Paula Deen and Modern Day Racism

There's been a lot of buzz surrounding the topic of Paula Deen using the n-word, and whether or not she deserves all the flack she is getting for it.

For those of you who aren't aware, here is my overall understanding of what happened: About 30 years ago, Paula Deen was held at gunpoint while being robbed by a man who happened to be African-American. She called him a "nigger," and the incident was then forgotten. For whatever reason, I'm not certain as to why, it was brought up again, and when Paula Deen admitted to using such a slur under oath, the public was outraged. (If any of this is wrong, please mention that in a post.)

Since this has happened, she has been dropped by big companies, such as the Food Network, QVC, Target, Home Depot, Novo Nordisk, and the list goes on.

Now for my opinion: I'm honestly not sure what to think. The media has been painting Paula Deen as a racist, constantly and frequently omitting the fact that when she used this word, she was being held at gunpoint by a man whom the word might hurt. Of course, I don't think this is any excuse, and I'm sure that she could have found another word to use, or steer away from antagonizing the potentially violent man completely. However, she didn't, it was said, and she apologized.

That said, her first few trial apologies were not very convincing at all. Again, he trial apologies. The first one she issued was a whopping 45 seconds long, with three obvious edits. What could she have possibly said within those three moments that her PR coordinators felt wouldn't be very beneficial to air? It's a question to think about. The second one was a tad more apologetic, though her body language is not tremendously in favor of the idea of apologizing. I couldn't help but find it interesting that her admissions all of a sudden became much more sincere after she realized just how rapidly her food empire was falling. What I also found interesting was that, on the Today show, she managed to remain choked up for about three to four minutes, without her eyes getting watery, or even a single tear slipping out.

This is a very touchy subject, and if you are not familiar with the Society Forum's rules, I strongly suggest you read them here. When using the n-word, you may use whatever form you are comfortable with--"nigger," "n*gger," "n-word"--just as long as it is appropriate and considerate. Please educate yourself on the topic before you post, and do not post anything you are unsure of without a disclaimer. Ignorance is contagious, and it is what we are trying to eradicate here.

The problem isn't that she used the n word in itself, the problem is that she used it while harassing a waiter who was part of the all-black staff she hired for a slavery themed wedding - a waiter who then sued her for employment discrimination. All the talk about how she was held at gunpoint during a robbery is irrelevant nonsense and lies.

@kafka

I don't think that's true. I think what happened is she did say it a gunpoint 30 years ago, but then recently, a black employee who works for a restaurant run by her brother sued for racial discrimination. In the court case, she had to talk about the slur she used all those years ago.

I think you are right about it not necessarily being about the N-word itself. There have been racial complaints against her in the past, and the slavery themed wedding was one of them. However, it was never actually launched, it was an idea of hers. Still, it was a ludicrously offensive one, and for her to think she wouldn't get flack for that was just ridiculous.

@ ur_best_nightmare
The person suing Paula Deen is not a black employee (she's white), and in court Deen admitted to saying nigger after the robbery in completely unrelated circumstances. The racial discrimination lawsuit would stand on its own without saying "nigger" based on the things she's being accused of (not allowing black FOH workers, not allowing black workers to use the same door, etc.)

I have a feeling the entire case will be thrown out because the discrimination doesn't affect the plaintiff firsthand, but who knows. Someone else could always file suit if that happens.

I think it's kinda stupid for all the hate she's getting! I mean, she said it 30 years ago, why didn't they say something about it then? Also, on an unrelated topic, if a black person used the n word, they wouldn't get criticized for it. Infact, I hear them say it all the time. So, why should they get to say it, but a white person can't?

@ panhead4life93
A white person can't say it because it doesn't affect them. Black people can use it because for years it was used to oppress and discriminate them and now they are reclaiming the word for themselves. The same way that I don't like straight people using the word 'faggot' or 'dyke' because unless you're queer then you don't understand what it's like to be discriminated against for your sexuality in the same way. If you're with a black person and he/she says it's fine for you to say it then it's fine around them but not all people should feel the same so you have to respect that it's not a word for white people to reclaim.

@panhead4life93

Black people have reclaimed, the use of the n-word, turning it into a term of endearment. One thing I might relate it to now is how women have reclaimed the term bitch. The same way a girl might say, "Oh, she's my bitch," a black person might say, "Oh, he's my nigga." The only reason they did this was because it was a word that used to have so much control over them. Because this is a writing website, I can honestly relate it to Harry Potter as well. Everyone flinches when they hear the name "Voldemort" said aloud, but J.K Rowling sets Harry apart by letting him use the full name, unlike most wizards of his time.

Sure, at first it was only because he was ignorant of its weight, but even after he learned that people didn't say it out of fear, he decided he would not let that fear control him, and he would not give Voldemort the satisfaction of letting that fear control him. This is the same way that black people refused to give racist whites that power over them. We also have to remember the context in which "nigger" was, and sometimes is, still used.

"Nigger" was a word whites shouted at the black teenagers when they sat at all-white lunch counters demanding equal treatment before beating the non-violent protesters. "Nigger" is the word they shouted at their slaves to get them to work faster. "Nigger" is the word they hollered when lynching 15 year old Emmett Till, and so many others like him, and they shouted it gleefully, because hanging a black person was literally a hobby back then. People would hang a black man in a park and do things like cut out his genitals and stuff them in his mouth, before all sitting around and having a happy picnic.

This was all because of the color of their skin.

So you can see why, when Paula Deen used the word in this context--in a way where she, as a white woman of class and power, was deliberately trying to spit out the word so as to hurt a black individual--our nation wasn't very happy with her. We also have to remember that it is not just about this use of the word "nigger" that has landed her in hot water, but the repeated claims of racism against her. This was really just the event that caught nation's attention.

@ ur_best_nightmare
I still think if they were going to get upset over it, shouldn't they have done it then instead of waiting 30 years later?

@panhead4life

I don't think they knew about it then. The reason it came up is because the restaurant her brother runs was recently sued for racial discrimination. Deen was put on trial about her beliefs when it comes to racism, and I think she was asked if she had ever used the n-word. Because she was under oath, she told the court about the incident 30 years ago. One thing I do have to admire is that no one would be the wiser if she hadn't said anything, but she did, despite knowing this.

@ ur_best_nightmare
True. But why would someone get upset over another person's beliefs?

@ panhead4life93
When you say beliefs do you mean the racism that she displayed? (this is a question for clarification so I can answer).

@ cadaveres literarios
In a way. I mean, everyone isn't going to like everyone.

@ panhead4life93
But one thing is not liking a person for their personality or behavior and another whole different thing is not liking them for their race and in the process upholding beliefs that reinforce the systemic oppression that minorities face on the day to day.

panhead4life93:

@ ur_best_nightmare
True. But why would someone get upset over another person's beliefs?

Because racist beliefs resulted in disgusting abuse of African Americans for centuries and still disenfranchise black people? Maybe if you were the one being discriminated against, you'd be upset.

Being racist isn't the same as disliking Britney Spears fans or people who talk to their cats... being racist hurts people, and you excusing racism is just as harmful.

You also seem to be under the impression that Paual Deen is in trouble because she said nigger 30 years ago.. she's being sued for racial discrimination in the work place. Saying "nigger" isn't a crime and isn't even what's important in this case. The fact that people care more about the word nigger than the thought of black employees being treated unfairly, kept out of sight and paid less is the saddest part of this whole situation.

@ Kurtni
At the same time, that is what people are talking about in the media so it seems like that is why (and could be why) companies are letting her go.

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I read a really interesting article a few days ago (that I can't find now) about society and what sort of transgressions we are willing to forgive and which we aren't and how the already exist reputation of the celebrity affects that. Paula Deen had a squeaky clean image which is why this is such a hard fall. Alex Baldwin went on a slightly homophobic rant last weekend but that's normal for him, so he gets a pass by saying 'sorry'.

@ druscilla the misfit

Baldwin doesn't get a "pass" because it's normal for him to do bad things - he doesn't get dropped by his sponsors / employers because using a homophobic slur while ranting at a straight journalist from the Daily Mail - who are known for their extremely homophobic and transphobic views - is not on par with Deen's disturbing racism.

@ kafka.
I could point out several examples besides Alec Baldwin, that was just the one used in the article, which also discussed several other celebrities. Some celebrities pay for their sins with their career and others make money from them. Not everyone is judge the same, not even for the same transgressions. I just felt like it was worth making a sidenote on.

@ Bruinsgirl890
But she is also a fifty year old woman who lives in THIS day and age and knows that is NOT acceptable. She hasn't been living under a rock since she was ten.

I grew up around homophobia and used to be homophobic. It's no excuse, just a possible reason.

Yea I guess you are right but that was the point of me saying that she should be expecting this