"As Juneteenth celebrations kick off across Texas, some local minority leaders plan to boycott an appearance by a comedian to express their disapproval of comments he made recently about African-Americans," says staff-writer Andrew Chavez of Texas' Star Tribune.
"Comedian D.L. Hughley created an Internet buzz when he appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and discussed comments by Don Imus, a radio shock jock who was fired for comments he made about the Rutgers women's basketball team."
"He literally said the same thing" as Imus, said Eddie Griffin of Fort Worth, a self-proclaimed "old-school activist" who plans to participate in the boycott. "It was just heartbreaking." Star Tribune.
So, Texas' Black religious community is helping to lead a boycott of D.L. Hughley's Juneteenth appearance in Texas, and they are asking the AfroSpear to spread this boycott nationwide and internationally. So, I received the following press release from the Rev. Pastor Kyev P. Tatum, Sr. in Fort Worth, TX:
The MILLICOM Group
Professional Consultants
Houston – Los Angeles – Atlanta
P. O. Box 270836
Houston, Texas 77277
713-256-6243 / 713-320-7788
www.themillicomgroup.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2007
Contact: Donald Fields
713-256-6243
PROMINENT BLACK TEXAS MINISTER CALLS FOR NATIONAL BOYCOTT OF BLACK COMEDIAN D.L. HUGHLEY FOR RACIST, INSENSITIVE AND DEMEANING “IMUS-LIKE” REMARKS
Fort Worth, TX - In what he is calling “inhumane, belittling and degrading” of the recent remarks made by popular Black comedian D. L. Hughley on national television and radio appearances regarding black women and other African-American’s, Fort Worth Black Minister Rev. Kyev Tatum has joined many other Fort Worth ministers in calling for a national boycott of Hughley and has issued a warning to national networks and other entertainment companies to cancel any and all Hughley appearances out of respect for African-American’s in general and of Black Women in particular.
“Words hurt”, states Tatum, “especially when they’re coming from someone of their own race, and they’re directed maliciously and viciously towards members of their own race, or towards anyone for that matter. This national culture of disrespect and incorrectness is a national disgrace and must stop."
This is especially a sensitive matter, as many statewide celebrations commence in Texas in observation of Juneteenth, a revered and historic date (June 19) commemorating the date that blacks in Texas learned of the Emancipation Proclamation.
As such, many local minority leaders plan to boycott an appearance by Hughley to express their disapproval of comments he made recently about African-Americans. Comedian D.L. Hughley created an Internet buzz when he appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and discussed comments by Don Imus, a radio shock jock who was fired for comments he made about the Rutgers women's basketball team.
Hughley is scheduled to perform Saturday at Bass Hall as Juneteenth celebrations across North Texas go into full swing. The holiday is Tuesday. Hughley is unapologetic and said through his publicist that freedom of speech is "a zero sum proposition."
In his statement, Hughley said, "too many times I have watched clowns like these pretend to speak for the masses," he said. "Isn't there a child you can help teach to read, a war to help stop, an unjustly accused man you can help out of jail? I will not apologize for telling a joke about the world as I see it." Local leaders say the message is bad for the community.
What Hughley said was unacceptable and the fight will continue beyond the Texas event until Hughley realizes that Black people are sick and tired of being insulted, regardless of where the insults are coming from.
Call or email the Bass Hall and ask them to cancel the show. Share with others in your network.
We can not support a double standard.
Contact:
Mr. Paul Beard- Manager
pbeard@basshall.com
Toll Free 1-877-212-4280
Texas Coalition Protests D. L. Hughley Visit to Bass Hall
