America 1982-Chapter 274 - 8: We Understand Humanistic Care Better_3
"That’s right, just a few short sentences before the end, that’s the manifestation of humanitarian concern. BT Television will contact cooperating banks to provide an interest-free loan to any husband willing to return to his family, to support him in job hunting, raising children, and getting through the initial tough times, and so on. Interest-free loans, maybe five thousand, maybe ten thousand, or we might even tell him on the show that it doesn’t matter if he can’t pay it back because the station can pay it off for him. Tell me, isn’t this BT Television’s fucking humanitarian concern for the black community? Those politicians who call for racial equality every day, those big shots, is anyone willing to give real money to help those poor blacks? No! But we will! We help their families reunite and give them ten thousand US dollars. Tell me, is this our disreputable mockery of the black community?"
"You never said the show would have bank partnerships... and the willingness to provide interest-free loans."
"Because I assumed that wasn’t something the show’s production needed to consider, it didn’t need to be made clear to the production company. But now, if they think we’re full of malice towards black people, then tell them to go fuck themselves. BT Television understands humanitarian concern better than those suit-wearing bastards, nobody knows better than us how to care for black people."
By the end, Tommy looked at Martin on his office sofa, who was helping Page design a beard style, "Martin, tell me, is it caring to give a black family ten thousand dollars, or is it caring for a politician to tell them on TV that they will ’fight for black rights for a lifetime’?"
Martin didn’t respond immediately, but carefully made sure that old Page wouldn’t pull out a stun gun on him before he spoke to Tommy:
"If a politician’s salary isn’t as much as what you pay me, even if you don’t give ten thousand to the black family, I’d say you’re right. Of course, if you give the family ten thousand, they’d join me in praising you. We black folks are just that simple-minded."
"Did you hear that? That’s black people’s idea of humanitarian concern... No... It’s just that simple and unadorned." Once Tommy got his answer, he looked at Rick, "You might produce too many small films; after all, you don’t need a reason for that stuff. But I’m different, Rick. Whatever I do, I always find a great, right, honorable reason and let that great reason drive me to walk this potentially dangerous path without looking back."
"Your so-called humanitarian concern... is actually just giving money to those poor blacks, and that’s still discrimination, you understand, boss? Middle-class or even higher-class blacks are very offended by this stereotypical way of ’helping blacks.’ They may not watch your show, but they might cause you problems." Rick thought for a moment and couldn’t help but remind Tommy that his so-called humanitarian concern was still seen as stereotypical racial discrimination in the eyes of upper-class blacks.
Tommy turned to look at Martin, "Martin, did you hear what Rick said about those middle-class or rich blacks? They think we shouldn’t help poor blacks with money. I think I need you to curse them out for me now."
Martin lived up to Tommy’s expectations. He looked angrily at Rick, "Those morons are just puppets controlled by whites! Their black skin is fucking painted on! They won’t help their own people, and they don’t allow others to help them, why? Because if us poor brothers get rich, they won’t be able to flaunt their success at us anymore! They’re traitors to all blacks! They’re the dogs of whites!"
"Write that down; each time you curse like that in public, you’ll get a ten-dollar raise," Tommy nodded in satisfaction and said to Martin, "If you curse enough times, maybe one day you’ll become the richest black man."
