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.
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