Warning: The following post features words you will find offensive; don't say I didn't warn you.
I don't watch Inside Edition, but for once in a very long time, I watched the beginning of yesterday's episode where the opening story was on the supposedly racist rant from radio host Dr. Laura Schlessinger, in which she used the word nigger several times.
The gist of the story is that earlier this week, a black female caller complained about the word nigger being used by her white husband's friends. Dr. Laura's response was to note that black people use the same word and it's not regarded as derogatory, unlike when white people use it. The conversation became heated, and the following day, Dr. Laura apologized for using the word nigger.
This, of course, has not stopped pundits, bloggers, and the ever ridiculous Al Sharpton from condemning her as a racist and her actions as despicable (do a Google search of "dr laura n word" and limit the search to just blogs and you'll see what I mean). What do I think about it? Very simple; what Dr. Laura did was wrong, and I don't mean using the word nigger. I mean apologizing for using the word nigger.
Dr. Laura simply brought up the fact that the word nigger is never seen as derogatory when used by blacks, whereas with whites, to be called anything from hateful to a racist is considered a given as a result; in other words, a race-based double standard. How was what she said racist? How was it hateful or derogatory? Are there truly some words which are wrong to say regardless of context, or is this another case of people bending over backwards to be inoffensive at the expense of others?
Whether using the word nigger is wrong and should be shunned by everybody doesn't apply here; the point being made had to do with context, something the caller in question must not have understood. Dr. Laura clearly didn't handle the matter smoothly, but she was wrong to apologize for using the word nigger when there was no cause for apology in her case. The caller may have been hypersensitive, but that's something we'll never know for sure.
And yes, I did use the word nigger in this blog post a total of nine times. In case you haven't noticed, I used the word in a demonstrative, not derogatory, manner. Was I wrong to use it? Not in this case, and yes, I am white, so does that make it wrong? Not in this case.
2 comments:
Oh shoot Morgan! You know you cannot think anything negative about anybody anymore and be anything but a racist.
I got accused of it last week- there were two women, dressed in identical scrubs & I was referring to one of them. When the girl I was talking to asked which one I was talking about, I said, "The black one". I thought her mouth was going to hit the floor, because I'd said BLACK.
Folks are so busy looking for something to be racially offended by, it's not even funny. Several years ago, there was nearly a riot at the place my mom worked because she said, "Don't get your KNICKERS in a knot". Several of her ignorant coworkers were convinced she'd said, "Don't get your niggers in a knot.". ??? >.<
And I'm sorry, what's good for one is good for all. Until the "people of color" quit using the word to describe/address each other, I refuse to be offended by it- here or anywhere else.
And as to Dr. Laura's apology- she didn't have anything to apologize for in my opinion.
But then, I am just a Cracker.
Well said. My biggest problem about the whole thing is the fact some people will condemn anyone for simply using the word. Doesn't matter if it's used in a demonstrative manner, like Dr. Laura did, or if it's said without any malice or prejudice (think Blazing Saddles), just saying the word is considered a big no-no.
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