Black Folks Are Not Immune
Michael Scott, 52, a veteran African American television anchor who has worked in Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas, Kansas City and Charlotte, N.C., was ousted Tuesday from his latest job in Huntsville, Ala., after reportedly calling an African American producer the N-word.
Welcome to the new world of zero tolerance.
Keith Lowhorne, interim news director, confirmed on Wednesday that, "Michael Scott is no longer with WAAY-TV." He said the action took place Tuesday, but would not elaborate, saying, "It's a personnel issue."
"According to those who witnessed the incident, Scott, during a commercial break in the 10 p.m. newscast, referred to news producer Jabaree Prewitt as a Negro. When [Prewitt] ask him not to use that word, Scott called him a 'nigger.' Both men are black."
Prewitt told Journal-isms that contrary to that report, he had not quit over the Thursday incident, that he had already given notice that he was taking a new job in Louisiana.
The incident is but the latest censure of the N-word. In September, Chicago news cameraman Ken Bedford of WLS-TV used the term as he and another black photographer were vying for a shot. He received a five-day suspension and told Journal-isms the word would never pass through his lips again.
In 2006, the Chicago Defender asked on its front page, "Take a Stand: Black America, Isn't it time we make up our minds about using the word nigger?" In January 2007, Ebony magazine ran an editorial, "Enough! Why Blacks — and Whites — should never use the 'N-Word' again."
Earl Graves Sr., founder of Black Enterprise magazine, turned off the microphone as 1,200 were gathered in September for the Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge when comedian Eddie Griffin used the word.
And this month, the rapper Nas finally decided against naming his ninth studio album with that word, after showing up at the Grammy awards with it emblazoned on his shirt. "The pressure on Nas to change the title of his album came from all corners: his label's parent company, political figures, talk show pundits, other rappers and even some hip-hop aficionados," James Braxton Peterson wrote on theRoot.com.
Prior to the "N word" incident, Scott was perhaps best known for "the attack of the gecko," He was interviewing a snake wrangler on the air in 2002 when, or just see for yourself: