Chris Rock: How We Talk About Race in U.S. Is ‘Nonsense’

2 minute read

Chris Rock has some thoughts on race relations in America: they’re a myth.

In a wide-ranging cover interview with New York Magazine’s Frank Rich, the comedian and film director addressed race in the Obama era saying, “when we talk about race relations in America or racial progress, it’s all nonsense.”

Rock continues, “There are no race relations. White people were crazy. Now they’re not as crazy. To say that black people have made progress would be to say they deserve what happened to them before.”

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Ferguson Ignites With Violence After Grand Jury Decision

Law enforcement responds to protestors amidst tear gas and smoke in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014
Law enforcement stands in full gear by tanks in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014Barrett Emke for TIME
Protesters stand amid tear gas and smoke in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014. Barrett Emke for TIME
Grand jury decision not to indict Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson
Riot policemen clash with protesters in Ferguson Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014. Alexey Furman—EPA
Ferguson erupts in violence after Grand Jury decision
St. Louis County Police tactical team members open their reserve supply of tear gas to be fired as they take cover behind an armored truck on S. Florissant Avenue in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014. David Carson—St Louis Post Dispatch/Polaris
Law enforcement responds to protestors amidst tear gas and smoke in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014
Law enforcement responds to protestors in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014Barrett Emke for TIME
A woman speaks into a megaphone during protests in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014
A woman speaks into a megaphone during protests in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014Barrett Emke for TIME
A man lays on the ground amid protests in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014
A man lies on the ground amid protests in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014Barrett Emke for TIME
Ferguson Grand Jury decision in Michael Brown shooting
Police in riot gear tangle with a woman in front of emergency vehicles in Ferguson Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014. Larry W. Smith—EPA
A demonstrator puts his hands in the air amid protests in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014
A demonstrator puts his hands in the air amid protests in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014Barrett Emke for TIME
US-CRIME-POLICE-RACE-UNREST
A law enforcement officer pushes back protestors after they destroyed a police car in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014. Michael B. Thomas—AFP/Getty Images
Demonstrators attempt to push over a police car in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov, 24, 2014.
Demonstrators attempt to push over a police car in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov, 24, 2014. Xinhua/Sipa
Grand Jury verdict on the Michael Brown shooting
Cars burn at a car dealership as demonstrators protest the Grand Jury decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson over the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. on No.v 24, 2014. Larry W. Smith—EPA
A car burns on the street after a grand jury returned no indictment in the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri
A car burns on the street after a grand jury returned no indictment in the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014. Jim Young—Reuters
Grand Jury verdict on the Michael Brown shooting
Protestors parade in the parking lot of a burning auto parts store in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014. Tannen Maury—EPA
Grand Jury verdict on the Michael Brown shooting
A demonstrator walks down the street after getting tear gas in her face and attempting to cleanse her eyes in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014. Larry W. Smith—EPA
Patrick London surveys the damage at his fast food restaurant London's Wing House after it was looted during protests on November 24, 2014.
Patrick London surveys the damage at his fast food restaurant London's Wing House after it was looted during protests on Nov. 24, 2014.Barrett Emke for TIME
Lesley McSpadden Michael Brown's mother and other protestors demonstrate amidst tear gas and smoke in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014
Michael Brown's mother, Lesley McSpadden, covers her face while standing alongside other demonstrators in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014Barrett Emke for TIME
Riots in Ferguson
Police stand near a burned out police car in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014. Christian Gooden—St. Louis Post-Dispatch/Polaris
A man stands by a burned out car in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014
A man stands by a burned out car in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014Barrett Emke for TIME
A Ferguson firefighter surveys rubble at a strip mall that was set on fire when rioting erupted following the grand jury announcement in the Michael Brown case on Nov. 25, 2014 in Ferguson, Mo.Scott Olson—Getty Images
US-CRIME-POLICE-RACE-UNREST
A police officer holds her gun during clashes with protesters in Ferguson, Mo. on Nov. 24, 2014. Jewel Samad—AFP/Getty Images

Rock has long been an outspoken on race, and race relations in America. In the interview, he compares the relationship between blacks and whites in America to Tina Turner’s abusive marriage to Ike Turner.

So, to say Obama is progress is saying that he’s the first black person that is qualified to be president. That’s not black progress. That’s white progress. There’s been black people qualified to be president for hundreds of years. If you saw Tina Turner and Ike having a lovely breakfast over there, would you say their relationship’s improved? Some people would. But a smart person would go, “Oh, he stopped punching her in the face.” It’s not up to her. Ike and Tina Turner’s relationship has nothing to do with Tina Turner. Nothing. It just doesn’t. The question is, you know, my kids are smart, educated, beautiful, polite children. There have been smart, educated, beautiful, polite black children for hundreds of years. The advantage that my children have is that my children are encountering the nicest white people that America has ever produced. Let’s hope America keeps producing nicer white people.

Read the whole interview at New York

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