ROSEANNE’S MISSED OPPORTUNITY

For those of you who are concerned that Roseanne’s tweet about JV is racist, I submit that more egregious than any racism in it, it represents Roseanne’s lost and perhaps last opportunity to be a voice for those in our society who have not had a voice - working class citizens of both genders and multiple races. She seemed happy to identify with the “deplorables” that were identified by Hillary Clinton. Again, those folks who’s economic and or educational status is below the level of people like Clinton.

Roseanne has (had) the ability to portray a strata of our citizenry that is often overlooked. She has (had) a keen wit coupled with her identifiable delivery and ability to articulate emotions and conditions that are too often ignored or dismissed. She did, indeed, get the attention many people in powerful and influential positions. Her potential for stimulating improvement in the living conditions of her constituency is (was) enormous.

Sadly, this latest tweet was a bridge too far. All of her comments, beyond this one, will now be seen as a form of hate speech. Even a spoonful of sugar will make it almost impossible for this medicine to go down. Her flight with humor privilege has run out of runway. 

Sorry, Roseanne, even a slight apology will not suffice. You, like all of us, must investigate our own unconscious biases and re-define what we think is funny.