My Thoughts on Dog the Bounty Hunter and Race in America

Duane "Dog" Chapman was caught on tape saying the "N-word" and they suspended his show. I really did not plan to write about this, but I guess I have to. I'm tired. I'm tired of celebrities saying the "N" word and then apologizing while bringing out an African-American person as if to say, "Hey, I'm not racist, and here's my Black friend!" That's a lame excuse. I am also tired of hate groups that want to see me dead because of my skin color. I am tired of it all. To be fair, I am also tired of African-American people (myself included) who use the word and honestly believe the whole "It's okay if African-American people use the word, but no one else can" rule. News flash, people: That rule has never worked. I am also tired of people thinking that I'm overreacting when I see racist stuff on TV and in film. I've even been told that "Oh, it's nothing, it's a PC backlash". Why does my race seem to bear the brunt of the backlash? I see Caucasian kids referring to themselves as the N-word with reckless abandon. I see African-Americans on shows like Flavor of Love, I Love New York, and Charm School that behave in ways that reinforce African-American stereotypes. Of course, when I talk about how this bothers me in a crowd full of Caucasian people who claim they love these shows, my views are dismissed.
I find myself longing for the "good old days" when people were a little more fearful of African-Americans. I try hard to appear "safe" because I am a tall, large African-American man. Maybe I try too hard. Maybe African-Americans are considered too safe now. People definitely seem to have no problem throwing around the "N-word" like confetti these days.
I have joked about not wanting to be African-American anymore, I say that I am now Honduran or Nicaraguan. These remarks are born out of the frustration and embarrassment when I see African-American pop icons such as Flavor Flave and these ignorant, materialistic rappers all over TV. The frustration also comes from our self-appointed "spokespeople" Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. I don't really care for their approach to things.
In the end, I guess that all that I can do is try not to say the "N-word" anymore in my personal life and continue to try to treat everyone with respect, regardless or race, religion, or orientation. Also, I will continue to NOT watch most reality shows with African-Americans in them because, in case you haven't got my point yet, I am REALLY tired of minstrel shows and having all manner of African-American stereotypes carted out for the world to see. Be easy, readers.