CHICAGO —  The Reverend Jesse Jacksonsays actor Michael Richards' racial tirade during a standup comedy routine amounts to — quote — "hate speech."

Jackson said this morning that Richards called and apologized for his rant against two black hecklers in a Los Angeles comedy club.

Jackson says he advised Richards to see a psychiatrist to discover why he's angry and hostile toward black people, and also to undergo race sensitivity training.

He says Richards' point of view wasn't just a slip of the tongue, and is a symbol of deep-seeded feelings in the culture and in Hollywood.

Richards is scheduled to speak tomorrow morning on Jackson's radio program to discuss the issue.

Richards' publicist didn't immediately return a telephone call for comment.