“Morning Joe” hosts Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough have one explanation for why members of the University of Oklahoma chapter of SAE used racist language in a chant.
Rap music.
The “Morning Joe” hosts were talking about Waka Flocka Flame canceling a performance at the school because of the offensive video, but mentioned that the rapper uses the same words in his lyrics. (Brzezinski and Scarborough seem to be unfamiliar with rap music in general, describing Waka Flocka Flame as a “band” when it’s actually just one person.)
“The words that are in their lyrics, are some of the words that were used [by the SAE fraternity],” said Scarborough. The lyrics are “as bad as the chant,” Brzezinski added.
While Brzezinski and Scarborough are being criticized for their comments, many publications are overlooking the detail that National Urban League president Marc Morial joined the conversation, as he didn’t protest the link between rap lyrics and a racist fraternity chant.
Scarborough asked Morial if there is a difference between a “black singer” using a hurtful term as opposed to when a “drunk redneck” says it.
“It’s not right when a black singer says it. It’s not right when a drunk redneck says it,” Morial said.
Willie Geist acted as the voice of reason by saying, “there is a distinction between white kids on a bus talking about hanging someone and Waka Flocka singing a song.”
Here’s the segment: