So today, I had to let loose on a dude on the show. I won’t apologize for what I did, though I don’t think I necessarily said it the right way. Which is to say that I shouldn’t have called the man one of the names I used. I apologize to you for that.
To him? Hardly.
The call is linked at the bottom of the post. I will preface it with an e-mail I received.
Bomani –
I listen to your show on a regular basis. First, let me say that the “person” you spoke with today was a nothing more than a seemingly uneducated, dirtbag racist – you don’t need me to tell you that. He obviously doesn’t listent to your show much; if he does, he can’t hear too well due to too much wax buildup from lack of hygiene.
To my point – I hated hearing you loose your cool; at least it seemed that way. I am not a radio personality and I can only imagine how difficult it is at times keeping your cool talking to dirtbags like that.
For what it’s worth, I am still listening.
It wasn’t until I read this e-mail that I decided to podcast that call. I hated hearing me lose my cool, too. When you’re mad, nobody’s mad but me. If I learned nothing else from my childhood, it’s the uselessness of anger. Many of you have known me or years and have never seen me mad. That’s how serious I am about it, and I thank my parents and my brother for getting me to that point. Twas a helluva trip to get here, but we’re here, and it’s the one thing about my personality I take absolute pride in. And if you knew me growing up, you’d understand it.
However, somebody’s got to tell these fools that they’re fools. This idea that we can just laugh off these fools is a flawed one. They are fools. They need to be called fools. They need to be treated as fools. They need to be shamed. They need to get cussed out. They need to be embarrassed. And even if it’s just this one, the world’s a better place for it.
We’ve tried ignoring these clowns and laughing them off. See what this has gotten up? A world where a columnist in the friggin’ New York Times is afraid we’re breeding a culture that will get the President shot, he’s got precedent to support his suspicions, and it seems glaringly obvious that he’s telling the truth. That’s what ignoring these clowns has gotten us.
It’s gotten us not a damn thing. The clear resentment fools like him have over…so damn much needs to be addressed, and they need to be addressed publicly. Guess this was just his day.
I’ve tried my best to host an honest show. And honestly, I put up with too much on a daily basis to have to put up with him and the people like him. Today, simply, was not the day. The only thing I really wish was different is that I wish he would have called at 11:30, so we could bomb on this fool for an hour and a half. No coincidence, btw, that he waited so late to call, for he knew he’d catch it for an hour and a half.
Sorry if this messed up the 176 minutes of entertaining radio — at least for me — we had before this. But sometimes, it’s necessary to take four minutes to let these clowns know that WE will neither encourage nor enable their idiocy.
I’m not posing as a hero. I’m just a dude that lost his cool on a radio show. However, I’ve had enough of ignoring racists, whether on this show or in real life. Call ’em out.
That said, here’s the call.
13 thoughts on “The phone call on today's show”
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OH. HELL. NO! I am speechless. Glad that wasn’t allowed to go unchecked. True that the anger can’t/won’t/never will fix anything. But yeah, people can only let fools ride for so long. It’s so frustrating how many times those little vague hints of racist comments get thrown out and left to linger in the air like a bad smell. So frustrating. Have yourself a good after-work drink today. It’s one of dem days. Sheesh.
It didn’t mess up the previous 176 minutes Bomani- I think you probably reacted the right way- what were you supposed to do? Just let the dude hate?
Racism, with it’s bloody history and sinister nature- is just stupid before anything else. And Kelly is just stupid- and i think your reaction only made that more clear…..
Whatever. Your show is the best on the radio. You work 6 days a week. Not everyday can be perfect.
Bo i’m a regular listener, didn’t get to tune in today cause of work, but i’m actually surprised that you got heated when that guy called, cause you played it off well when a couple of other callers piped in with pretty much the same thing. i guess him leading in with that stuff about brett favre being tom brady started him off badly and he just dropped from there. Anyway man hopefully the bosses didn’t give you too hard a time for that, you did what was necessary.
Dang, I don’t even know where to begin. Considering what that fleabag was saying, I think you handled the situation the best way a grown man could.
Props for putting that on the blog and podcast. I cant imagine it being easy to have to relive that.
Peace! -V
After an hour of being away I tuned back about the time “it” started and I’ve never heard you so angry. Honestly that caller was scary – his beliefs were seething underneath – and that is what disturbed me.
Thanks for posting it, and explaining what and why it happened. All of us have a certain amount of patience, but there comes a time when the line just breaks. As you say you are from earth and it’s a pity a lot aren’t.
Thanks for for your show and keep it going – it’s a perspective from the other broadcasting we don’t get.
– Brian
You Alright Bo?
Caught the last 5 minutes of your show today…I guess one day it’ll stop. I hope so.
I’m a 47 y.o. Cauc-Asian, if only by designation. I created that for myself when my fiancee’s Mother refused my existence when she learned that I wasn’t “Korean”. That was 5 years ago, still haven’t met the woman. Don’t need to. I just tried to bring some levity to the situation.
I’ve been busted in the mouth by a 25 y.o old man at my first job because I was white. 2 years later he hated to see me go to college. I’ve been ridiculed by Hell’s Angels because I played basketball with non-whites after work when I tried the construction thing after college. Didn’t need their approval. Earned their repsect? when I drove over 3 Harleys because they owed me money. They said my Dad was a “pu–y” because they had slapped him and he didn’t fight them, (My Dad said it was 7-1 odds, I believe him) Thugs of a different name. I’ve fought guys at pick up bball games at A&T University cause I blocked a shot or scored on someone. I’ve had guys come to my defense based on the color of my skin. I’ve fought drunks and sobers. Told the police to kiss my a_s and worse. I’ve even cussed in Church when I thought the Priest was full of crap.
I’ve fought stereotypes of being formally educated and still working construction type jobs. My own Father thought I was wasting my money going to college (2 degrees NCSU, ELON) Self-employed 21+ years with Duke University.
All these years in NC and traveling through other states it seems the only fight I can’t win is over “Ignorance”. I wish it would end. I was telling my wife to be today how I wished people could just be ignorant without turning to ‘hate’. Hate of something never explored or attempted to understand.
It may have been the same dumbass that called your show before today. But ever since then I’ve wanted to call in and say, “Bomani, I’m sick and tired of your non-racist agenda!” The inverse of what he said before.
You’re young Bomani. I’m established in the Durham community and though I find the occasional ‘What the f__k??’ in my daily activities, people that know me know who I am and how I feel and think about most issues.
Sometimes I think your media position leaves listeners believing they can say anything, without ever thinking that you are a man with personal convictions that they can step on you without response.
Today, I saw you as me when a grown-a-s man hit me when I was 15; it hurt but I didn’t go down. I fought him because he hit me, I didn’t know why. Today you fought “Ignorance” and “Ignorance” moves on unscathed. I’m glad you did, for yourself, for your listeners that agree with you.
My hope is that maybe one day in my sons’ future or in their children’s live “Ignorance” dies.
Excellent Work Bomani.
The weirdest part about these times is that because of the public stigma attached to explicit racism, most of these white dudes are afraid to own up to being racist.
Instead, they try to pull the switcharoo and accuse any person who points out white supremacy (sometimes anyone who acknowledges race as a relevant social category) is accused of being a (reverse) racist.
I’m not sure that this is progress, but it’s interesting.
And what is it with sports fans? Why does this population seem to harbor so many racist white dudes?
Wow. Just wow. That was awful (on the caller’s part, not yours).
You’re 100% right about how to deal with people like that, too. Just ignoring them won’t make them go away; it needs to be addressed head on. Reminds me of the Letter from Birmingham Jail, about how the silent majority will be the biggest impediment to progress and acceptance. Sadly, even with all the progress made in the last 46 years, it’s still true today.
I’m most struck by the dichotomy of the two men involved. Bomani is addressing himself in an honest and open way. I agree with you , drag these motherfuckers into the light whenever you can. I also agree with you that your blood pressure going up doesnt affect him. He wouldnt even stand up for his defective thinking until you pulled it out of him , not honest or open.
Asking why sports harbors so many racists implies the ratio isnt the same in any slice of life in this country. That douche bag probably goes to church , has kids in public school , shops at walmart , and has a job with folks of many ethnicities. He can infect the country from many angles , thus putting the spot light on him is imperative .
Thanks Bomani for taking some heat for the better good.
You did the right thing by trying to get him to actually say what he meant and not imply it. The problem I see is that in this “post-racial” age the only way we get most people to see the blatant (to us) racism is to make the racist clearly state their views.
While the guy does not speak for the majority of his people, he is not as fringe as many seem to think. Everyone should do what you did.
On a related note, I’m available to speak on behalf of and answer for all good looking red-heads. Follow me on Twitter at…oh, forget it.
i tried listening to the call, but it brought up a message 404- not found.
I don’t know if you want to dig it up, but the podcasts from 850 are gone.