NATIONAL PUBLIC Radio newscaster Jean Cochran reported that president George Bush was going to visit Africa, and Cochran referred to it as the "Dark Continent."Then she was stunned to learn that people were offended by the phrase.
"I will concede antiquated but I was unaware it was 'racist and irredeemable,' as one person put it in an email," Cochran told NPR's ombudsman. "I was floored. Am I insensitive? I don't know how that could be since I didn't know there was anything to be sensitive about. I understood the term to refer to the African jungle. It's a canopy blocking out the light. A geographical term."
The phrase, by the way, dates back to the colonial era of Africa during the 19th century.
Was Cochran insensitive or is this a case of the political correct police running amok?
16 comments:
It sounds like Cochran really meant for the term "Dark Continent" to refer to the darkness of the African jungle, although I can see how it was interpreted as a racist remark. Being politically correct in the media is an extremely sensitive issue today, there will always be things said that people will take offense to whether or not they meant it in an offensive manner. I think Cochrane did the right thing in explaining her true intentions after the remark was take as a derogatory one, there was not much else she could have done.
so even if she meant it as just a "geographical term" how in the world do you not realize your also making a racist comment??? that's just inexusable. especially for NPR.
Cochrane's explanation for what she thought the "Dark Continent" refers to is pretty feasible to me. I grew up watching all those Looney Tunes with references to the dark heart of Africa and whatnot, and didn't realize the "dark" part was a racial comment until LAST year when I took my required core course on race. After having it pointed out to me, I thought, well look at that, it makes no sense - a thousand other parts of the world have dense forests where light doesn't reach the floor but those aren't referred to as "dark." White supremacy at it again!
Correcting Cochrane and making her aware of the term's origin is preferable to labeling her a racist. Education should deliver the ignorant from their ignorance, right?
It's the PC Police of course.
Do the Africans not agree that they are dark-skinned? Do they not agree that by Western standards, they have perhaps the bleakest economy? These are the two ways it could be offensive... but they are true...
If someone blatantly called our country the "Fat Country" or something... they'd be right and we could get offended all we want but it doesn't matter.
I don't know. Political correctness is stupid.
I can't believe people instantly thought she was talking about race. My first thoughts was that she was referring to it literally being dark (lack of light).
I don't understand how anyone could say she is racist. Yeah, it was probably a poor choice of words for a reporter, but she didn't mean it in an offensive way. I am not racist in any way, but it seems to me that the black population expects the white population to mistreat them,so they often jump to conclusions like this. It's a shame because it's a vicious cycle...black people getting mad at white people, and then the white guy becoming prejudice toward the black person.
If we would all stop taking these little comments so seriously, there would be far less racist people in the world.
At first I didn't understand what was the big deal about her saying the "Dark Continent," I understood it as as was stated above by cass. However, I'm beginning to think that people read too much into certain words. Ms.Cochran mentioned that she was unaware that it might seem racist to others. That story should end there. However, in the case if she was aware and did it intentionally, then I would agree that she was out of line.
I think we can all just shift the blame on Larry Mendte.
Political correctness gets on my nerves. Seriously, people, find something to do with your lives.
"Dark country" could have meant alot of things, and Cochran explained herself well after realizing that what she said could have been misconstrued.
So let's get over it and not harp on like we're prone to do about other breaches of PC, because honestly, there are a lot more important things to be worried about.
Constantly being around overly PC people, that was the first thing I though of, a racist comment. Although her reason as to what she was referring to makes total sense, and I've heard Africa referred to that in the past.
These days anything anyone say can be confronted with by the "PC Police", but I do think people should realize what they are saying before they do. I think it's escusable, every makes little mistakes and to me I don't think it's a big deal.
You know, racist terms/phrases achieve a certain social connotation that makes them racist. In that "dark continent" is that way because of social prejudice, not because its the only interpretation of it. I think people need get over themeselves, stop LOOKING for racism (cuz if you look, you will find) and just let society change its idea of the phrase. Should a reporter be dealing with that? Probably not. Media definitely. There's a fine line.
All I am saying is if you keep forcing people to view things a certain way, you will suffer negative consequences.
J1111 veteran
The issue here is not whether or not her comments were racist it's that she made them. Cochran should've been more careful because in a time where some people still believe that Africa is a country not a continent journalists need to go out of their way to inform the public.
The issue has nothing to do with being racist it's a matter of responsibility so to say that people are looking for racism is very dismissive. Racism hasn't died yet it's just less seen, so as a journalist she should have known that although her comments weren't racist they don't help anything.
It surprises me that someone so immersed in the media would make a mistake like this but I don't think she should be attacked for it in the way that she is. This politically correct business will get you at every angle and her response to the situation seams genuine. I see it as an honest mistake and I think her intentions are what matter most. I understand that words are loaded but "dark" is hardly offensive.
Here's something to keep in mind:
There is a difference between intention and perception.
Cochran may not have meant anything with her reference, but there is a danger that referring to Africa as the "Dark Continent" could be perceived as racist. After all, how many of you remember your 19th century colonial literature?
With that in mind, we as journalists need to be aware of our language. We need to remember that not everyone read Joseph Conrad (have you?). We need to think about the way we will be received.
And that is not necessarily political correctness. It is proper respect for differing cultures and viewpoints.
- George (the rational teacher)
Clearly not racist. This is simply an outdated term for the continent. I'm not even sure it qualifies as politically incorrect, because the word "dark" doesn't refer to its inhabitants. The term "dark continent" referred to what little was known about the continent when the phrase was coined.
I dont see how that is a racist comment. Is it now racist to call Africans "dark" because I am pretty sure they are darker then white people. Maybe it is called the dark contident because most of it doesnt have electricity or lights or people, or maybe it is because of the jungle, who knows. I think this is a case of everyone being over sensetive because someone mentioned a word that is associated with color. A word is a word and that is all it is and people need to stop twisting things around to make them seem racist.
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