Fox's Affirmative Action Baby Whines
Marc Lamont Hill has responded to my Newsreal post about The O’Reilly Factor’s decision to make him their black in residence and to provide him a whole segment recently to share with us his views of the crisis with Iran. I pointed out that Hill’s expertise, such as it is, is hip-hop culture — the very low end, in other words, of popular music which is better known as rap. Why was Hill on at all? Because he’s Fox’s black academic. But what kind of academic? With an expertise in rap music, Hill has a professorship at Columbia University, illustrating  my often made observation that our liberal arts colleges have fallen to their lowest intellectual level in 100 years.
My objection to Hill’s appearance as a rap professor pontificating about geopolitical issues is it fed the soft racism of low expectations and that it was in fact an insult to all those black academics who would actually have had something intelligent to say about the Iran crisis.
Hill has now had the bad judgment to respond to my post on his Twitter. This has revealed another side of Hill which is equally illuminating. His Twitter web page is wall-papered with one of his heroes, Assata Shakur — a fugitive killer, wanted for the cold-blooded murder of a New Jersey state trooper in 1973. She has been protected for all the intervening years by the most sadistic dictator in the Americas, Fidel Castro.
So here’s another dimension to the poor judgment Fox has shown in selecting
The image of Assata Shakur, the Castro-protected fugitive, that wallpapers Hill's Twitter page.
Marc Lamont Hill, out of all the black intellectuals available, to talk about cultural issues (let alone international affairs.) Hill is one of a community of black intellectuals promoted well beyond their abilities — Michael Eric Dyson and Cornel West are two obvious others — who are poisoning the minds of black youth with the idea that politically correct murderers like Assata Shakur are heroes, and patriotic Americans are devils incarnate. Of course confronting O’Reilly — and cherishing his air time and Fox stipend — Hill is far more moderate on TV than he probably is in his classroom or at the public speaking venues his gig on Fox makes possible.
Hill’s twitter reply to my post is typical in its illiteracy. He says I’ve made a career out of calling people Communists and anti-Semites, as though such people don’t exist. In fact, if his admiration for a murderer in the protection of a Communist dictator is any indication, he understands that Communists do exist but just doesn’t think they deserve to be condemned. Someone like myself who has the bad manners to point out their existence, therefore, must be a red-baiter or, better yet, a “McCarthyite.”
Hil
l’s second complaint is that I wrote a book called Unholy Alliance about radical Islam but I’m not an expert in Islam. This is supposed to take the heat off him for making inane comments on the Iranian crisis. Actually, my book — which he obviously didn’t read — is about the American left — not Islam — and is an attempt to explain its tacit alliance with the Islamic totalitarians of al-Qaeda and Hamas. This is a subject I happen to be an expert on. I have studied the American left longer and know more about it than Professor Hill does about hip-hop culture or, for that matter, about me.
PS: If Marc Lamont Hill wants to respond to this we will give him the necessary space.
Trackbacks and Pingbacks
- Witch-hunters and anti-Semites at the Village Voice « NewsReal Blog
- More Tweets From Marc « NewsReal Blog
- Rebuttal of the Day: Iran Analysis from Beavis and Butthead « NewsReal Blog
- Top Posts « WordPress.com
- The Australian Conservative » Blog Archive » Fox News hires apologist for cop-killer
- Cliff Kincaid at Accuracy in Media Digs Deeper Into Hill’s Defense of Radical Fugitive « NewsReal Blog
- Prayer, News and Action » Uncategorized » Rebuttal of the Day: Iran Analysis from Beavis and Butthead
- Scandal: Fox News Hires Apologist for Cop-killer… « -THE "G" BLOGS ~ Gunny G Online -
- The Village Voice Continues to Blow Smoke To Smear Horowitz « NewsReal Blog
- Gee, I Wonder Why Marc Lamont Hill Changed His Twitter Page’s Background « NewsReal Blog
- Scandal: Fox News hires apologist for cop-killer | SmallGovTimes.com
- Kincaid: Fox News Fires Marc Lamont Hill « NewsReal Blog
- NewsReal’s Victory: Marc Lamont Hill Has Been Held Accountable « NewsReal Blog
- NewsReal’s Victory: Marc Lamont Hill Has Been Held Accountable | Prayer And Action
- NewsReal’s Victory: Marc Lamont Hill Has Been Held Accountable « Prayer, News & Action
- David Horowitz should stick to pianos « Wuzhatnin
I couldn’t understand why O’Reilly had this simpleton on his show. When he appears on set, I mute or switch channels. It is almost as if O’Reilly wants to embarrass the black community by turning the camera on yet another affirmative action empty head waving a meretricious affirmative action diploma. In a way, he is as much an embarrassment to his university as the ACORN workers to their employer in those notorious videos. What is his phony degree in, again, Black Studies? hip hop? basket weaving? No, not the latter; basket weaving is actually useful.
Who’s yo’ mama callin’ a shill
My man Marc Lamont Hill
Cap yo ass an’ you dead
Fo talkin’ nothin’ head
Castro’s a man fo’ my taste
Cuz ain’t no cop killin’ a waste
Think some on ghetto culture
You right winged vulture
Cuz soon as you land
You see my black hand
On yo’ throat achockin’
While yo’ cribs asmokin’
Who you callin’ poison
My bros West an’ Dyson
Were you get the stone
To go pickin’ dem bones
You tastin’ some bitter
Cuz my man’s on twitter
Dissin’ yo white liberal trash
While earnin’ talkin’ head cash
Sorry abou the two typos thirs line forth stanza should have read: Where yo get the stones
Nice freestyle Cas. I’m sure these people don’t appreciate instantaneous poetry.
I wonder if O’Reilly knows about Hill’s hero Shakur.
I hope OReilly has Mr. Horowitz on…now that’d be great
Yep, FOX should have have got Angela Davis because then you would be praising them. You people are too much.
Excuse you Mr. Horowitz. How dare you insult Marc Lamont Hill. There are so many comments you make that are not only incorrect, but overtly and embarrassingly racist. I am a HUGE fan of Dr. Hill and am a young, white, Jewish, female- recent college grad. Like Dr. Hill I support, admire and respect Assata Shakur. Tell me, have you read her autobiography for yourself? Oh right, probably not. And even if you did I suppose that you would find any way to delegitimize the writings, words and truth of people of color to benefit your own political agenda of privilege. I don’t know how you can even bring up Assata without speaking on, let’s say, police brutality & racial profiling? That’s not even going in-depth on the subject…We can also talk about the government’s role in the subjugation & oppression of Black people historically. Where to begin there?
Why do you even attempt to bring up hip-hop culture? And NO hip-hop is not just rap. Rap does however, fall under the umbrella of hip-hop. So does spoken word, neo-soul, fashion, beatboxing, poetry, social issues and a plethora of other possibilities. Hip-hop in many ways is a social movement in itself. What do you even know about rap or hip-hop to judge? In fact, I’m sure many of the artists you listen to today have been influenced by many Black artists’ sounds, images, etc since we still cannot seem to acknowledge that Black culture has not only contributed to American culture, but IS American culture.
Of course Dr. Hill will not respond to your ridiculous comments because they are absurd. Why should he have to defend his intelligence to you? And for the record he’s an Anthropology professor. He does not feel the need to randomly attack people, he has real issues to deal with. Undermining Dr. Hill’s intellectual ability and place at the prestigious Columbia University is the same as demanding Obama show proof that he is a citizen. Why are people such as yourself committed to keeping people of color out of traditionally white spaces, establishments and institutions? Your criticisms of Dr. Hill are clearly invalid given his credentials. If Dr.Hill chooses to respond on his PERSONAL twitter page out of (understandable) frustration then that is his decision. If I were you I would not incite Dr. Hill because he could tear your pathetic attempt at journalism to shreds.
I know you will dispute every statement I make, but I did not write it for you. I am sick of how people, like yourself, are using every angle to attack respectable intellectuals, particularly people of color because of their fear of losing their place in the social hierarchy which has morally corrupted American society.
@ Leora…. AMEN
Marc Lamont Hill is an intellectual mediocrity. There is little evidence indicating that he will ever be another Thomas Sowell or Walter Williams. Hill is someone who has taken advantage of the affirmative action grading that pervades even our nation’s best schools. Four decades ago—he would have never acquired a teaching position at Columbia University. Could Hill have even earned a bachelors degree? I am also convinced that Professor Hill is so intellectually shallow that he is unable to read any of Thomas Sowell’s major works! And no, I do not think that I am even slightly exaggerating.
I’m really disappointed with this article. As I was reading it the words in the back of my mind were “Oh, please tell me this isn’t what it sounds like…Oh, crap, it is what it sounds like…Oh, GREAT. Now we who disagree with democrat policies and/or agendas and believe this country needs to be defended against radical progressives will ALL be thrown in with people who would write an article like this one. One step forward, 10 steps back.”
I read a lot of the articles on this Blog, routinely. I generally agree and appreciate what I find. However, As someone who appreciates Mr. Hill’s input on FOX and do think he seems intelligent, I am offended by what I just read. I’m a white female in my 30’s, for those of you that are trying to assess “who” everyone is. I don’t understand why this was something Mr. Horowitz took issue with, and I certainly don’t understand why he took issue and then wrote an article in this tone. It seems ridiculous in light of the fact that people like Glenn Beck (who I watch regularly and really like) are taken seriously by Mr. Horowitz. What makes me even more frustrated is that I respect David Horowitz too, and find this view incredibly disappointing. There are plenty of people on TV who aren’t the “MOST” qualified to discuss whatever the topic, but does David criticize them all on that criteria? I really want to know.
Now, this statement from Leora about white people:
“…their fear of losing their place in the social hierarchy which has morally corrupted American society.”
While I suppose there are some people somewhere that have some such feeling, this can’t be ascribed to me and I daresay not to anyone I know. I have an extremely diverse and well educated group of friends and associates and I feel confident through years of in depth discussions and through knowing HOW they and I live our lives, this is utterly baseless. For most people. I always recognize that I can’t rule anything totally out, because people who have feelings that are not mainstream do exist. The point is, I deeply believe that statement to be wrong and that in order to morally corrupt American society, such a feeling would have to be widespread. I do hope that you will reconsider that idea that you have and not link everyone to opinions like the ones in this article.
Again, this was a huge disappointment. I am sad to see that someone I feel is knowledgeable and a source of information I value would write these things. I find it very useless to bicker back and forth about whether or not Mr. Horowitz’s criticisms were legitimate. I don’t think that they are UNLESS and ONLY if he is critical in the exact same way to others that have shows or segments on any news or commentary program. That’s it. There is no couching this article any differently than it comes across.
Bad move. Bad attitude. Bad for decent, fair, non racist conservatives. (And yes, there are a LOT of us. We are not racists. I have always truly found race to be irrelevant in life, and as a little girl my favorite song was Ebony and Ivory because to me it represented how I feel. We’re just people and our skin color has no more relevance to who we are as humans than does our hair color. I find it eternally baffling that anyone thinks otherwise, but as far as I know, I don’t personally know people who see skin color before they see human being. I am very, very happy that black people, brown people and people of all nationalities represent in ever growing numbers in all professions and most recently as the U.S. President. I just happen to be deeply in disagreement with progressive ideas and will, as is my right and my duty, challenge everything that seems wrong to me. I do my own research and form my own opinions and am NO ONES zombie.)
I always thought this man seemed very low-brow. He just seems like a regular uneducated person off the street. The show can’t find an intelligent person to speak for the black community.
I have heard Dr. Lamont Hill on a number of occasions. His deportment comes across as more adolescent than academic. The mode of argumetation that he employs is quite often little more than a shallow contrarianism. His defense of issues and persons, such as ACORN and President Obama seem quite often to be more tribal(he is one of us right or wrong)than rational or sincere. In short, he comes across as a younger and more polished version of Al Sharpton. In contrast, Juan Williams, who is not a conservative, is not a predictable cardboard cut-out. There is a sophiticated and subtle mind in that skull of his, unlike Dr. Hill’s.
Mr Hill is one of the reasons I don’t watch O’Reilly anymore. This so-called black academic is simply an Al Sharpton wannabe without the hair gelatin. O’Reilly lost any credibility with me when he let himself be used by that othe black academic, B Hussein Obama, last year during the Republican convention. O’Reilly and Hill both suck.
I just started watching Fox News fairly recently, had no idea who Marc Lamont Hill was, but the first time I watched O’Reilly a few weeks ago, he was on there, and they were talking about the townhall meetings. Hill prefaced his comments by smiling sweetly and stating “Well, first of all, I dont even see color” and then following that with describing how the whites at this particular town hall were being racist. Now, how did he notice their color? How could he comment on the behavior of these white people if he didn’t see they were white? It’s a pet peeve of mine. I just despise disengenuious self-righteous “anti racist” people who pretend they don’t even see color. That’s against human nature. We all notice people’s color and in these United States, especially with a Liberal who’s trained to group people into these archaic definitions of “white” vs. the conveniently unscientific and politically expedient “people of color” it’s just dishonesty at the start. I can’t take him seriously. I don’t know anything about the history of Assata, but I am a little impressed that he didn’t have Mumia Jamal on there as well. : )
Dr. Lamont Hill should design and market his very own line of Bubble Gum.
We see here several reasons why the left promotes using the racist label on anything that is in disagreement or illuminates ignorance and error. All cower in fear of having that label applied. Truth and fact become quick casualties and wisdom embraces cowardice.
Today racism is a quick and ready weapon.
Jeff
Hill is the perfect example of the Mental Midgets,unfairly moved along by legislative affirmative Action and as multiculturalism activitists breed and feed by our ‘head in the sand’ college instructors.
Can you imagine in your wildest dreams, this guys teaching young minds and actually getting paid for it and on top of that getting tenure.
I used to write to Orielly stating the only reason you debate with Hill is to illustrate the errors of his thought process but Hill continues to be such a racists pea brain that we now turn off Fox when his face shows up and turn to the Golf Channel playing lessons.
The presence of Hill is one more example of how O’Reilly’s show has become a variety show, more for entertainment than for substantive treatment of major issues.
My, My, My Mr. H you really stepped in it this time. Although busy this AM, I read all the replies to this article of yours. My assesment..Game, Set & Match goes to you.
You are a person who understands bigotry, I am sure you know you & your sister were called “red diaper babies”. I, as an educated white woman, have never experienced it. Unless you want to count the act of speaking out against the current administration and being lumped into that current “you might be a racist” pack.
That said, your life experiences and choices gives you the “education” to speak/write your mind. Keep on keeping on my friend!
Hey David,
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Whenever this clown comes on FOX, I usually go for another coffee refil.
There are scores of intelligent people of the African persuasion that could actually take
FOX through the roof in ratings if given the opportunity. This guy is not one of them.
By the way, thanks for all that you do. I’m personally relieved that you are on our side.
My 19 year old daughter, who shares my libertarian – conservative views, gave me an insight into why at least some posters here might be jumping to Mr. Hill’s defense, and I quote, “He’s cute”.
It is television, after all. I’m not defending it, just throwing it out there.
Leora
Having locked up more worshipers of the Hip Hop culture than you will ever know I have to believe you support people that murder police officers. The officer this woman murdered owned no slaves or was he a pimp. He was simply doing his job. You are simply a disgrace so please just Hip Hop right on down to the workers paradise in Cuba and live with the vile killer.
I just started reading FPM after some years passed. Seems I spent way to long over a National Review. I came acrossed this blog quite by chance after reading “FRUM VS HOROWITZ” . More to the issue though, this guy , Dr. Mark L, Hill is an insult to coat hangers everywhere being so much less than a vehicle for an empty suit and a black one at that! Nothing but confrontation and bait again and again. Is this really a style fitting the post race generation. I did’nt think so. He would do well to grow up or maybe shut up.
I am just waiting for Leora to call you all fascist. LOL. Leora love, I feel for you. Throw away your textbooks and go on a reading sabbatical. I can think of only one person I want to hear from on Iran and that is Carolyn Glick. Sorry, Leora she might not fit your narrow world view ….. she is white and Jewish …. and an Israeli.
” We can also talk about the government’s role in the subjugation & oppression of Black people historically”
Now that is a loaded quote. Lets talk about this. Do you think it is okay to promote someone based on their race. If you say yes …. you are a racist.
Hill is a token leftist on an otherwise conservative network – if the idea is to make leftists look completely stupid, it has succeed. However, most leftists are not stupid and Fox needs to find a more reasonable representative.
Marc Lamont Hill is consistently annoying and predictable. O’Reilly must have him on because he thinks Hill might attract younger and/or black and/or lefty voters. But he might also have a more cynical motive. There are plenty of smarter black academics to choose from. Hill may repel as many viewers as he attracts and convince everyone that academic leftists are fools, thus strengthening O’Reilly’s position.
SabbyWrt
I think your comment is right on target I find her support of a killer because the killer is black troubling. There is something profoundly wrong with her moral compass. I have arrested and testified in the trial of killers most however wind up pleading out to escape harsher punishment there color never mattered to me the victim and the people that suffered because of there actions were my concern but I am sure I will be labeled as simple minded for that kind of reasoning.
Bill O’Reilly and Dr. Hill deserve each other.
The only reasons to watch FoxNews are …
Uma Pemmaraju,
Greta Van Susteren,
Megyn Kelly,
Brit Hume
and Tee-Vee’s own Andy Levy.
The rest are overpaid circus barkers.
(Did I say that out loud?)
Bravo David. One of things I detest about the Factor is their willingness to give forums to imbeciles like “Professor” Hill when people like Hill are already given forums by the majority of the mainstream media. I almost think it is a way for Bill to stroke his own ego by dismantling someone who calls himself “Doctor” with the most basic moderate conservative ideas. At least Hill is more respectable than Al Sharpton.
Mark L. Hill is a reliable leftist Black with semicredible academic history and is attractive to some segment of young viewers that Fox desires to attract. Personally, I find him to be a weakthinker with narrow interest and atually turn off any show he is on. I was surprised when I saw him on Fox’s Bulls & Bears on Sat. I watched a bit and determined Hill does not really understand anything about Free Market economics and that he was just serving as a weak counterpoint to the other guest who do know what they are talking about. I think Fox is just using this guy to spice up the debate. It is too bad they could not have had a less shallow thinker but since so many on the Left have demonised Fox, they probably don’t have a lot of choices.
I have never seen Thomas Sowell on Fox have you?
For someone who alleges to be educated, Leora has a lot to learn about life and people.
And “Assata’s” real name is Joanne Chesimard.
BRAVO CAS !
If we can’t find at least a little humor in this mess, our heads could explode !
David;
Have you ever read any of Mychal Massie’s columns ?
I find him to be the most honest and literate black pundit to be found anywhere…
An archive of his material can be found at:
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=110524
I honestly think that he would make a welcome addition to your fine staff of bloggers..
Hey Leora,
I’m NewsReal’s assistant managing editor. I’d be more than happy to discuss David Horowitz’s post with you.
Horowitz’s point is simple: Hill is not qualified to talk about Iran and foreign policy on TV. It’s not what he’s trained in. Isn’t that a fair criticism?
What specific comments did you find racist?
Did you know that Horowitz and those of us at the Freedom Center have frequently condemned the “Birther” trend? We don’t buy it and we reject those that do.
Further Horowitz has confronted true racists in the past:
http://www.salon.com/news/col/horo/2002/09/03/white_nationalism/index.html
Why do you support Assata Shakur and the Black Panther Party? Did you know that the catalyst for Horowitz’s transformation from one of the Marxist founders of the New Left to conservative activist was when the Panthers murdered one of his friends? Were you aware of the Panthers’ history of violence? You should read his autobiography Radical Son to learn more about this:
http://www.amazon.com/Radical-Son-Generational-David-Horowitz/dp/0684840057/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254106698&sr=8-1
Feel free to email me if you think we need to issue a correction of some sort regarding Professor Hill. DavidSwindle AT Gmail Dot Com.
Leora said:
“I am sick of how people, like yourself, are using every angle to attack respectable intellectuals, particularly people of color because of their fear of losing their place in the social hierarchy which has morally corrupted American society.”
And I am sick of how people take every word of someone they disagree with and view it only through their preconceived conclusions; in this case “racist white male” lenses.
The object of Mr. Horowitz’s criticism was Mr. O’Reilly for guesting Dr. Hill as an expert in a field beyond his expertise + legitimately pointing out why Dr. Hill is not qualified. This fact you would have known had you done your homework before opining.
It would be much more conducive to discussion and understanding if you would simply ask yourself the question (honestly and not through white racist male lenses) “Why would Mr. Horowitz say that”? A thoughtful and productive discussion would likely have followed…but that apparently was not your goal.
Your knee-jerk screed says much more about your preconceived notions of Mr. Horowitz as a white (Jewish) male than you likely care to admit. That he honored you with a response speaks for itself.
Julie
Hi David,
Yes I think you DO need to issue a correction. As stated on his web-site Dr. Hill is trained as an anthropologist of education, he holds a Ph.D. (with distinction) from the University of Pennsylvania. How is he less qualified to discuss Iran and foreign policy than someone like Bill O’Reilly, Glen Beck or anyone in media/journalism? Dr. Hill is an anthropologist and public intellect. He does not limit his knowledge to simply his field or concentration. If he did so that would not make him a desirable educator. If he was not a desirable educator than why would Columbia University appoint him as a faculty member? Furthermore, why do my politics as a supporter of Assata and the Black Panther party concern you? I am not writing for your newsblog. And yes I am well educated on both Assata and the Black Panther Party. As a Sociologist I can point out the many ways in which Horowitz’s post is racist. First off by referring to Dr. Hill as an affirmative action baby. Really? That is disgusting. Not that Dr. Hill needs his intelligence validated by you all or have to prove anything, but he offers commentary to NPR, Washington Post, and New York Times to name a few.
The fact that Horowitz generalized that Dr. Hill is a “rap professor” is also racist because it does not credit him for the actual degrees he holds that HE WORKED TOWARDS. They WERE NOT handed to him. In fact, people of color often have to work harder then white students to “prove” their abilities.
Horowitz’s post lacks tact and credibility. Maybe that is why Dr. Hill has not responded.
RE: David Swindle asking, What specific comments did you find racist?
1. “…to make him their black in residence” Why point to his being black? Why not just say Foxnews chose him, a non expert on the topic of Iran to speak. Horowitz went there by pointing to his race.
2. “hip-hop culture — the very low end, … Because he’s Fox’s black academic.” Oh look, he points out race again. Why? Hip hop is very low end…why because it’s born from the black experience? Horowitz doesn’t have to like it (hip hop), but to demean an entire culture is racist.
3. Labeled him as a “rap professor” and then, once again, pointed to race: “…was in fact an insult to all those black academics…” Rap is associated with Black, and Horowitz previously equated rap with low end hip hop culture.
4. I’ll end here with the beginning “Fox’s Affirmative Action Baby Whines”. Horowitz had the nerves to through out Affirmative Action, again why, is he upset that a “non-expert spoke about Iran or Black intellectual spoke or that Hill is on Foxnews because of Affirmative Action….or maybe all three. And Saying he whined like a baby is no different than looking down on Hill and calling him a boy. A whining baby and a boy both are not important and just making noise.
And why do white men continue to try and tell black and brown people what should or should not offend them….and how they should take and interpret particular situations. Horowitz’s article struck me as racist from my first reading. And pointing to Horowitz’s confronting other racists doesn’t prove anything. It’s sorta like saying, “I got black friends”…that’s how most racist try to recover after saying or doing racist things. Remember Joe Wilson trying to recover….”Michelle Obama and my wife sorta, kinda got something in common, they once lived in counties next to each other, so I can’t be a racist…just overlook my association with the Sons of the Confederacy because us being “county neighbors” shows who I am”. Fail!
David Thomson,
Can you tell me which books and other writings, lectures or research by Dr. Hill that you used in your to offer your emphasis of difference? What evidence from Dr. Hills works did you study in which your inferences were drawn…saying that he is not an intellectual and comes no where near the standards of intellectuals you cited? Or did you draw your conclusions from the 5 minute segments you watched of him on Foxnews\O’reilly? Like Horowitz, you seem to make a lot of accusations without evidence. If you don’t like his ideology and/or political views thats fine, and your having an opinion, and voicing them, is always a great thing. But dressing opinion up as fact is dangerous, and for lack of a better word, ignorant.
David Thomson, you said four decades ago Hill would have never been given a teaching position at Columbia. Perhaps you should read a little more history.
Columbia has been a hot bed of radical left wingers since the ’30’s when professors there were advocating for the government of Stalin. FDR, himself, associated with Columbia professors who had gone to Russia in the late 20’s and found that the Russian system of “communalism” was preferable to our own system, especially in the area of agriculture. A group of academics, including Rex Tugwell who was part of the FDR cabinet, traveled to Russia, met with Stalin (seeing only what Stalin wanted them to see) and came back with rave reviews about Russia’s “equality”.
My point is that Columbia has been radically left for decades. One only has to look at the appointment of Edward Said to understand why Columbia could produce someone like William Ayers.
I can’t stand Hill. He sees a racist behind every bush, every tree. Everyone who disagrees with him is blatantly racist. And he talks so fast he voice is like fingernails on a blackboard (can we still say “black” board?)
Hill is a culmination of the communist intention of infiltrating academia for the purpose of pushing their agenda. Hill is just representative of other professors like William Ayers, Ward Churchill, and Robert Jensen of the University of Texas who flouts his radicalism like a “red” badge of courage.
So don’t make the mistake that Columbia, of all universities, has made an abrupt left turn in the last 40 years. It turned left a long, long time ago.
Dear Leora,
Your letter shows that you are a typical white racist of the progressive persuasion. Would you admire a cop killer if she were white? Or is it only “persons of color” who get to murder people and win your support?
Horowitz
Leora,
You said: “Dr. Hill is an anthropologist and public intellect. He does not limit his knowledge to simply his field or concentration. If he did so that would not make him a desirable educator. If he was not a desirable educator than why would Columbia University appoint him as a faculty member?”
You are making one of Mr. Horowitz’s long standing criticism of institutions of higher education in general and specifically Columbia: the indoctrination of our young people who study there.
Dr. Hill opines in front of millions of Americans about how misguided our US foreign policy is now or was in the past. He not only doesn’t discuss his area of expertise for which he earned his PhD, he doesn’t disclaim his opinions with an “I’m not an expert in that area”. A statement I hear many media guest utter.
Not only is he not a foreign policy expert, what makes you think he doesn’t share this “foreign policy opinion” in his classroom?
Julie
Kindly explain to me how you can look past Hill’s admiration for a cold blooded killer? Could it be that you see skin color before you see a person and are willing to give a pass to a person of color who apparently lacks the moral sense to understand that Assata Shakur is a dangerous criminal? And don’t you think it’s racist not to distinguish between African Americans who make such distinctions and those who don’t?
I decided to take a peek at Dr. Hill’s biography on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Lamont_Hill
Someone with a book entitled “Beats, Rhymes, and Classroom Life: Hip-Hop Pedagogy and the Politics of Identity” is a hard person to take seriously. Also, Dr. Hill seems to take an extraordinary such people as Shaquanda Cotton and Genarlow Wilson as racial pandering and baiting opportunities. He is really more of a street hustler than an academic.
Mr. Horowitz,
I don’t give Marc L. Hill a pass on his support or admiration for someone like Shakur, and to be 100% honest, I don’t know anything about the man other than his appearances on the O’Reilly factor, other than what is in your article. So let me begin from there, having made that clear.
I don’t give people a pass on anything based on race, as far as I can tell-considering personal awareness of my own actions are colored by my own opinion. So, no, I don’t think I do. What I am saying, to be clear, is that I don’t think this article does any favors to those of us who don’t mix up “race” into whatever it is we are debating about. I guess I would not have had a strong enough opinion to comment if you had written the same article minus references to the mans race. I just don’t think I see the need for that to have been part of the determination on whether he’s qualified for the job. I won’t disagree, if everything you and the rest of the people have said is true, that he hardly seems qualified for that particular arena of discussion. However, it’s easy to point out that there are other people in the media- FOX and elsewhere who partake in serious discussions and debates on a range of issues over which they have little expertise as well.
Am I giving someone a pass on his wrong-headed opinions based on some sort of white guilt? No way. Not this girl. I have had intense debates with people on many issues, including whether or not all the tea-partying and the sure to come revolution is about race. It’s clearly not. I proudly attended the march on washington on 9-12 and will do it again. Everything this administration is trying to push through scares the daylights out of me and I will spend every breath I have fighting against this.
I just can’t see the purpose in attacking Mr. Hill on this, and if anything I suppose I think it would make more sense for you to have a beef with O’Reilly if you think he picked the wrong guy, and especially if you think he’s picking this guy because he’s black and not because he values the opinion. Again, until reading the article and the comments I really knew nothing further of Mr. Hill and never thought to look into who he was. I generally disagree with nearly everything he says, and often don’t like the way he sidesteps questions that are asked and makes his own point.
So given that I didn’t know about the things you pointed out in your article, I want to make it clear that my disappointment has everything to do with the concentration on the man being black and not on legitimate beefs that have specifically to do with the man. I don’t know what else to say.
For what it’s worth, I’m genuinely upset because it wasn’t that long ago (maybe a month) that my facebook status read “David Horowitz 2012″.
Swemson, thanks for the Mychal Massie link.
Julie
Mark Lamont Hill does have a quick liberal response and thank God he doesn’t use the word (AX) for the word (ASK). This is a step in the right direction but falls far short of the average 8th graders language skills. It’s like he doesn’t even listen to anyone because he already knows what your going to say. He comes off like a Know It All. I chuckle when ever I hear him introduced as ( Dr. Mark Lamont Hill ). He’s just another simple minded liberal talking head.
” I am a HUGE fan of Dr. Hill and am a young, white, Jewish, female- recent college grad. Like Dr. Hill I support, admire and respect Assata Shakur”.
You see, Leora. You are the only one here who found that it’s necessary to claim your and the commenters’ race. Why so, Leora? So young and feel gulty already for being white that you have to “admire and respect” Dr. Hills’ heroes to prove you’re not a racist? There are plenty of “people of color” (as you called them) to like and respect, intellectuals and simple citizens alike. Why murderer, Leora? And by the way, correct me if I’m wrong, but I think you totally forgot to mention that you’re an Israeli. Not cool enough for the left or in denial? There’s a book about people like you, Leora, called “Wicked Son” by David Mamet. As a Sociologist you should be curious…
” Why are people such as yourself committed to keeping people of color out of traditionally white spaces, establishments and institutions?”
Now talk about a ridiculous statement….Dr. Horowitz PROMOTED Black Panthers in the past and has a first-hand experience with them. As a Sociologist who’s educated on Black Panthers you should have known that. But I bet you’ve never read HIS autobiography…
By the way, what’s the name of you recent studies, Ms Intellectual? Or is it all titles and names which attract you?
I would be more than happy to hear a response from Mr. Hill PERSONALLY if he “could tear” our “pathetic attempt at journalism to shreds”. But why doesn’t he, Leora? You can hypothesize all day long about what he could. Unless he’s done it its just a virtual space quake. I find intellect in the ACTUAL response, not twittering to the groupies like you.
None of the comments you point out are racist.
Here’s the definition of racism:
racâ‹…ism
  /ˈreɪsɪzəm/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [rey-siz-uhm] Show IPA
–noun
1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.
Horowitz and those of us at the Freedom Center do not believe that one race is in any way superior to another race. Nothing in Horowitz’s post suggests that. Your use of the “racist” slur is a classic ad hominem tactic of the Left to silence its enemies.
Further, rap music is associated with low end culture. That’s not a racist remark, it’s a cultural remark about the segment of ghetto culture (including whites — Eminem?) — that makes rap music. I’m a fan of rap myself but I — as well as even leftist African-Americans — will admit that rap is “low culture” in its frequent promotion of violence, drug use, and promiscuity. That’s not an attack on black people to point that out. If it is then Dave Chappelle is a racist for pointing out the negative aspects of rap.
Malcom:
You think a white person could get away with this? Why don’t you come up with the name of a white guest who was invited to comment on a subject like the Iran crisis and whose expertise was the Beavis and Butthead culture, or grunge rock.
Also if whites can’t comment on their fellow Americans without being accused of racism tell me why the same rule doesn’t apply to blacks. If there’s one common thread in racism it’s the double standard in which you obviously are adept.
Malcolm, as someone who didn’t read your response yesterday before posting my own response I want to point out that I made it clear that I felt similarly, but I am a 30 something white woman and I often think to myself about how I know I’m not racist (because it seems that my opposition to this administration has made that a key issue lately) and I often refer to the fact that I have black friends, in laws, and nieces and nephews. And I love them. And I value them, have fun with them, have hopes for them, expect them to be successful, and look forward to doing things with them exactly like I do other people in my life. So when people say that, don’t belittle it as being meaningless. It does mean something. We have no other real way to defend ourselves against what we know not to be true, because there is simply no way to fight such an accusation as “racist”. It’s why we all hate it so much. It’s unfair and we could go in circles over it forever.
Zing, good one.
I just read that comment I am trying to get my breath serious laughing.
Walt;
I read that, thanks…
It also said he was an “Assistant Professor of Urban Education”
Do you have any idea what that means ?
Comments like this make me sick. Marc Lamont Hill is capable and has his own views. He speaks from his perspective. He has every right to discuss foreign policy if he chooses to do so and FOX oks it. Am I not allowed to become an expert on military strategy because I’m not in the Army or Navy? Sean Hannity is a college dropout, along with Rush Limbaugh. Should they get foreign policy “training” as well? To the above poster, there is no “black community” that Hill speaks for. I’m black and he doesn’t speak for me. We are capable of thinking for ourselves you know. Should I go and find someone who speaks for the “white community”? Of course not. This forum is such a joke-everyone is acting smug and calling everyone else a racist.
Leora;
If you think that any of the negative comments about Hill are based on the fact that he is black, then you are delusional…
On the rare occasions that I watch O’Reilly, I always fast forward through the part of the show with Hill… Why ? Because I know EXACTLY what he’s going to say every time he opens his mouth.. His comments are simplistic, and are all based on the same theme as your comments here, i.e. that anyone who says anything bad about anyone who’s black is a racist, and that anything that any black person does that’s criminal or just plain dishonest & wrong, is really not their fault, but rather the fault of us oppressive and bigoted white folks…
You sound just like some of the smarter young flower children I knew at NYU in the early 1960’s… but they’re all grown up today, and learned the error of their ways… so there’s nothing unusual about your monochromatic perspective on life… don’t worry, you too will grow up some day. Let’s just hope that you don’t come to your senses and find yourself living in the people’s democratic republic of America…
“If you’re not a liberal when you’re young you have no heart, & if you’re not a conservative when you’re old, you have no brain!”
Winston Churchill
Jay,
you said:
“He has every right to discuss foreign policy if he chooses to do so and FOX oks it”
I agree, however Mr. Horowitz (in his original post) was criticizing O’Reilly/Fox for the decision (ok) to put on someone to speak on foreign policy who is not an expert in it. His point being (I think) that if you’re going to be taken as seriously as Mr. O’Reilly like’s to be taken; it’s best to have seriously credentialed guests.
julie
To say that rap music is associated with “low end culture†is fallacious. Rap is a form of expression; it is not defined by the words of a few mainstream rappers. I think you need to differentiate between the people who rap and rap as a form of art.
Clearly you are not a fan of rap music. If you were, then you would understand that rap/hip-hop music is not only about the Eminems and the 50 cents. Like Leora said, it is in many ways a social movement that helps people express their views so that they can promote positive change in their communities
And do you know who Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco, and Common are? They are rappers who stress the importance of education and address issues that are relevant to the growth of the Black community. Before you accuse rap of being part of “low end cultureâ€, get your facts right.
And like Obama he’s kewl. Right? The MTV brainiacs.
Hmm. Well, maybe to some people, but I have my own cute Airborne Ranger husband of 13 years. Besides, I’m not defending him. I’m disappointed that his skin color is a part of this article. If it hadn’t been, I’d have read the article, thought about it and accepted that he’s probably not the best person for the job based on what I read.
I know what you are talking about. After all those are the same people who voted for Clinton because he was “cute and sexy†and Obama is “hot and charismatic” and his wife is a “fashion statement”. I recall Sean Penn/Spicolli’s exclaim after the election “Thank goodness for such an elegant president”. It’s the book cover – not the contest – they are looking for.
Hill is young, attractive man with a big smile with the cool PhD title attached to his name. What else do they need?
I love rap. I wrote a blog about how great Jay-Z is here:
http://newsrealblog.com/2009/08/31/even-in-the-hip-hop-world-the-ideas-of-left-and-right-battle-for-supremacy/
In fact I think I’ll put on the Grey Album while I write my response.
Talib Kweli, Lupe Fiasco, and Common are all admirable but they’re marginal figures in comparison to rappers like 50 Cent and others who are ridiculously misogynistic and destructive. Sure there are thoughtful rappers out there but they’re overshadowed by the dominate artists of the genre.
Appreciating rap means accepting where it emerges from: a degenerate ghetto culture that promotes self-destructive ideas of promiscuity, violence, lawlessness, and drug use. We can acknowledge this and understand the genre’s flaws while still appreciating the roses that grow from the concrete.
Here’s a book that’s related to this question of culture:
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Rednecks-Liberals-Thomas-Sowell/dp/1594030863/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254163276&sr=8-1
“To say that rap music is associated with “low end culture†is fallacious. ”
Of course it’s not….
So let’s just squeeze it into the college curriculum…. it’ll fit in nicely, right after philosophy and physics…!
100% agree with you on that he seems like he is certain he already knows what everyone is going to say. Annoying.
What you’re missing is that Hill’s race is part of the issue. Part of Horowitz’s critique is that Hill got his position because of his race. If Hill was white and specialized in grunge music would he be on O’Reilly talking about Iran? Absolutely not.
To ignore this observation would be to ignore the elephant in the living room. And would be to run scared because of the Left’s sway on the culture.
Most academic leftists that I had the unfortunate experience of suffering through for 6 years of “higher education” are foolish ! LOL. That is why I told poor Leora to take a sabbatical. Somehow they get into your mind and like that BHO song mmm mm mmm ! It takes several years to figure out that you have so much more to learn. Leora’s whole rant was a knee jerk reflex based on her perception that such things as affirmative action is good for ….. dare I say it? Black people or women or anyone else . Her support of a muderer is something else. But I suppose that is okay as well …. in Leora’s book. The muderer is black. We would not want her to be held to the same standard as anyone else because she is black ….. oppressed in Leora’s book.
SabbyWrt, I agree about Carolyn Glick…did you see her post today on “An enfeebled Obama”
You can get it at http://www.carolineglick.com/
Jack,I find it troubling as well. I feel, from looking at everything that she wrote, that she has been influenced by her education. I am in hopes that her education gave her the gift of curiosity about where her ideas come from. I hope it gave her the gift of change as well. If not she will go through life not understanding …. just reacting. Not a good place to be.
I did. I am really wanting to see what else she will say. She is great when she comments on this type of thing. Of course it is very much her field. I doubt we could get her to host a guest spot on rap music. But it might be funny!
In just the few days that I have been following this blog I have noticed an interesting phenomenon, much of the criticism heard here is based on the fact that News Reel blog doesn’t cover every example related to an issue. When News Reel talks about corruption at ACORN the critics point out there are other corrupt origination, and if News Reel criticizes Obama it is not long before some lib says Bush made mistakes too, now AHarry says there are other people who are unqualified to be commentating on TV.
Leaving aside the fact that it is not possible to mention every example of every issue and the childhood saying “two wrongs don’t make a right,” this is an opinion blog. It isn’t the job of this website to list all examples the matter being discussed.
Jack;
Being charitable, I don’t think she supports anyone specifically BECAUSE they’re a cop killer, I think she’s just an immature young liberal co-ed who’s parroting back the absurd dogma that’s been shoved down he throat since she entered school, and simply needs to grow up…. remember what Winston Churchill said….
“If you’re not a liberal when you’re young you have no heart, & if you’re not a conservative when you’re old, you have no brain!”
Another reason to watch Fox is because of Jane Skinner. She is so beautiful!
David:
Discussing rap from a sociological point of view may be interesting, but I prefer to look at it from a musical point of view..
Hmmm. what can I say ?
Groucho once said: “Military justice is to justice what military music is to music.” but what about rap music ?
Hows this, Rap music is to music, what ebonics is to the english language…
I hate rap… OK.. Call me a racist… like I could give a damn….. but there’s a legitimate sociological reason for my prejudice against rap….. It started when I was VERY young, when I was a poor innocent child of 8 learning to play Chopin & Bach on the piano..
Sorry David….
PS: Maybe it’s because I’m old & you’re young…
But hopefully I’ll have a chance one day to turn you to all my favorites from Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum, and Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Miles Davis, Coltrane, Mingus, & Monk..etc….. And please don’t call me a racist for that… I really love Brubeck too !
If you talk to legal scholars you will find that many believe that the military Court Marshal system is very fair.
Common Jack… I was quoting a humorous remark by Groucho.. about military music, not about military justice
I never meant to imply anything negative about military justice… in fact in some ways it’s far superior to civilian justice…