After using an “n-word” in a Stab Magazine website story about how black surfers are better than white surfers (specifically Jamaica’s Icah Wilmot) got people talking (via Cyrusisboard.com) and lost the magazine a “coveted advertising relationship,” Stab’s Jed Smith says he has now experienced the “first significant self-examination” of his writing career.
After speaking with Icah’s father Bill Willmot, it appears Jed has turned things around and apologized.
I am ignorant of the sensitivities that surround race today. I am white, privileged and grew up in an era in which white-black relations were not the defining racial issue (hence my use of the word Negro, a term that after recently reading the Malcolm X autobiography, I legitimately thought was politically correct). I have no right to proffer stereotypes, whether they were intended to be satirical or not, and I am sorry. Sorry.
Apologies are hard and Jed did a great job with this one. We just hope he can get past this, lesson learned, and then remember that his ignorance is also one of his greatest gifts. The world has enough “thoughtful” old surf writers already. Seriously.
[Link: Stab Magazine]
So wait… the “N-word” he used was negro? That’s what all the tizzy is about?
Freedom of speech, granted to Jed Smith. Freedom of ignorance, not guilty. This guy shouldn’t be a writer, editor or sending tweets from an iphone… “just read Malcolm X Autobiography….” (Whimpering lip) so now you are supposed to be forgiven? Actually, I retract… Continue writing, but I hope every advertiser who buys pages of Staab agrees that they are supporting a bigot who couldn’t even think on his feet when making an apology… Karma is a bitch!
This is not the first time Jed Smith has crossed the line on race. Last summer he took me to task in an article essentially saying that my blackness made me unqualified to write and article for Transworld on Kelly and Andy. He’s a bigot plain and simple.
I don’t know the guy so Jed Smith may well be a racist… but since when does the word “negro” equate to the “n-word?”
Yes, I understand that virtually any word can take on hateful connotations – especially when used as euphemism. However IMO what most people assume to be the “n-word” is way, way more vitriolic than the word “negro”, which still has accepted usage within society, most notably the 2010 U.S. Census (granted not without controversy).
Don’t get me wrong – I’m not advocating the use of the word negro (I don’t use it), but I do appreciate that it is still out there functioning in society (e.g. United Negro College Foundation, etc).
Me personally I’d like to see everyone get less caught up on words and more focused on intent.
This site shouldn’t censor comments when they’re innocuous. I posted a link yesterday crediting the original writer who exposed this story:
http://www.cyrusisboard.com/2010/02/stab-magazine-publishes-article-with.html
The story has more comments than Stab’s apology post.
I agree Sal, that site is plastered with racism and degradation on all levels. The apology was real, but why hit send in the first place? Jed should have thought about that beforehand, not wait until the company lost advertising and is forced to have to apologize to the Wilmot family.
The “Negro” is definitely used in place of the N*gger, but Negro carries the same connotation without having to be slapped for it. He took the chicken sh*t route on that one and then said he read Malcolm X. If he read Malcolm X that story would have never gone to post.
Smith’s postings (remember, Kiddies–posting is not writing) have always been more about peacockery and penny ante personal brand-building than honest exposition.
You will know them by their tells.
In Smith’s case, it’s the witty sailor hat, junior college-level interview chops, and cutesy pop culture references.
There’s a lot of that “I am the story” shite going on these days.
Just check the sub-literate, self-wikipediaing garglings of the “source blog” Cyrus “Extreme, Man!” Saatsan.
Racism not cool. Racism not funny. Using it to draw attention to your postings and personal brand?
Putrid.
thank dark skinned jesus that their are still avenues for controversial and funny as fuck expression in surfing to keep us all safe from the hideous world of Rhonda Harpers, Sal Masekelas and Pat Parnells.
This is surfing you kooks, not basketball, not golf, it’s not and should never be main stream, politically acceptable or marketable. We surf next to each other, we eat together, get drunk together, travel to each others countries, we rely on each others hospitality, we sleep with each others women and a lot of the time we can’t stand the disgusting sound of each others accents and sights of each others smiles. that’s the way it is. and ill tell you one thing for our “aparthide” Australia and ASP, we would never have a website called blacksurfer.net… “(wun) doesn’t care what the colour of your skin may be… unless you wanna get on blackathlete.net” anyone of any colour starts ripping, they get coverage, as we have just seen. until then, who gives a fuck who they are or where they come from. Icah rips, he’ll make it as far as his ability allows him.
Oh man, why you gotta drag Pat Parnell into it? Mutherfucker’s got more cool in his pinky toe then most people have in their whole kit.
Try harder.
Hayden,
If there wasn’t people like me and Sal and whomever else knows whats right and wrong…we would still be slaves..if their is a blacksurfer.net that’s on them not me..get your facts together before you comment. as for black athlete they have a right to be called whatever they want. that is their target audience but have a look at wunmagazine.com my friend…its worldwide now can you say that about stab?! know who you are talking to before you open your mouth while grown folks are talking or don’t they teach you that in school there.
Jed apologized he knows he was wrong now stfu! period! And thank you for viewing my site..its an honor.
you seem like a very petty woman rhonda, i honestly hope your kind of over-sensitive and irrelevant political commentary never becomes the norm in surfing media. And sorry for the spelling mistake, at least they teach us how to laugh at ourselves here.
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