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I think you can say that somebody can, sincerely and in good faith, believe that their use of racist language and racist stereotypes is not racist and does not advance the agenda of racism. I have no problem believing that Bernard Manning was one such. Many people on Barbelith have explained why they can do it, which is usually some variation of the idea that they are on the side of the subject of the racist language or stereotype, or that they are mocking the bigotry of people who are not they who use them. When I was younger, I probably would if challenged have defended some of my actions or those of my contemporaries in the same way.
So, yes - I have no problem with the contention that Bermard Manning had friends or clients of other races, although I don't think that logically demands that he did not hold racist views or that he did not advance the cause of racism. I also have no problem with the idea that he did not hold racist views, or held views no more racist than many others, and do not think that this logically demands that he did not use or defend the use of racist language or stereotypes.
However. None of that really helps if you are a Black or Asian person in the audience who has been singled out, has been upset by the use of racist language and stereotypes, and now has to decide whether to laugh along (thus perpetuating the idea that this behaviour is not just acceptable but actively enjoyable), or to react in some way (thus appearing "humourless" and being roundly mocked for it) - this reaction of course in a situation with a huge difference in power between the person on stage with a microphone and the person in the audience without.
Personally, I wouldn't have seen Manning as "the worst kind of bigot", no. There are much worse kinds of bigot. He was, however, a comedian who decided that his comfort zone and his sense of himself as inconoclast, champion of freedom, populist and so on was more important than challenging the use of racist language and racist stereotypes in his humour. |
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'V' hand, palm facing the body, is placed so that the fingertips are just under the eyes. The hand swings straight out.
'C' hand.
'A' hands are held side by side before the chest, palms facing each other and thumbs pointing forward. In this position the hands move alternately back and forth, toward and away from the body. 
hand are placed at the lips, and then the hand is thrown down.
hands, side by side, move straight down a short distance, as if outlining the sides of an unseen individual.