General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Is There Anyone Here Who Is Actually Dumb Enough [View all]Bucky
(54,013 posts)I generally think Maher isn't racist against African-Americans. He's an elitist snob to be sure.
But two things:
(1) Maher has a hell of track record of sweeping prejudices against Muslims that at least borders on racism.
(2) It's not exactly radical to assert that a white guy dropping the N-bomb on TV has some racial bigotry in his heart. I think the context shows he was being humorously sympathetic to how oppressive slave labor could be. But it's also pretty clear that using the single ugliest racial slur in the English language was a serious lapse of judgment and common sense.
So I don't think he's racist. But I don't think anyone thinking he might be is "dumb" as you put it. I think it's remarkably closed minded of you to assume we all have to agree on this point.