Richard's Triade

Richard’s use of the n-word is unconscionable in any context, but what makes his tirade more offensive to me is the other things he says before and after calling the two hecklers “n*****.” His comments “50 years ago we would have had you on your backside with a fork stuck up your ass,” and “that’s what happens to you when you interrupt a white man,” show a uncomfortable and shocking degree of racism that both emphasizes the power of the expletive and provides the context of hatred that makes the word volatile.
The audience in the clip is shocked, and rightly so. Contrary to Richard’s comments alluding to the fact that their reaction to the word is the problem, I believe that the audience’s reaction to the word is probably secondary to the other violent and racist things spewing from Richards. The scenario shows the importance of context for language. This is not to say that it is fine and dandy for a white person (or, depending on your beliefs, any person) to say n*****, but there is a difference between using the word in jest or as a sign of “brotherhood” (personally I think this is still bullshit, but that is besides the point), and using the word to deliberately cause offense to someone. Richards crossed that line, and the scene is more reminiscent of a KKK rally then ironic or political commentary.
On a side note, the comments underneath this video on utube were nearly as disturbingly ignorant as the clip itself.