And This Is How You Shut Someone Down On-Air Without Being An Angry Black Woman

May 11th, 2012 - By Brande Victorian

Source: poptower.com

In a random internet search I came across a clip about MSNBC host Tamron Hall having an altercation with one of her guests, Tim Carney, and I got a little nervous. Some headlines said she had an on-air tantrum, she shut the conservative commentator down, she talked him off the show, etc., and I clenched at what might have happened. You know we only have to look at somebody a certain way to get that angry black woman labeled slapped on us quickly and I just knew it was coming this time, but not with Tamron.

I’ll admit I had to watch the clip a couple of times to figure out exactly what was going on—more so what set the reporter off so quickly, but it was actually right at the beginning of the discussion. Tim accused her of pulling a “typical media trick” when she questioned him, not about Mitt Romney’s past—particularly some bullying incidents in question—but about how he thought the presidential hopeful’s camp was handling the accusations, and as you can guess from the title of the article, we never got that answer. As soon as the words, “You hype up a story and justify the second-day coverage of the story,” slipped from Tim’s lips, Tamron was done. Immediately, she politely, yet sternly reminded Tim:

“You don’t have to answer a single question I ask you, and you didn’t have to accept the invitation to come on,” she told him.

“Your actions are irritating me right now. You are not going to come on and insult me, you are not going to come on and insult the network, when you knew what we were going to be talking about. Done.”

And just like that, Tim’s mic was cut and his time on News Nation was no more. I will say I got a little antsy when Tamron said his actions were irritating her because I thought, well, that’s not exactly an appropriate reason to kick someone off of your show. However, being insulted as a journalist is, and that’s what Tamron said she was taking a stand for—and amazingly, the public agrees. I just knew when I scrolled down to the comments section of the first article I read the racists Internet thugs would be going in but they weren’t there. Instead, there were comments like, “what a classic lady,” “you go, girl” (you know folks can’t wait to use that phrase), and even statements of people being proud of her and that she’d garnered another viewer.

This isn’t just an isolated incident a few people noticed either, the clip has gone viral and was even trending on Twitter. What’s amazing is Viewers were standing up for her against this white man, calling her a “bada**” and even a “hero.” You know it’s not every day we hear that word associated with a black woman.

Now I know some of this can be chalked up to most of the nation’s frustrations with the right wing but I think Tamron deserves some credit too. Neck rolling, eye rolling, attitudes, all of those things are expected of black women when things get hot. If they can accuse Michelle Obama of being an angry black woman when I don’t think we’ve so much as seen her frown since she entered the White House, how much quicker would they be to say the same in a situation like this? But not today. Tamron proved she can play white people’s game—Fox stays kicking people off the air—and keep her dignity and professional integrity too and I’m just proud to be in a world she’s living in and that didn’t go the prejudice route when they saw her stand her ground. This is how most black women handle conflict and there were a whole lot of people who needed to see this to know that.

Check out the clip of the altercation below. How do you think Tamron handled herself?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1832278461 Stacey Oliver-Johnson

    It’s about time someone shut these idiots down.  Well done.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/ZSSOQZ7O6COZJEG7Q27WAGBCFM Christine

    WOW! Ms. Tamron Hall did a well deserved slam-dunk on Carney, giving it to him with both barrels. Good for her! Loved Ms Hall’s showing him that it’s MY HOUSE, MY RULES, yet those were the rules both parties chose to play PRIOR to going on air. And calling Carney on that, stating that he knew what the discussion/agenda was suppose to be; then Carney tries to duck those very (agreed upon) issues? Again, I say, “WOW”! Ms. Hall did a Rachel Maddow move, and it was all first-class and impressive. Only sorry I didn’t get to see the whole show.

    • activist1

      Yeah, just like Maddow, it was great.

  • Ch

    Did he really say “No you’re not” when she said I’m done the first time? Cause her response was “Yes I am” and I couldn’t hear what he said. But that was amazing!

    • activist1

      I think he said “you’re cutting me off?”, though I’m not sure.

  • Kenyattaaarif

    POW BAM BOOM !

  • Anyon

    she sho’ the hell did, didnt she!!   “done, next!”  LOL!  go head on sis!! ha ha!

  • RedButterfly81

    This what happens when you invite right-wing d-bag to a show on MSNBC.

  • Brownmichelle31

    i am undecided on this post, because…i have a natural contempt/suspect for media and authority…however…she is one of the “talking heads” that i give respect to because i believe she does her job and does it very well…and the way she handled this person was in fact, professional…i am sure he knew what the deal was…YOU CANNOT GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING…he needs so re-assess the situation! and then go sit sit down somewhere and think about how stupid he looked! LOL!

  • LadyLark

    I feel we often handle ourselves VERY well as she did in the clip, but STILL are called B’s and angry Black women just the same. If you’re agressive when necessary, as men are in business, then you’re a B or an Angry Black Woman to people. Personally I enjoyed the clip…lol I love debates and the win. This ain’t new to me.

  • Veratta Pegram-Floyd

    Racism and gender inequities don’t exist huh? She had EVERY right to say “I’m done”. Not only was he rude but he continued to talk over her when she tried to address the issue and explain her point. She keep a very straight face and probably even blood pressure while she was speaking. I am very proud of the way she handled that.

    • Nicoleduncan

      I like Tarmon Hall since she was on our local news in IL … She is awesome 

      • RedButterfly81

        WFLD.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1438551270 Jessica Lucinda Williams

    “I’m done!!”. Good job Ma! 

  • Fashionjasmine06

    No matter what black people do or don’t do in this country, white people will STILL be HATEFULLY JEALOUS of everything we are…beautiful, talented, rhythmic and just all around the most influential people on this ENTIRE earth! Who cares about the “angry black woman” stereotype? Who cares who is PC or not? Who care if white folks can’t get past their ignorance and hatred? Who gives a damn seriously!?! Black people are all of that and a bag of chips baby! 

    • janejill

      i understand your statement but when you got black men saying this about black women and stating “this is why i date white girls now” a black women can get offended.

  • Unque43

    She handle herself very well!

  • StuckInDaMatrix

    Sad that author was essentially “shaking in her boots” wondering if Tamron action’s was going to upset white America.  And if she did go off sister girl style so what? Why are black women so worried about being judged when you do almost nothing to combat stereotypes against us?

  • http://www.facebook.com/barbara.codner Barbara Codner

    “I’m done!” ~Tamron Hall

    • LadyLark

      Yeah I liked that too…but peep how when we say it in a real (untelevised and unsuppported) setting we get the ABW title still though. I’ve done it and seen it done this same way all my life. I liked how the article mentioned the following:  ’I’m just proud to be in a world she’s living in and that didn’t go the prejudice route when they saw her stand her ground. This is how most black women handle conflict and there were a whole lot of people who needed to see this to know that.’
      Godd job MN

      • LadyLark

        *good

  • Tagirl

    She handled herself well.

  • D. Rose in the paint

    Im just happy she didnt get all “sista girl ghetto boo” on him…she was assertive, a little on the emotional side but…..I’ve seen worse from better people!

    • LadyLark

      wow ‘better’ people???

      • Snoopy_so

         I assume better people as in more talented and in higher ranking people in various fields

        • D. Rose in the paint

           thank you

      • D. Rose in the paint

        Relax you racially sensitive mf’er!!  LMAO!! Im assuming you thought I was insinuating that “better people’ meant people other than black people. But I meant better qualified, more experienced, smarter, etc. And believe me there are many of them out there. I’ve seen Tamron over the years Im from Chicago where she worked for WFLD, and I’ve seen her over the years and I’m familiar with her abilities.

        • Kai

          I understand your attempted justification of your reference to “better people”. But it’s still highly offensive. What constitutes someone as “better” than her? More experience, smarter as you say?  How exactly does that make someone “better”?  Are people that are smarter and more experienced than you”better” than you?  Of course not they’re simply smarter and more experienced than you. Your language is quite imprecise and that’s what makes your comment offensive. 

  • FromUR2UB

    I think she said what needed to be said in a very professional manner.  I’m sure she has just become fed up with a**holes like that.  I just hope that now, people won’t start messing with her, trying to set her off, because that’s usually what happens once you start telling people that they’re standing on your foot and need to get off.

  • Galenafiel

    I’ve always thought Tamron to be a class act. She has proved that once again. That dude was out of line. I’m confused on what he thought was going to happen after attacking like that. The dude that came on after him was to tickled at Tamron.

  • carmen

    @entirefam bosMN/SB…..All I want to know is how do you watch videos with the adds playing in the background ? You know, or you should know people have others things going on and don’t need audio adds popping up all the time. Half of the time i’m doing my English listening to audio’s of book & poems, or listening to music…  With every click, every page, every few seconds like for real ??

    • Ladybug94

      Exactly.  That ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah gets on my nerves.

      • Jessica

         and now those thirsty win an I pad/iphone/giftcard pop ups ??????

        • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000081211233 Jess Ica

          OMG! I just tried to like LadyBug94s comment, and I got that pop up. How annoying.

    • Tyllins

      Thank you for mentioning this.  I sometimes avoid even clicking on a story because the pages are so ad heavy.  It’s very annoying!

      • Ms. Spring

        LOL. These comments always make me laugh.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LKQE4UQRBBVNOIRAL4EB2SPCWI Jen

    She handled herself quite well!  Based on what I heard the gentleman came onto the show with a different motive than what he intentionally presented to her and to the network, and I don’t watch MSNBC.  She cut him off at the knees without the blink of an eye!

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