Poll: How racist was he?

[dkyros]

So at my college each year we have a celebratory party towards the end of the semester in order to give ourselves a big pat on the back for surviving another year in the curriculum. At this years celebration we hired the same DJ that we've been hiring for all of our other events bc of nepotism and he is a pretty good DJ for the cost.

One of the students knowing that we were going to be getting the same DJ brought one of his own CD's for the DJ to play for maybe a song or two. Here is the kicker, this is a Hispanic couple that wants to hear some music that they like to listen to instead of Lady Gaga for the millionth time. Upon seeing the genre of music the DJ says, "No one else is going to like your music except for you two." The man pleads with him to just play one short song but the DJ remains adamant that only music that a majority of people will like should be played.

This upsets the man who goes on to say that he has never felt this kind of racism in his life. I was wondering how people on the escapist feel. Was the man in the right or the DJ. Was the DJ doing this out of racism or was it maybe just his misconception as to what was best for the party.

Personally, I see where the DJ is coming from but I think its unjustified. In his place I would've played the one song and knowing this guy he and his wife would've been awesome on the dance floor.

Also, have you ever been in a situation where you thought someone was unfairly being labeled a racist. Or have you yourself faced racism?

EDIT: It was Salsa music.

 

[Phlakes]

That's an almost justified race card pull. Almost.

But if someone had given him a CD of elevator music, he wouldn't've played that because not enough people would enjoy it.

 

[Heronblade]

Whether or not the man is racist depends on his reasons for refusal. If he believed no one else would enjoy it because the music was only likeable to hispanics, then yes he would qualify as a racist. If he thought such because of another reason, such as the statistical popularity of the songs among local college students (regardless of the accuracy of what he thought those statistics might be), he would not.

His being a dick for refusing to play even one requested song is another issue. Personally, there's a high chance I would have chosen any of this guy's songs over any of Lady Gaga's.

 

[gostlyfantom]

thats not even close to being racist, if someone had given him a CD full of country shit he would have denied that aswell.

 

[jumjalalabash]

Not racist at all. You can't stop a whole party for one song only 2 people may actually like.

 

[Levethian]

In this instance, discrimination is okay

 

[Booze Zombie]

I think saying "only you two would like it" is kind of a dick move and he should've played the one song to see if anyone else liked it... if the whole dance floor lights up with people doing their best to dance to the music, he knows it works, if not, well, he's justified then.

 

[Kalabrikan]

It's hard to gauge whether he was saying "We don't play your people's music at these events" or "We don't feel that people here would be engaged by this kind of music." If the song were something hispanic that would fit in with the party's mood, it would be racist. It it weren't, it wouldn't be.

 

[Raven's Nest]

The DJ was showing a lot of prejudice but I don't think it counts as bona fide racism. He was employed to provide a popular mix of music to suit the majority of people at the party. Yeah he acted like a dick by not giving the benefit of the doubt but whilst, like others have said, he probably would have turned down a request for Slayer or Beethoven for the same reasons.

If he had said "none of these white guys wanna hear your hispanic shit", or denying the request without even looking at the cd/genre, then that'd definately count as racism.

It'd be a bit like some calling the BBC racist for not using a rap song as the 6 o'clock news broadcast... Although Bill Bailey would point out they use post apocalyptic rave music instead... Serious amounts of cookies being baked up for the guy who gets that reference...

 

[Nautical Honors Society]

Certain genre's of music are better for partying, I guess the DJ didn't think that his genre was good party music.

But he could have at least played one song.

 

[Dags90]

I think saying "only you two would like it" is kind of a dick move and he should've played the one song to see if anyone else liked it... if the whole dance floor lights up with people doing their best to dance to the music, he knows it works, if not, well, he's justified then.

Any pop music DJ who doesn't remember the early 2000's Latin music craze isn't worth hiring. I wouldn't call someone a racist from that one event, but it hints toward some serious predjudice and ignorance.

 

[StBishop]

I don't understand how racism enters this discussion.

The DJ may or may not have been correct about everyone hating the music, and may or may not have been wrong in refusing to play the music.

Racism does not enter into the equation.

 

[Da_Vane]

The DJ had some justification in his actions, but his comments made it appear like the motivation was racially-motivated, rather than just the fact that the DJ was thinking about everybody else in the room and what they would have wanted to hear.

 

[A Random Reader]

Needs a "Might have been motivated by racism, but is impossible to tell from the information provided".

I would vote for that.

 

[dkyros]

It's hard to gauge whether he was saying "We don't play your people's music at these events" or "We don't feel that people here would be engaged by this kind of music." If the song were something hispanic that would fit in with the party's mood, it would be racist. It it weren't, it wouldn't be.

To clarify a little it was Salsa music, so it is something that you could hear at a celebration. I can't pretend to know what he was thinking at the time, I only know what he said.

 

[Lightning Delight]

It isn't really racist so much as it is sort of childish. It feels like the DJ denied the song because he didn't like it as opposed to everyone else not liking it. Although he is the DJ, so he was perfectly within his rights to choose what music he plays.