Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jessee Jackson were outraged at a comment made on air by Ellen Degeneres. They are now demanding that NBC network officials fire her over her racist remarks.
On her show, when interviewing Katie Holmes, Ms. Holmes made a statement about her hair being brown. Ellen made the comment, "I wouldn't call your hair brown. I'd call it black."
Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson both agreed that such racially insensitive remarks were offensive to all African-Americans. They were joined by the NAACP in support of their cause. They are demanding that all black hair be referred to as "African-American" colored hair.
Ellen asked both Rev. Sharpton and Rev. Jackson where they were born. Rev. Sharpton said, "Brooklyn, New York. Why?" Rev. Jackson said, "Greenville, South Carolina. Why?" Ellen then fired back, "So, NEITHER of you are from Africa. We shouldn't be calling either of you African-Americans, then, should we?"
NBC said it would suspend Ellen for one month, then consider further action. They admitted that they were not sure if the penalty was harsh enough.
Later that evening, Ellen's gay friends gathered outside NBC in a show of support to protest the suspension. Police beat them with billy clubs and arrested more than half of them.
NBC, after giving Ellen a one month suspension, is expected to fire Ellen Degeneres and cancel her show. Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton declared that it would not be one moment too soon.
