminatory.

The suit alleges the district's policy violates state law that bars prohibitions against emblems or clothing that are not disruptive. The suit asks a judge to bar the school from enforcing that policy, re-admit Archambo and remove any disciplinary record of the incident.