“This group gives scholarships to minority students and financial support to 37 historically black colleges and universities,” reads the clue. Chuckle chuckle, goes Trebek.
“You better get this one right. You know, because you’re a black.” OK, that’s not exactly what he said, but that sounds exactly like what he said. But was Trebek actually being racist?
Contestant Kenesha attends one of the 37 universities that is mentioned in the clue. Her school is the recipient of the scholarships to which the school is referring. On Jeopardy, Alex has often made such comments when a clue references a school one of the student contestants attends. So poor old Canadian Alex doesn’t quite realize he’s operating in the atmosphere created and perpetuated by, for example, Barbara Boxer types, who say things like this, suggesting that black Americans are all required to share the same opinion on all issues. The same atmosphere of sameness that allows vilification of black conservatives with no repercussions whatsoever.
The NAACP is your voice, they say. Or in this case, at least at first glance, it seemed it was the UNCF. In any case, the clip is enough to make you facepalm and cringe. But was it racist? Clearly and absolutely not. Just a perfectly normal reaction to a clue that dealt with the school attended by one of the contestants.
But then again, would known conservative Pat Sajak get the benefit of the doubt? Or would we hear Media Matters whining about his racial insensitivity. I think you know the correct response: What is “well duh”?
(h/t IJReview.com)