The action
Barbara Walters, Sherri Shepherd and Whoopi Goldberg had a tense discussion on Monday about the use of the N-word.
The conversation was centered around the controversy surrounding Rick Perry and a hunting camp he leased. The camp's entrance contained a rock with the term "Niggerhead" on it for many years. The Washington Post broke the story of the rock, and presented conflicting narratives about Perry's knowledge of what was written on it and his efforts to get rid of it.
The reaction
People are saying:
1) is it really that hard to understand that the word takes on a different context when said by a white person? hello! white people and yes i am white, are the ones who used the word to discriminate, dehumanize and target black people for centuries. you would think an educated journalist like barbara would be more culturally aware and sensitive..nope! she doesn't have to worry about what it feels like to be a minority because she's white so she assumes no one else does.
2) And black people's over use of the word in every day communication has rendered the word meaningless and free for everyone to use. Personally I do not like the word and no matter who says it, shows an ignorance but the fact that black people have adopted as a word of endearment pretty much negates any negative connotation. More or less. Obviously if a white person calls a black person that word, it is offensive- but no less if a black person does it.
3) I don't want MY reporters to CENSOR ANYTHING, I need to know it ALL.
4) a. Yeah, it is hard to understand, and I'm black. It makes absolutely no sense for black people to claim ownership to a word which was derived from another word which was used to denigrate black people.....ESPECIALLY since black people never owned the word to begin with. If we want other people to stop using the word, then WE need to stop using the word. But don't use the word and then expect every other culture out there not to use the word. That is NONSENSICAL.
4) b. I dunno. Why should blacks allow red-necked whites to have exclusive ownership of the word along with its racist connotations? Why would you deprive blacks of the ability to co-opt the word as their own as a means of blunting its racial impact? Its a very effective tool that has proven very effective in other contexts.
5) a. Its a double standard for one to be able to do it and not the other one. Its a double standard. If blacks don't want white people saying it then they need to stop saying it themselves. Other wise it becomes a double standard.
5) b. I disagree.
It started out as a word.
Then it became a hateful/injurious word.
The group it attacked "took it back" to take off some of the sting.
The group who used to abuse it no longer have a need for it unless they want to be hurtful.
Seems pretty clear to me.
6) Oh Sherri pleazzze...i cant believe you railed at Barbara like that, whilst giving Whoopi a pass, for saying the very same thing...(as a person of color myself), i found your reaction, profoundly over-sensitive, and your manner, overbearingly moralistic...it was totally un-called for, and left me feeling even more dejected, over this unsavory episode.
7) I don't care who it is, black, white or in between, I don't want to hear the word. Racial slurs of any kind are just plain disgusting.
Barbara Walters, Sherri Shepherd and Whoopi Goldberg had a tense discussion on Monday about the use of the N-word.
The conversation was centered around the controversy surrounding Rick Perry and a hunting camp he leased. The camp's entrance contained a rock with the term "Niggerhead" on it for many years. The Washington Post broke the story of the rock, and presented conflicting narratives about Perry's knowledge of what was written on it and his efforts to get rid of it.
The reaction
People are saying:
1) is it really that hard to understand that the word takes on a different context when said by a white person? hello! white people and yes i am white, are the ones who used the word to discriminate, dehumanize and target black people for centuries. you would think an educated journalist like barbara would be more culturally aware and sensitive..nope! she doesn't have to worry about what it feels like to be a minority because she's white so she assumes no one else does.
2) And black people's over use of the word in every day communication has rendered the word meaningless and free for everyone to use. Personally I do not like the word and no matter who says it, shows an ignorance but the fact that black people have adopted as a word of endearment pretty much negates any negative connotation. More or less. Obviously if a white person calls a black person that word, it is offensive- but no less if a black person does it.
3) I don't want MY reporters to CENSOR ANYTHING, I need to know it ALL.
4) a. Yeah, it is hard to understand, and I'm black. It makes absolutely no sense for black people to claim ownership to a word which was derived from another word which was used to denigrate black people.....ESPECIALLY since black people never owned the word to begin with. If we want other people to stop using the word, then WE need to stop using the word. But don't use the word and then expect every other culture out there not to use the word. That is NONSENSICAL.
4) b. I dunno. Why should blacks allow red-necked whites to have exclusive ownership of the word along with its racist connotations? Why would you deprive blacks of the ability to co-opt the word as their own as a means of blunting its racial impact? Its a very effective tool that has proven very effective in other contexts.
5) a. Its a double standard for one to be able to do it and not the other one. Its a double standard. If blacks don't want white people saying it then they need to stop saying it themselves. Other wise it becomes a double standard.
5) b. I disagree.
It started out as a word.
Then it became a hateful/injurious word.
The group it attacked "took it back" to take off some of the sting.
The group who used to abuse it no longer have a need for it unless they want to be hurtful.
Seems pretty clear to me.
6) Oh Sherri pleazzze...i cant believe you railed at Barbara like that, whilst giving Whoopi a pass, for saying the very same thing...(as a person of color myself), i found your reaction, profoundly over-sensitive, and your manner, overbearingly moralistic...it was totally un-called for, and left me feeling even more dejected, over this unsavory episode.
7) I don't care who it is, black, white or in between, I don't want to hear the word. Racial slurs of any kind are just plain disgusting.
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