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By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
Eddie Griffin experienced a real "n-word" wake-up call when his raunchy comedy act came to a screeching halt last weekend in Miami.
The 'Undercover Brother' star was booked as the main headliner for Friday night's line-up at the Black Enterprise/Pepsi 14th Annual Golf & Tennis Challenge.
The pint-sized, loud-mouthed funnyman's profanity, racial-slur-laced tirade didn't go over too well with the family friendly sold out audience.
Griffin turned out to be the ultimately show-stopper, literally, when his microphone suddenly "failed" after repeatedly using the 'N-Word.'
Soon after his abrupt silencing, Black Enterprise magazine owner and publisher Earl Graves, came on stage with the plug in his hand and said: "We at Black Enterprise will not allow our culture to go backwards. Black Enterprise stands for decency, black culture and dignity and we will pay Mr. Griffin all that we owe him but we will not allow him to finish the show if that's the way he's going to talk."
Whoa. Talk about theatrics.
Graves received a standing ovation from the sold-out audience, including Rev. Al Sharpton, who preached at the event the following day and applauded Mr. Graves for his strong stance on behalf of Black people.
Black Enterprise spokesperson Andrew Wadium did confirm that Griffins's show was cut short, citing "language restrictions," but did not go into much further detail.
A request for comment from Graves was declined.
Sharpton, on the other hand, didn't hold back in sharing his thoughts with The BV Newswire today. "I was proud and grateful that Earl Graves, Sr. stood up for our people and his readers by pulling the plug on comedian Eddie Griffin who repeatedly used the "N" word at his performance at the Black Enterprise-Pepsi Challenge over Labor Day weekend in Miami."
"It signified that we at National Action Network are not alone in the fight to end the demeaning and racist language that has allowed our people to aid in their own victimization for years," Sharpton, , on the frontlines for the voice of the disenfranchised for the past two decades, continued. "In any other community there are organizations that stand up for the rights of the people such as the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) that monitors the insensitivity and racism against the Jewish community, and my group is no exception."
"In the same way that no comedian or entertainer would get up and call a Jewish person out of their name without their being outrage, we will not allow black people to be demeaned by our own people," Sharpton maintained. "Eddie Griffin has the right to say what he wants to say, but we have the right to protest what he says and will hold everyone to these same standards. I have nothing personal against Mr. Griffin but I will continue to fight tirelessly to end the indecency that is setting us back a hundred years."
"My daughter Dominique was in the audience that night and called me and said 'Dad I witnessed history in the making today" and when she relayed what happened to me I was content that our efforts have not been in vain."
A rep for Griffin could not be reached by deadline.
BV EXTRA: In case you missed it, read all about Rev. Sharpton's war of words with rap lyricist David Banner.
Comments: (267)
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By: Ty on 5/30/2009 12:01AM
Hey so called Hip Hop generation,you have to know when is the right time and right place for bull shitting.Iam 46 years old, my generation gave you guys hip hop and damn if you did'nt bastardize it.I am no fan of that Uncle Tom Bill Cosby, sell out Juan Williams and that mammy bed winch Condi Rice, but you guys have got to meet us half way.The universe is about balance.I blame a lot of this on my generation smoking weed,drinking malt liquor and do hard drugs and then having casual sex and procreating you guys.You guys can prevent even further damage by not making the same mistakes my generation did.And oh yeah,Richard Pryor did'nt do his act in front of a family type crowd. Sinbad or Steve Harvey would 've been a better choice.But do realize this,Mr Graves is no Tom.You don't see him hanging out with that Nazi George Bush like that jackass 50 cents.You guys talk alot of shit but you bitch out at the wrong time.Revs Al and Jessie are not afraid of Bush or you punk ass test tube babies.
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By: Kenneth on 9/06/2007 8:11AM
Right on, Ty.
TonyBee, you can't spell......
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By: Mr. Unite Us on 9/07/2007 8:48AM
I commend Earl Graves. He is a class act, with a class publication. Check out Black Enterprise. No I don't
work for B.E. but I do believe the future of Black people will depend on how much we spend with each other and how we treat each other. Our number one problem is the lack of respect for each other. This has deadly consequences. It is lot easier to kill a n*gger than it is to kill a Black man. Over half the murders in this country are Black on Black.
We must check ourselves before we wreck ourselves.
Note to Tony: Richard Pryor denounced his own use of the N-word, and rightly so. It is word slaves were taught to call each other, so they would accept their status as less than human. Today's slaves are in prison calling each other the n-word. See the 14th amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Yes they are slaves according to the constitution, most are in there for committing crimes against Black people, and in some states they pick cotton.
So Tony don't be a slave, don't support music that glorifys the killing and enslavement of our people,
and pull you pants up. What's saggin spelled backwards.
Finally Eddie Griffin is very talented and doesn't need to use the n-word to be funny. I'm sure his Jewish publicist would not stand for Eddie Griffin to anti-Jewish slurs. Anti-Jewish slurs are not tolerated in this country. We as Black Americans should not tolerate anti-Black slurs.
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By: Alain Rivers on 9/06/2007 9:49AM
This is really a great moment in black history. It is not fair or acceptable for anybody to use the "N" word; it connotates a stereotype and is very derogatory. I also find it fascinating that rappers/hip-hop artist feel that using the "N" word is a necessary aspect of expressing their feelings: that is BS!! It is the easy way out to vent what ever thoughts they mean to express with a volatile word. Maybe the producers hired Mr. Griffin and his humor use him as a stepstone to make a point; that would make sense.
Thanks Mr. Graves and others for making a stand.
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By: Walt Bennett on 9/06/2007 9:55AM
Regarding Richard Pryor, he made a film in I think the early 80s, a stand-up movie like he'd done before. I think it was the one where he talked about free-basing and Jim Brown. Anyway, he also talked about how he'd been to Africa and had an awakening. He said he realized that using the N word was wrong no matter who did it, and that he would never use it in a performance again.
Seems to me he was still funny, and even more culturally relevant as a result.
The N word is naughty when used by a black person. As Ice-T says, it's an "inside" word: if it doesn't apply to you, don't use it. But, it's not a casual word either. Even with an 'a' at the end, it is still a culturally divisive word
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By: Von Smith on 9/06/2007 10:09AM
Why does Bill Cosby have to be a uncle Tom b/c he speaks the truth that black parents should raise their kids right....A parent will buy the kid $120.00 shoes but he same kid cannot spell C-A-T get real like the man says it starts at home and the lack of parents being parents is responsible for the kids that we have in society today.....
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By: khadijah on 9/07/2007 12:38AM
You mean to tell me they did not do their homework. That is Eddie Griffin! Was he suppose to deliver something different than his normal routine?
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By: Taft on 9/06/2007 10:49AM
Mr. Graves I was listening to WVON (an African-American radio station in Chicago) when I heard about what you did at your company sponsored event. I can't tell you how elated I was to hear of your action. I have been an ardent supporter of Black Entreprise Magazine since I was a senior in High School over 25 years ago. I must say that your action was consistent with the exemplary work that I have been accustomed to in your publications down through the years. I was surprised that Eddie Griffin was even on the bill. Kudos!!!!! to you for your stalwart decision to uphold the race. I am appalled at a generation that simply just does not get it.
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By: raleigh delesbore on 9/06/2007 11:24AM
I was listening to EG one time and all I heard was the N word. Thanks to BE maybe other personalities will refrain from that word. It is offensive and self degrading. I don't care who uses it, don't say it around me.
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By: oscar theodore bear on 9/06/2007 11:28AM
Crabs in a barrel syndrome. We always seem to be arguing and commenting about issues that are non issues. It's gossip at best and it's all bad. I know it's entertainment but it gets tiresome. This is electronic lynching and should be left hanging.
Forget the N word and Uncle Tomism's. Go to China, see the Eiffel Tower, visit where your grand parents weren't allowed to go but fought for. Read between the lines of OUR great history beyond the borders of your own ,'hood', and America. If you don't know, shame on you. If you do and choose not to teach or talk about it to encourage others to see it, then show snapshots of you there so they can ask questions. If you don't, shame again.
The problem I think, and this is my personal opinion, is that Black people are scared to death of their own history. Afraid to ignore the TV and the head line news and go see, smell and feel for themselves. Call it small village syndrome where to travel a mile was a great adventure.
To be reduced to a color with no morals or soul is being treated like an animal that must be controlled.
That's what makes this thing called knowledge so dangerous. Don't be as stupid as the media want you to be.
Black is just a color if you don't realize, it contains every color and all knowledge it's richness.
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