Racism? There's no such thing...

Jackie Mason provokes controversy

Jackie Mason has proved he's still capable of controversy after claiming  Jewish and black people are no longer the victims of racial discrimination.

Speaking on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs this morning, the 75-year-old comic said some people from minorities wrongly blame persecution for their own lack of progress.

He told host Kirsty Young: ‘I wouldn’t say the Jews or the blacks today are suffering from racism. 

‘I don’t think it’s such a terrible disadvantage to be black or Jewish today. But because they once were... they are still not comfortable enough with the new situation.

‘They still can’t accept the fact that they are completely accepted everywhere... it’s all in their minds.’

Although Young challenged him on his views, Mason said: ‘The younger the people are the less it matters to them what their identity is in terms of their religion or their colour. 

‘Whites and blacks would never marry in those days. Jews and Gentiles would never marry. Today, that type of marriage is very common.’

He added that the election of Barack Obama proved times had changed, with colour not being  a bar to any job.
‘I see this with all the minorities,' he said. 'You can’t get a job somewhere. He can’t admit to himself that he is inadequate – they’ll claim it’s anti-Semitism. It’s pure imagination.'

Published: 11 Mar 2012

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