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But, of course, when Stern asked her to tell the joke, she said it on national radio, referring to First Lady Michelle Obama's sense of style:
"We used to have Jackie O," Rivers said, "now we have Blackie O!"
Stern and Rivers then spent their time complaining about how everything's off limits, when it comes to African Americans.
Apparently, they both seemed disappointed about not being able to use racially disrespectful rhetoric that we've been forced to listen to for the past 400 years.
Stern's co-host, Robin Quivers, didn't have much to say either, but then again, that seems to be the role of the trusty black sidekick these days: to give a racial pass when someone says something that might be deemed offensive (perhaps we can call this the "I have black friends" defense).
Don Imus of the "nappy-headed-ho" fame also has a black co-host, who is, of course, a comedian, since black people are so much more fun when they make everyone laugh.
In all seriousness, though, Rivers did try to squash some of the criticism of her joke by saying that she wouldn't be offended if someone were to refer to her as "Jewie O."
The problem with that comparison is that "blackie" is an incredibly derogatory term with indisputable roots in racial degradation.
It is similar to referring to black people as monkeys, showing us eating watermelon or calling us the N-word.
Part of me feels sorry for Rivers.
She grew up at a time when offending black people was simply not a big deal. She gets one plastic surgery after another to hold on to the youth that is slipping through her fingers, and she's as persistent as any entertainer when it comes to maintaining her relevance.
I actually respect her, find her to be very funny and don't consider her words to be malicious, but one thing that Rivers has to understand is that if your goal is to remain truly hip and relevant, you have to realize that America is slowly working to move beyond its racist past.
Calling the First Lady of the United States "blackie" only makes Rivers look like an entertainment dinosaur, which is the opposite of what she's trying to be.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here. 
Comments: (214)
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By: Patty on 1/27/2011 5:19PM
Joan Rivers is an ancient racist and will only change her habits when she dies. The fact that she makes derogatory remarks against anyone who is different from her, does not surprise me. Joan Rivers is a dried-up relic of days gone by and she is desperate to hang on to life. I can only say 'life' because beauty does not fit her; she is not and has never been attractive. Making jokes about others is the way she copes with her 'ugly.' Sorry, old girl, you lose this one
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By: dee spivey on 1/29/2011 3:17AM
PLUS SHE LOOKS LIKE A POODLE THAT SHOULD BE ON THAT KENNEL SHOW. SHE HAS TWO LEFT LEGS AND I FEEL SORRY FOR HER DAUGHTER CAUSE SHE LOOKS JUST LIKE HER ONLY A YOUNGER VERSION.
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By: hattie on 1/30/2011 9:45PM
JOAN HAS NERVE, SHE'S A JEW AND THEIR OFF LIMITS TO. WHEN MEL GIBSON SAID SOMETHING DERROGORTORY ABOUT JEWS, SHE WAS THE FIRST ONE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. SO SHE NEEDS TO SHUT UP
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By: tanya on 2/07/2011 2:50PM
Do we really care what this talking corpse has to say?...everyday she forgets she not supposed to get up!!
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By: jamesfnbond on 1/26/2011 12:07PM
HAHAHA...I just watched the remake of Planet of the Apes, and am wondering, was the young female ape lead, the one that befriended the humans, supposed to look like Michael Jackson or was it just a coincidence. Anyway it was soooo funny.
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By: Deborah on 1/26/2011 7:31PM
This is to jamesfinbond: This is what the author of is referring to people! We still have racists bigots like this referring to black people as monkeys and gorilla's and portraying us as caricatures-watermelon eating funny people always laughting and grinning! We will always have idiots who will treat us with contempt and disdain, and indignation. We have been degraded enough in history. Joan Rivers should be ashamed of herself for stating that she wouldn't care if a comedian referred to her as "Jewie." It would be offensive to me if someone did and she is not serious. When she discusses the Holacaust, she becomes downrith indignite and when someone defends Adold Hitler, she goes off on it and she knows it!! Yes, she can make jokes about the Obama'a, but she needs to know that the jokes which degrade, and humiliate us as a people are not the leas bit funny! She wouldn't find it the least bit funny if someone made fun of Jews and their hardships during WW II and she knows it. There are some things that you just cannot joke about!
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By: Lando J on 1/26/2011 8:24PM
Monkeys don't have brown eyes and woolly hair!
But cro-magnum man is a recesessed species to neanderthal man, left over from the Flood of "Noah" migrated to Europe's caves, with monkeys and apes!
resource: "Lost Book Of Enki"
www.zechariasitchin.com
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By: Susan on 1/27/2011 9:30AM
Do You Enjoy Showing Your Ignorance? If Not You Need To Put In Check Cause It Sure Is Showing Off Your A--.
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By: DM on 1/27/2011 5:57PM
david, you're no better than jamesfnbond. he makes ignorant racist remarks about african americans, and you make yourself feel better by making ignorant racist remarks about the jews. you're the definition of a hypocrite.
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By: Jeraldlyn M. on 1/26/2011 12:13PM
Joan Rivers is a SENILE SICK WOMEN! As a so-called Jewish Woman whose people had a bad history of being on the receiving end of discrimination she should know better than to attack a First Lady with nasty words even as a joke. What happen to a focus on " the content of character" instead of "ugly racial words"?
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