The public is up in arms because radio personality Dr. Laura Schlessinger used the N-word repeatedly during a dispute with an African-American caller on her Aug. 10 show. While I take issue with Schlessinger's repeated and callous use of the epithet, that's not what offended me most about her broadcast. More disturbing, in my opinion, are the statements Schlessinger made about race relations and what constitutes racism during her discussion with the caller.
The ugly episode began when "Jade," who's married to a white man, called in to say her feelings get hurt when her spouse doesn't stand up to friends and relatives who make racial generalizations and use the N-word. Rather than empathize with the caller, Dr. Laura--as Schlessinger is commonly known--insisted that Jade was hypersensitive and pointed to black comics who often use the N-word. Referring to such comics, Dr. Laura herself uttered the N-word in its entirety multiple times.
The problem here is not only that a conservative white radio host repeated the slur but also that Jade called Dr. Laura for help. But did Dr. Laura offer her any? No. When Schlessinger asked Jade to provide her with examples of racism directed at her by her husband's family and friends, the radio host shot her down. For instance, Jade mentioned a neighbor who behaves like this:
"Every time he comes over, it's always a black comment, it's all, 'how do you black people like doing this,' and 'do black people really like doing that,''' Jade explained.
Schlessinger immediately dismissed Jade's concerns about this neighbor, arguing that his behavior didn't constitute racism. At the very least, the man's behavior has been racially insensitive. This neighbor has repeatedly demonstrated an inability to deal with the caller as just "Jade." Rather than regard her as an individual, the neighbor sees her as a "black." Who would enjoy interacting with someone--at home, no less--who can't see past skin color? I certainly wouldn't, nor would I enjoy having a white person asking me if it's true that all blacks like ribs or basketball or something equally stereotypical. Why is this racist? Because the person who asks such questions seems to believe that blacks are a simple subspecies of one mind.
Rather than consider why Jade's neighbor is a nuisance, Dr. Laura told Jade to lighten up and to answer his sorts of questions in the future. "When somebody says, 'what do blacks think,' say, 'this is what I think, this is what I read that, if you take a poll, the majority of blacks think this.'"
Jade, however, didn't call Dr. Laura to debate racism but for advice on how to deal with her husband's silence in its face. So, the goal should've been to help Jade communicate to him that she considers his passivity insensitive. Instead, Dr. Laura ranted that "hypersensitivity... is being bred by black activists" and that she finds it hilarious that, with a black president, "we have more complaining about racism than ever." In between these comments, of course, she made a point to utter the N-word again and again.
Contrary to Schlessinger's views, African Americans don't take our cues on dealing with race from Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. We do have minds of our own. And if there's more complaining about race today, perhaps it's because the election of a black president revealed that the nation still has great strides to make in race relations. Anti-immigrant sentiment is up, much of the public views Muslims suspiciously, and minorities continue to face barriers in employment, education and health care. Barack Obama's presidency didn't magically erase racial inequality.
Dr. Laura has since apologized for using the N-word but not for the myopic views she shared during the heated exchange with the caller. She has, however, expressed regrets for not helping Jade and has invited her to call back. I wouldn't hold my breath until she does. Consider Schlessinger's last bit of advice for Jade:
"If you're that hypersensitive about color and don't have a sense of humor, don't marry out of your race."
Would you want more tips from this woman?
Comments
I wonder what Dr. L’s reaction would be about anti-Semitic statements being made by non-Jews. Would she be offended by the use of words such as kike, or an acquaintance asking “How’s it going in Jew-land today?”
Dr. L’s highly insensitive remarks, while deeply offensive, are nevertheless additional evidence of her often controversial opinions, not well thoughout advice from a trained counselor or therapist.
this woman is worse than Don Imus: she should have her counselor’s license shredded and her career as a radio host torched just like Imus. she makes Imus’s comments seem like nothing, insensitive moron
Dr. Laura and her sponsors should be boycotted as far as I am concerned. Unless she had a nervous breakdown, or was heavily drugged, there is no excuse for her tirade against African Americans. We, African Americans, feel the same way Jewish people felt when Mel Gibson made his statement against Jewish People. The same outrage the Jewish Community felt, is now being felt by African Americans by this persons remark. Yes it was racist because it painted all African Americans with one brush and implied that everyone of us voted for Obama (Not), and voted for him because he was African American. She sounded like someone who was drunk or high on drugs throughout her ranting to this caller. I hope that she has some other reason besides the ones she has been giving.
I do not listen to her anyway, as she is rude and insulting to the people who call in. She is a Shock Jock, and will do and say anything for ratings. It is time for African Americans to stand up and Boycott her show and her sponsors.
There is never a case where a human should treat another without compassion. I am sad when people do not treat all people with respect. I have always why anyone would call her since she usually treats everyone in a self righteous manner.
I am grateful that be have our Obama and am thankful that for my family racism has never been a part of our heart. God made us all and all are his children!!!!
I am so taken aback by her comments and attitude. Dr. Laura is extremely insensitive and down right ignorant.
First off – I do not agree with her using the “N” word on live broadcast. Its a beaten word that needs to go to the grave and be over with already in all honesty, however, she does make a good point with one of her statements : “If you’re that hypersensitive about color and don’t have a sense of humor, don’t marry out of your race”. As Nadra wrote we still have great strides in race relations across the nation, so insensitivity and generalizations should be expected in bi-racial relationships. I don’t agree with it – nor support it, however, thats just the way America is today. I think Dr. Laura was just trying to say was that you should expect scrutiny from small-minded idiots if you engage in a bi-racial relationship in modern day U.S. of A. In the case of “Jade” : She should have expected her ‘husband’ to disengage the neighbor from offensive remarks like the man he should be for her. If I had an African-American wife I would respect her heritage and would not allow generalizations to take place in the first place if carried out by a neighbor. And that all I got to say about that….
News flash. “Dr.” Laura is not a trained counselor or therapist, she’s an entertainer. Her Doctorate degree is in Botany.
Dr. Laura recognized the real issues with Jade’s husband but Dr. laura went for the ratings.
Who is this “Dr.” Laura anyways? Never heard of her, and from what I’m reading I haven’t been missing much.
I am so surprised at peoples lack of sensitivity as we move through the 21st century. I am a white male married to a white woman. If someone used the n word in my house they would not be welcomed there. In addition I would not allow other similar comments about other races, religions, etc. I do not understand why others do not let love and compassion cover their actions. Obviously if you are hurting other human beings it is not right. As a white American I may not understand some of the problems with the n word but I would be a fool not to understand there are problems with that word; in fact I have taken it out of my vocabulary. Maybe Dr. Laura is still representing a world where hate is OK. Maybe Dr. Laura shows that in a class of people that acts like advanced human beings, for the most part, there still are problems with racism and racism is another form of hate. My message is if someone is pushing the hate agenda, no matter from which side, they are not the people who should be leading or speaking for our society. Maybe Dr. Laura is just another hate monger.
I love it, blacks call a white guy 52 yr. old, white boy.
A black finds calling him a boy offensive, along with that n word, and depending on his day anyf,,king thing.
Dr. L did and said the right thing with her caller. A word is not set aside for just one race to use or say. As long as a word exists, it will be used, get over it dweebs.
Dr. Laura should not be taken seriously by anyone. She is purely an entertainer who makes a living by ridiculing, berating and being outrageous with her sheep-like herd of listeners. There are so many contradictions to her that I am astonished that anyone would seek advice from her. Have any of her followers read her bio on Wikipedia .. adultery, pornography? Of course she would never address her own past behavior on her show! She is usually totally unapologetic for any irresponsible, false, hate mongering comments which she has made. This incident once again shows this woman’s true colors, a bigoted, homophobe who has no regard for others. I am very surprised that she made an apology at all, I assume that the station demanded that she do it and I don’t buy it. She is driven by her own ego, career and ratings, nothing more. My “Dr. Laura” pet peeve is when she applauds parents who admit that their little kids listen to the show! The show is filled with so many inappropriate themes for children and she has never questioned these parents! “What, your 5 year old is listening to me talk about sex and abusive relationships, good god, are you insane, my show is not a kids’ show” is the response which I expected to hear, but never have! Hopefully this incident will spark some of her listeners to think about the type of person she really is.
I don’t totally agree with the Dr. But as a black man I do realize I blame the caller. What makes a person think they can marry another race and everything is just going to fall into place. We are a vein society that loves to exploit any stray from the norm. If you don’t want to deal with racial challenges at home, then stay with your own. Having ablack president should make us all realize that any peson of any race can hold any position in the world, but anyone who wants to get inter-racial should be ready to get treated like lepers because we are still a very devided country. Bottom line if you don’t want to deal with racial challenges marry someone who looks like you otherwise you open yourself up to all the critics. So get used to it and ask yourself if going mainstream is worth the cost.
Charlie W. You are my kind of guy. That word is not acceptable in my African American home
Ms Laura’s comments are offensive. I’m happy she has finally exhibited her own truth. She has compared herself to rappers…seriously? She doesn’t even hold the passion that is associated with rap, nor does she hold the compassion to objectively give medical advise. As a black medical professional I’m diagnosing her as mentally unstable!!
Boycott? is that the only answer from you folks? Don Imus? Every single “rap Artist” in the country uses that stupid word. This hyper-sensitive crap needs to end. If you don’t like something, don’t listen to it. If you would spend half the energy it takes to “boycott” and focus on creating jobs or increasing education I bet we would be in much better shape. Stop looking to Blame someone, turn the radio dial and move on. Black Radio stations constantly blow racist remarks about whites, I simply don’t listen to them. After all, FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
Dr. Laura’s mother was Italian Catholic and her father was Jewish.
Freedom of Speech applies to everyone in this country, not just blacks. Stop being hypersensitive! Why is it okay for Blacks to make a song saying, “Play that funky music white boy” and it’s not okay for whites to even think about uttering any word that even remotely suggests race? WHO is the most oppressed race now? Stop with the double standard already and stop blaming other races for your own race’s problems. Dr. Laura is not a racist in my opinion and I think she is right: If you are too sensitive about your race, do not marry outside of it..no matter what color you are.
I for one agree with “voice of reason”. We have such a double standard when it comes to race. It is perfectly acceptable to the media, and to the liberal side of the nation as a whole, for a black to refer to a white as a cracker (remember the New Black Panther Party leader who wants to kill crackers and crackers babies), but God Forbid that the “N” word be used, if only as a reference! Is it truly any different to say “N” word vice the “real word” when referring to what should or should not be said. I doubt Dr Laura was using the word in a derogatory manner, only as references to what is said ( black rap, black comedians etc) or should not be said (any race other than black) in todays real world. We truly are a hypersensitive society and we all need to ignore the race baiters and move forward as quickly as possible in hopes of one day being a truly colorless nation. Do innocent children really care about color? Not until the outside forces weigh in. Colorblind is possible but not likely anytime soon.
Why should someone be denied the right to marry who they love because someone else have a problem with it? Forget having a black president, if black people hadn’t fought, boycotted, protested and died for equal rights we would still be sitting at the back of the bus. Blacks would not have access to good schools. We would be restricted from living in the neighborhood of our choice. Racists, subhuman hillbillies would still be allowed to go out and hang a black man or rape a black woman with impunity whenever they felt the urge.
What Jade should do is what any woman should do who finds herself in a relationship with a man who doesn’t have the balls to defend her honor… leave!!!
BOYCOTT HER RADIO SPONSERS, HIT HER WHERE IT WILL CAUSE HER SOME DISCOMFORT. AS EDDIE MURPHY SAID IN THE MOVIE “TRADING PLACES”. SOME PEOPLE HAS TO BE HIT WHERE IT HURTS AND THATS THEIR POCKETBOOKS. THANKS FOR LETTING ME SHARE
2 cents, that song Play That Funky Music White Boy is by Wild Cherry, a group of white guys. Try to make another analogy. One that works next time please. Secondly, there is no colorblindness. Children see color and difference. What do you all suggest that we ignore it so that we have stupid people ignoring the fact that bigotry exists. The best way to destroy racism is to face it head on and to say it exists and then combat it. The N word isn’t the problem with her rant, it is the other things that she says. A woman who has a husband that doesn’t stand up for her when people make bigoted comments about who she is isn’t a man. She should have stood up for herself first of all. To denigrate another person for who they are due to an accident of birth, it pretty pathetic. The people may have just been plain ignorant fools and now you have Doctor Laura validating them.
FINALLY someone called out the blacks of this country about their inequality about the “n” word. Dr. Laura is absolutely correct when she talks about the negro comedians who use that word constantly. If it’s the word that offends, then it should offend no matter whose mouth it comes out of. The fact that blacks are NOT offended when other blacks say It just points out the blacks’ racism against whites. To blacks it’s only racism if it’s whites against blacks. BUT RACISM IS RACISM and it’s time blacks admitted that about themselves.
If they truly want respect, then they need to start showing it amongst themselves. How can you respect any people who don’t respect themselves?
I have read a few of the comments. What exactly did Dr. Laura say that was wrong aside from using the N word too many times? She gave some very practical tools for life in general. I grew up overseas a white man in a black culture. I was fat. I was unathletic. I was teased, made fun of on both sides of the ocean. In the black culture I stood out, in the white culture (in the late ‘60) an oddity to live with blacks. If you want to live with people you need to meet them and address them with your own dignity and not demand they give you the dignity you think you deserve. People will change and embrace you or they will move on. Her advice was very good for someone who has chosen to enter a different world.
first of all it is not surprising that these comments were made from a conservative Italian-Jewish woman not a therapist or doctor. unfortuantely, when some people are oppressed historically when given the opportunity they in turn oppress and ridicule others. More importantly she speaks for a large segment of white americans whether we like it or not. sterotypes and negative labelling is and always will be the norm of the day for certain people whom should be termed as ignorant. Also these attitudes affect housing, employment, status and class that is the real culprit of racist ideas. This is why it is really not surprising that these comments are made and will continue to be made by the ignorant, at the same time it should continue to let us know what time it really is, so that we can keep it moving….
I am a very conservative 55 year old male.
Every time I hear the N word or any word which is used negatively to describe anybody, I correct it.
The J word, the P (just try using the “P” word to my face!)word, any demeaning insult like that.
My way to deal with any offensive language use like this is:
I tug on my ear and ask the person “What’s this?”.
Most people answer “That’s your ear”.
I respond “It’s not a garbage can, don’t fill it with your trash”.
They get the message.
That’s how you deal with it.
My polish grandmother with her limited education taught me that!
The problem with Dr. Laura said was that last comment: “If you’re that hypersensitive about color and don’t have a sense of humor, don’t marry out of your race.” Hypersensitive? Seriously, put yourself in this woman’s shoes. Her husband’s friends make racist comments to her. That doesn’t make her hypersensitive to race. It makes her upset as it should anyone who is only considered by their race and not their character. I get where Dr. Laura was “trying” to go with repeating the n word, but that is not a reasonable comeback. Basically, other blacks say it, why can’t I? That comeback will never work because it’s simply wrong. Other German’s are gasing the Jews, why can’t I? Come on now. I’m am a black woman and I don’t allow my children to say that word in my home because it’s wrong. Along with other ignorant, demeaning racial terms. You say, ‘well because this person said it to another person, it’s okay for me to say it to you?’ Really? I mean really?
And “K Parker”, you seem to be under the belief that all black people are of one mind and one place. “How can you respect any people who don’t respect themselves?” I find it funny how easy it is for you to lump all of us into one group. You are the type of person that keeps racism going. You see only the color of our skins and nothing else. I assure, I respect myself. It’s amazing to me that you would think that I don’t without having ever met me. Wow.
I can not believe that there is not MORE outrage over this womens coments. I realize that we can not change BIGOTS like this, but we should never be a nation that allows this sort of “slip of the tounge” from anyone! Just as Imus was terminated, so should this women. Lets be honest here, her apology was nothing more to her attempt to save herself from getting fired. A typical conservative move… spew your hate, and then apologize and hope for no consequences. Her repeated use of the “n” word exposed her for the “classless, trash she is. Her deep seated bigotry however came though lound and clear in her comments of “hypersensitive, blacks voted for Obama only for the fact he is black, and best of all, don’t marry outside your race”. This women should pay the price for HER SPOKEN BIGOTRY just as Imus did. Then ler her apologize!
You know we’ve sunk to a new low when people get rewarded for their racist, cruel, and mean-spirited remarks with billion-dollar paychecks, high ratings, thousands of fans, and their own radio/TV shows. If this is what it has come to, then we a civilization are basically finished.
I would suggest that she and her husband begin a series of conversations about his need to appreciate her hurts and her gifts
then that he learns how to speak in an assertive way to folks who make such comments in his presence…
finally that he begin a series of conversations with members of his own family so that they will come to understand what he and his wife will not tolerate when they visit with the family…
all of this her husband needs to do so that he can continue to develop as a man of integrity
That’s great advice, Joseph! Too bad Dr. Laura wasn’t anywhere near as helpful.
The so-called “Dr.” Laura has shown herself clearly to be a narrow-minded, judgmental shrew. The caller showed poor judgment in call her and asking her for advice. She might as well have called Mel Gibson.
Nadra, whites feel more empowered to use this word today more than ever simply because we’ve become totally impotent in dealing with not only her but corporate america as well. Honda, Bristol Myers, Arby’s and legions of other companies today make a mockery of blacks in their commercials. The real tragedy is that we don’t even see it. Honda has this commercial where everyones’ dancing and they show this one black guy with these large lips; it seems that I’m the only one who’s noticed. Everyone knows that these corporations when making commercials seek the most attractive people they can find; look closely at the commercials where there are blacks in them especially the one by Honda. Apologies have become the joke of the day and are nothing more than statements for laughter. They are meaningless. One thing for sure though Dr Laura definitely aligned herself with the masses of whites who are dyed in the wool racists. I wonder what her statement would have been if the conversation was on “crackers”. I’m sure her complexion would have changed to a cherry red.
I’ve been reading all these comments that people have left and there are a couple key factors that many people have left out. First of all, black people are individuals just like everyone else including “Dr.” L. Many people are discussing whether or not “black people” are hypersensitive. Not all black people are hypersensitive, and not all white people are as ignorant, or arrogant, as “Dr.” L. Second, someone earlier in this chain of heated comments mentioned something about the fact that if black people didn’t fight for what they have, they would still be “sitting in the back of the bus.” Regardless of whether this is correct or not, I like to think that there will always be individuals that are willing to do what’s right, regardless if society agrees or not. The bottom line is racism in any form is wrong. we’re all God’s children despite the color of our skin. No matter where you are, who you are or what you’re doing, there are arrogant people everywhere. The one thing that we can all do regardless of our situation is choose our attitudes. Arguing about racism does nothing except heat up the situation, create hostility and slow any progress we have made as a nation as far as racial discrimination is concerned. Can I get an Amen?
Who cares. Wow someone was called a really bad name. Get over it.
Thank you for a brilliant, well thought out piece on the fuel of America’s biggest problem – ignorance.
To Nedra Kareem,
To quote you, “The problem here is not only that a conservative white radio host repeated the slur but also that Jade called Dr. Laura for help.” You further stated,
“Rather than regard her as an individual, the neighbor sees her as a “black.”
Well, I agree with you on one point — There is more than one problem here. Specifically, another problem here is not only that you are a black “Race Relations Guide” who has authored such a narrow-minded & biased article, but you have chosen to further the divide between whites and blacks by playing the race card as did Jade.
Also, as proven by your own statement, rather than regard Dr. Laura as an individual, you see her as a “white.” What a shame you are such a racist and a hypocrit!!!
Sandra,
How would you feel if you where sexually harassed at work and some guy like me said to get over it and stop being hypersensitive while calling you a b**ch a few times and using the fact that I heard some women use the word as an excuse that it is OK for me to say? It is sad how you can miss the point. Thank you Nadra for the Blog.
On vacation in Memphis a few years ago, I spent an entire day reading every display in the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial museum, and I was touched by the human stories, and appalled by the failure of compassion and understanding, mostly from white people toward black people.
My heritage is Norwegian/Swedish, and I’m fair skinned. I’m white. So, when I was kneeling to read one of the displays, I found myself feeling ashamed and embarrassed when an African American school teacher walked through, stopped a few feet away from me, and proceeded to say this to her class of grade school children. She said, “Do you know what white people used to call us? They called us colored. What is colored? White people have color too, it’s white. We are not colored, we are black!”.
Why was I embarrassed? Because I remembered being about the same age as those school children, and listening to my mother carefully teaching me to respect all people, and to refer to African American people as “colored”, because she told me that was what they wanted to be called. That was before the term “black” became used much, at least as far as I knew. Back then, newscasters referred to “Negro” people routinely. I did not know that the term “colored” was offensive. Mom taught me that was the right word.
I wish it was as easy to mention race as it is to mention height or eye color. But, even with a caring heart and a desire for friendship, sometimes poorly chosen words can offend. And sometimes, words used with the best of intentions can be ignorant, and cause pain, like my past use of the word “colored”. The school teacher’s words made me realize that. And I felt guilty for not knowing that the word “colored” was unkind.
I told this to a black co-worker in our prayer group, and she said she was not offended because she knew me. And she did clarify that “black” or “African American” were appropriate. She said that she knew some of her friends would be offended by my story.
In a different situation than Jade’s, where someone of a different race is trying to ask an honest question, I hope it would be given fair consideration. I hope someone would not be quick to judge an honest question as racist. After I told the story about that school teacher, if my friend had condemned me when I asked her what descriptive word she wanted me to use, I would have felt even worse.
When I think of my story in light of Jade’s call, I think that because of the n-word, and because the questions were repeated and stereotypical, Jade was correctly assessing the comments as racist. I don’t think Jade was “hypersensitive”. I was shocked by Dr Laura’s tirade.
But consider a different scenario. What if it was an honest question that Jade’s husband’s friend asked, not a veiled racist comment disguised as a question. It’s not helpful to assume the worst is intended when people of different races talk about race. And I think that kind of assumption can add to the difficulty of having all of us get along, no matter what our race is. So, I ask for understanding and a willingness to forgive. Would a black person forgive me for describing a black person as “colored” in the past, before I had told my story? I hope that kind of trust could be extended, even when the details of the story may be unknown. Wouldn’t it help if we all approached each other that way, with a willingness to understand and not quickly judge?
I agree Dr. Laura was in the wrong , but how come it never comes up that the caller said the n word 5 times.
I am sorry for Jade that she had to deal with this idiot Dr. Laura, however, she did a great service by calling since she revealed Dr. Laura for who she is – an insensitive bigot.
Your comments about Dr. Laura were spot on. Dr. Laura didn’t help Jade address the issue of Jade’s husbands insensitivity, but instead interjected her own racism.
I think that Dr. Laura did show where she stands during her conversation with Jade. Well over a year ago, I used to listen to her radio show because I wanted to her of a professional woman’s perspective on some issues, but what I slowly found was that she was quick to condemn anyone who didn’t share her views, and was mostly kind or cordial to those who initiated the conversation by praising her. Is there still racism? Yes! But the difference is that now it is hidden and it take situations like this one for us to be reminded of it. I don’t like to use the “N-word” and don’t allow myself to be around those who do use it, just like I don’t like to use any racial name for any other race. Dr. Laura was wrong on many levels, but what was even more shocking to me was seeing on FOX News that Sara Paulin would actually back her up…to think that Mrs. Paulin was a public leader and could have possibly served as the Vice President or even President of the U.S.A.
Again, to me it just makes it very clear where we are in terms or racism in our great country, and it makes me be ashamed!!!
It is never appropriate to say needless unkind words to another individual, but come on people, we have been brainwashed in America to believe that racism is the unforgivable sin; Worse than murder, rape, infidelity, lying, you name it! And those who take such self righteous pride in “not being racist” seem to be the first to slander others as bigots, homophobes, ignorant, etc.
Typical elitism!
You know Dale, you actually make a good point. Just because a person is a racist doesn’t make them a terrible person. Well, at least from a certain perspective. I think what we need to do is to make room for people to be racist, just not violent. I don’t mind knowing where I can’t go or live. I don’t mind being told that some communities don’t like my “kind”. Just as long as I can live in a community that does not like racists. I also think it is important that other groups besides “Whites” have the right to retain their own cultural heritages. Even if that means they must be exclusive. I can understand that kind of logic though I may not agree with it.
I just think it is foolish to force people to be tolerant. If they can’t get to a point where they can at least tolerate different perspectives, views, culturees, etc, then they should be allowed to have their exclusive communities. Because if you can’t even meet the minimum requirements for interacting with other groups, you shouldn’t have to. Diversity is something a person should want to strive for. If you don’t want it, you cannot learn to appreciate it.
Jesus people! Stop, FFS. Racism will never go away when you people keep moving it to front burner on a daily basis.
Isn’t allowing the use of the N-word, or any word, based on the race of the utterer racism? Because, doing anything based on race is racism. It doesn’t need to be hatred or discrimination. Rappers and comics, and their audiences, using, allowing, and accepting the N-word are racists themselves when they decide to not take offence based solely on the racial ethnicity of the person who says it.
I don’t condone the use of racial slurs. But I do feel that all races have become hyper sensitive.
Look, when Jade’s neighbor had come over asking how “you black people” do things. She had an opportunity that people of all races should take; she had an opportunity to show someone who was ignorant yet curious that she is a person with a different cultural back ground but a person none the less. Instead Jade reacted like we are a fully integrated society; as long as there are things called “Black, Mexican, Jewish, Arabic, White neighbor hoods” there are going to be questions.
Let’s face it people, were just not there yet and we can’t assume that people of all races are going to be able to look at someone of a different cultural background and not be curious. The only way we are going to get there is by sharing and educating each other, not rooting out racism like we are on some mid-evil witch hunt.
IT is amazing to see people still in the 21st century talking this way and i do know it is more ignorant caucasoids/caucasians doing this! We cannot EVER reason with such Elitist, Racist, and dishonest people! We Afro/african Americans, Blacks, Asians, ect..have nothing to apologize for as we only react to our enemies and oppressors! Only through Strength and a good Thrashing will those like Dr.Laura and the America’s Caucasians will ever respect anyone…i am just surprised that that the racial war has never started and that is the only way to “knock” some true sense into these Euro-Americans!