Michelle Obama Attends Beyonce Concert
7 Weird Ways To Bug-Proof Your Picnic
I'm starting to believe there is a condition called the "N-word meltdown," where white folks just go crazy and start repeating it over and over for no reason.
Well-known conservative talk show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger (pictured) went all Michael Richards on a caller who reached out to her for help regarding her interracial marriage.
The caller wanted the good doctor's advice on whether to confront her husband's friends, whom she believed were making racist comments about her.
During the exchange on Tuesday's show, Schlessinger said the woman, who called herself Jade, was being too sensitive for complaining about her husband's friends. When the woman asked if the N-word was offensive, Schlessinger said, "Black guys say it all the time," then went on to repeat it several times.
"I articulated the N-word all the way out -- more than one time," Schlessinger said in comments from the opening of her radio show that she posted on her site.
Translation: she put the dreaded "er" on the end instead of the "ga."
When will white people just accept the fact that black folks can use the N-word, but they cannot. Why is this such a complicated life rule for them?
It's actually quite simple. Jews can say things about other Jews that non-Jews can't say. Gays can say things about gays that straights can't say. Latinos can say things about Latinos that non-Latinos can't say. I have an Asian friend who referred to new Asian immigrants as FOBs (fresh-off-the-boats). But she probably would have kicked my ass if I had referred to them that way. And I respect that. You can talk about your own mama, but no one else can. It's really easy, white people.
Schlessinger said on her Website on Wednesday that she was wrong in using the word for what she called an attempt to make a philosophical point.
Why are white folks so intent on rationalizing their use of the word? You can't use it, period. Get over it.
When the caller objected, Schlessinger replied:
"Oh, then I guess you don't watch HBO or listen to any black comedians."
I don't know what black comedians Dr. Laura listens to but I can't remember any using "nigger" in their acts. Moreover, should a woman tolerate a bunch of people in her house using the N-word in a way she finds offensive because they do it on 'Def Comedy Jam'?
Look, white folks, I'll break it down for you: Black folks don't call each other "nigger"; we say "nigga." And whether you accept it or not, there is a huge distinction.
As an African American woman, I can't ever remember using "nigger" in my life in referring to another black person. Though, on a bad day at my DMV, I may say "nigga" in my head several times.
Dr. Laura and other white folks who put forth this "well, black people use it, why can't I" argument seem so tied to their own supremacy that they just can't accept that there are things we can do that they can't -- and it bugs the hell out of them.
In all fairness, Schlessinger did not direct the epithet at the woman but said she used it to suggest how often she hears it, and that it should not automatically be a cause for offense, which is also the stupidest thing I've ever heard. It's about context, Dr. Laura. Who's saying it, why, how and in what environment? Who are you to say what should offend this woman?
This is not a debate on the infamous N-word. Some people say no one should use it; others say it's fine. Frankly, I couldn't care less. Either way, this is not about that.
It's about respecting a culture's right to its own intracultural norms. If your use of the word offends me, that's really all you need to know.
We don't have to explain why you can't say it, we don't have to defend our use of it and we don't have to tolerate you saying it. You just can't. It's like family. You can talk about each other, but no one else can. And as long as everyone remembers that, we should get along just fine.
Comments: (349)
Add a comment
By: KishaL. on 8/15/2010 12:59PM
Bob, your an idiot, but if you truly feel this way, please stand on a corner in any black neighborhood and yell the word nigg** and let's see the results. Because you are correct, if you feel so passionately about something you should not be ashamed to shout it to the world. Now, to the author of this article Mr. Donaldson(and anyone else who does this)you do a great disservice to the black community(all communities) when you stereotype and say "whites" instead of just focusing on the one white woman who actually made the comment. All whites are not racist and they should not be penalized for this women's ridiculous commentary. I am a beautiful black women and I take offense to anyone regardless of color who uses this word.
Report This
By: Rnee on 8/15/2010 3:57PM
Bob I'll bet you will only say the Nword amongst your people and there's nothing we can do about that, but try saying in front of a group of "N***as I don't think you would utter the word again! You don't want to go there "Bob"
Report This
By: Greg D. on 8/15/2010 7:46PM
Please do me a favor? The next time you're in a room full of black people, please use the "N" word out loud. As a matter of fact, with the high level of bravery I'm sure you have, don't even try to put it in proper context. Just start screaming, No just say the word out loud over and over. I dare you! I double dog dare you! I triple dog dare you! Please oh please oh please!
Report This
By: Lovely Lady on 8/16/2010 3:36AM
Hi Bob you are telling the absolute truth. Freedom of speech. The problem is, its not like it was 40-50 years ago you can not say anything to us and expect us to respond "yes master". So if you do choose to say the word you BETTER be in the company of your fellow peers or close to the police cause u know if u was to go in the hood with that mess i feel sorry. Not getting hung from a tree like you all like but you know. The only reason your talking right now is because no one can see you like the kkk yall stay in hiding.
Report This
By: Marlene Franklin on 8/16/2010 8:21AM
Don't be suprised if you get your A kicked. Remember the brother who went to work and killed the racists! Those rednecks was scared as hell! The turn the other cheek Black Folks are coming to an end!
Report This
By: Marlene Franklin on 8/16/2010 8:24AM
Don't be surprised if you get your A kicked! Remember that brother who shot those rednecks at Work? Those rednecks were scared as h___! The time of the turn the other check Blacks are over!
Report This
By: Respect411 on 8/16/2010 6:57PM
you are just as foolish as her, why would you want to say something hurtful to someone? that baffles me. Thats like saying to a woman, i dont care if you like being called a b*tch, thats just what im going to call you because im exercising my freedom of speech. which is fine, but walk up to the wrong b*tch n*99@ and they will wonder what the hell they were thinking. Do you like being called a CRACKER?
Report This
By: You Didn't Know? Now You Do! on 8/13/2010 2:22PM
Judging by her photo, Dr. Laura appears to be in her early hundreds or so - I'm sure when she was growing up, somewhere in the hills of the old country, they probably used that word wrecklessly all the time.
Its the year 2010, and with a black man running the country (finally!), just know that things have changed. So, unless you hear our president using words like, cracker, honkey, whitey, pale face, etc., refrain from using the "N" word. If your skin is practically transparent, without pigmentation, know that using racial slurs to describe people of color could have you enjoying your meals through a straw indefinitely.
There's a new sheriff in town, and his name is Barack Obama. Remember that.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Alie on 8/13/2010 2:21PM
She was just keeping it real, i think the black women who rang in wanted a bit of empathy, but it's true what the doctor said she is right on point, what she should have said was something like this:
By kelesh the vine april 2008 source UK. BAN THE N WORD: It's time to put an end to the widespread acceptance and use of the this INSULTING, DEROGRATORY, DEGRADING, DEMEANING, MALICIOUS, VENOMUS AND SELF-DEFEATING WORD.For the record, a term of "endearment" it certainly is not. The use of the N-word is a passively slick form of psycholoogical, social and mental abuse. It's unfathomable, but many people have actually become immune to hearing the N-word-which is not good at all! Today I got on the bus and was horrified to hear a young white boy about 17 greet his black friend with: "wassup my 'N-word" what's going on? i remember back in the day's when this wasn't possible without someone getting a proper beat down. I was forced to get up and educate this young man, and his Black friend. No young people, it's not "OK" or "Cool" to use it! it's not ok for Blacks to use it amongst or at one another and it's not "cool" for Whites, Asians or any other racial group to use it as a slang term. Although the media, hip hop, some R&B singers, and way too many individuals, particularly our young people, might be misled into thinking it's acceptable, today I want you all to know both young and old; it is not acceptable to use the N-word. Think about this, it is acceptable to use any of the following words: White honky, Whitey, Blue-eyes devil, Paleface, Paki, Chink, Slant eye, polack, Jew Boy, Paddy (Unless a name)? you can answer that question yourself and the is answer is a responding No. Do you hear the individual groups that these words supposedly describe calling themselves these names or anyone outside of these groups calling them these names? Do you hear or read these terms being used on a regulary hourly and daily basis, especially in any prominent way such as the TV or radio, in songs, in schools, within these groups or by others outside of these groups? you just won't hear it or read it. Why then are some Black youth ignorant (that's right, ignorant) enough to call themeselves the N-word and other Black people are ignornant enough to just sit back and let it be said? why are other groups using it as a slang term and thinking it makes them socially acceptable within their peer group? How did it become possible for anyone, especially non-blacks, to be bold and not be confronted and challenged by everyone, but particularly by Black People? Could it be because many Black people let them get away with it by saying and doing nothing when it it's said? Why do "professionals" in the music business (and the focus is on the music industry right now only because of the unbelievable prominence of the N-word in hip hop music) sit there while songs are being recorded and say nothing to educate the young hip-hoppers/rappers and even some of the R'n'B artists on the history of the word and why they should not use it? There's a reason why the continued use of this word is growing at such an alarming and uneasy rate. The reason appears to be that no one says or does anything to stop it. It's just accepted as if it's not and has never been a problem. Why are people who should and do know better succumbing to a culture of silence on this issue, when they would never stand for any other culturally insulting terms to ever be used the way the N-word is used? We all need to do some serious individual soul searching and self-analysis and think about what we should do if, or when, the N-word is used in our presence. I realised when I heard it said boldy today, how the word just flowed from this young man's mouth and how many mouths use this word way to easily. The N-Word has got to go. Let's have a personal campaign to bring a negative backlash to this word and get people to stop using it and to seriously take a pause and hesitate before uttering, so effortlessly, this diseased word that at its core, developed from the enslavement of human beings all over the world. Young People, remember a term of "endearment" the N-word is not. Not in the past, not in the present and not in the future.
We have to stop using it against ourselves before the white man has any respect for us, and besides in mixed relationships you are always going to get this type of thing, you will get the stares, the dirty looks, it depends on how much you take the offence, but as this black women says it sounds as though her husbands friends and family were doing this on purpose.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Charles on 8/14/2010 9:16AM
I cringed ,I have white friends and they know how I feel about that not even as a joke dont go there and I dont use the word cracker at all.
Report This