"The Truth About Hate..."

Media Drop Dilbert After Creator’s Black ‘Hate Group’ Remark

By David A. Lieb

Associated Press

2/26/2023

Above, Scott Adams, creator of the comic strip Dilbert, poses for a portrait with the Dilbert character in his studio in Dublin, Calif., Oct. 26, 2006. 

Several prominent media publishers across the U.S. are dropping the Dilbert comic strip after Adams, its creator, described people who are Black as members of “a racist hate group” during an online video show.

The creator of the Dilbert comic strip faced a backlash of cancellations Saturday while defending remarks describing people who are Black as members of “a hate group” from which white people should “get away.”

Various media publishers across the U.S. denounced the comments by Dilbert creator Scott Adams as racist, hateful and discriminatory while saying they would no longer provide a platform for his work.

Andrews McMeel Syndication, which distributes Dilbert, did not immediately respond Saturday to requests for comment. But Adams defended himself on social media against those whom he said “hate me and are canceling me.”

Dilbert is a long-running comic that pokes fun at office-place culture.

Read more of this story here: Associated Press

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Why I'm Sharing This: Interestingly, this story sparked an interesting conversation for me last night.  I recently won a significant promotion at work and to thank my team of 40 people of all ages, sexes, religions, orientations and races, I took them all out for a fantastic meal at a highly regarded restaurant Sunday night.  I was listening to reporting on the "Dilbert" story on my way to pick up one my older team members who doesn't drive at night (she's in her late 80s). As I waited for her in the lot of her very segregated condo complex, it got me to thinking about how hate often hides in plain sight.

Anyway, I scooped my teammember up from her home and we arrived at the restaurant quite early, so I suggested we wait in the car and chat for a few minutes.  Little did I know that I was going to learn more about her than I ever wanted to know, including that she's quite the Islamophobe and also really likes to parrot racist tropes (even to me).  Despite my knowing better, I decided to engage her and try to convince her that many of her beliefs, fears and hatreds were unfounded. I think I definitely got her to thinking, but whether she's going to reconsider the impacts of the hateful views she shared with me I don't know... 

Nevertheless, once we were in the restaurant, I wanted her to understand that I still appreciated her if we couldn't agree on much of what she shared with me. I took great pains to explain to her that I value her and the relationship we've had not only as someone I've had the privilege of leading, but also a fellow human being. I made sure she was seated her at my table and I also insisted on one of my Muslim team members joining us so that she could see that we're all just the same, only human. I will say that some interesting conversation got going once she got a martini in her, but it stayed civil, so I'm hopeful.

I'll be moving on from my present role to my new position which reports directly to the C-suite soon. But I have to admit I'll miss the large and diverse team I've been leading for the last 5+ years, even the older, scared, confused and angry white folks amongst them who are hiding their fears and hatreds in plain sight. The truth is I hope they all know that I've loved them as my "work family" and I will miss them.

"Fear Eats the Soul"