
Juan Williams, the most peculiar black journalist in America, made yet another statement that has heads turning.
Williams made the argument that there's nothing wrong with people saying that young black men make them nervous.
In a conversation with Dr. Caroline Helmand, a professor at Occidental College, Williams stood the Fox News line by basically refuting Helman's assertion that it would be bigoted for a person to say that they clutch their purse every time a black man walks by. The dialogue went like this:
Helmand: "I happen to agree with Schiller that your comments were bigoted. I think that if I were to say that I clutch my purse every time I walk by a black man that might resonate with a lot of Americans. It might be the truth, but it's a bigoted statement. I certainly wouldn't have fired you, but I do think there was some truth in that video that we don't get to talk about because we are afraid to have actual discourse in this country."
Williams: "I can't believe that you just said that. You think that simply saying what you think is evidence of bigotry, that all of a sudden ... you were bigoted if you were somewhat nervous. Let me just tell you, with the amount of black-on-black crime in America, I get nervous and I'm a black man. So, I mean, wait a second..."
Helmand: "There we go again, Juan. I would find that to be racial profiling that's a bigoted comment."
Williams: "That's a bigoted comment?"
Helmand: "Yes it is. Just like your comment about Muslims."
Williams: "I'm the father of black young men, and I'm saying that if you saw a couple guys walking around looking like thugs down the street late at night, you're saying, 'Oh, I'm not going to think it through.' Caroline, I think you are way off base."
I've made my opinions on Juan Williams quite clear in the past, so I won't reiterate the fact that I consider him to be one of the greatest disgraces to black journalism in the 21st century (well, I guess I did just reiterate it, huh?).
The fact that Juan has admittedly publicly that he is afraid of Muslims on airplanes and now black men in the street tells us a great deal about why he is so popular on Fox News.
Fox is a network that shamelessly utilizes racial fear to fuel its corporate profitability. By feasting on the American fear of having a black man in the White House and fear that every Muslim is engaged in an insidious plot to destroy our nation, Fox News and Juan Williams become the perfect psychological cocoon that makes millions of Americans feel safe to express their dysfunctional racial animosity.
On that note, there is something to be discussed regarding whether racial profiling can be perceived to be a benign and easily overlooked phenomenon - or if it's something more serious.
As the tasering of Jonathan Zimmerman during a routine traffic violation showed us, when we preconceive black men to be criminals, we destroy lives in the process. Being involved in the criminal justice system is like being exposed to a deadly social virus that is capable of infecting every aspect of your life: You are unjustly stopped by an officer who would have walked right past you if you were white. You then talk back to the officer, legitimately asking him why he's bothering you. That's when the officer asks you to step out of the car or (as in the case of Zimmerman) tasers you to get you to comply with his instructions.
Once a man becomes involved in the system, it is nearly impossible to get out.
The fines that the system imposes on you, disproportionate conviction rates for black men, longer sentences, unaddressed violence in the prison itself, in addition to lifelong marginalization (being restricted from voting, finding jobs, etc.) lead to a wasted future.
The point here is that when we racially profile black men and presume that they are guilty without even knowing them, we end up destroying their lives by involving them in scenarios that never would have been constructed if they were white.
Juan Williams is not an intelligent man, that fact has been well-established. But one can hope that any intelligent consumer of American news would realize the dangers of a black man going on to national television and joking about the consequences of racial-profiling.
What Juan considers to be a simple, harmless form of discrimination is something that continues to undermine the fabric and integrity of the entire American criminal justice system. Mr. Williams should choose his words wisely, but I doubt that will be the case. He's got too much invested by being Fox's Negro stamp of approval.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. To follow Dr. Boyce on Facebook, please click here. 

Comments: (188)
Add a comment
By: Sisa Boto on 3/22/2011 10:15AM
I see his point Williams that is if he not use to the enviroment of so neighborhood it very possible and for him to be cautious because he has responsibility,the truth hurt's Black America. 3 Black guy hanging out you might have to do more than clinch your purse you might just have to go the other way. And I'm in the hood of NYC everyday, I don't think his aim is to disgrace Blackmen I just think this is how he personally feel, I understand.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: RayStare on 3/25/2011 5:04AM
I think Juan is going thru male menopause.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: bonita on 3/22/2011 10:27AM
Im so done with this man he works on foxnews what do you expect to come out of his mouth nothing shocks me anymore about him or fox
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Dj on 3/22/2011 10:30AM
Juan, Juan,some young White men,old, married, single, out of prison, in prison, walking along side a road, shopping in a store, while I am driving my car makes me nervous.
I have a right to be nervous, Juan, while marching for my Civil Rigths is Montomery, AL, I was nearly killed three times by young White men. Did this ever happen to you? I stood up to them, Juan. The more you speak the more you make me think you really need mental help.
What Juan needs is some medication, just to get thru the day, gave me a break, "man please". Go ask Palin how to protect your sad self, I bet she will teach ya! to use ya for you, this is how she speak's not me.
Please put your man "balls on". I am happy I not married to a fool, what comes out of his mouth is so non- manly. Stand up you fool, oh! I forgot you can't because your money is weighting you down.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: bonita on 3/22/2011 10:35AM
Where we live the confederate flags waves high cannot miss it right on I-75 in the sunshine state
any given day you may see one on the back of a pickup truck waving proudly so if I see a bunch of white men lookibg at me like why are you here then what clutch my purse please our kids are know worse than there's every race has thugs and just plain ignorant folks
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: reg on 3/22/2011 10:43AM
Saying it on national tv and thinking it (which most of you do) are pretty much the same thing.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Jazz in Michigan on 3/22/2011 11:44AM
Juan Williams is afraid of muslims, he's afraid
of Black men, but he's not afraid to be on that lying Fox News channel. Why don't he just dig a hole and crawl in it and be done with it!!!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: arriethom1 on 3/22/2011 1:02PM
He didn't say many young African American males. He said young African American males which is a big difference. He paints with a broad brush. I don't know, he may do it to stir up controversy or to focus the spotlight on himself, but I never hear him say anything positive about young African American men or African Americans in general nor does he ever offer any solutions and that's what makes him a problem.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Reader on 3/22/2011 1:25PM
I think this news personality has the right to make his own decisions and have his own opinions. Black people can be diverse we don't have to be a monolithic mob. But I think we all know that young black men in general are hurting. You would think that other blacks would be the 1st to be compassionate and sensitive towards these young men who are the future. We need to do more for these young men.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Pink on 3/22/2011 2:00PM
Do young white male (mass murderers) make him nervous as well?? Juan needs 2 shut the hell up. Personally I think he's a hypocrite.
Reply to this Comment | Report This