Anonymous
Post 06/21/2013 20:37     Subject: Paul Deen Use of the the "N" word
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why are black standup comics and rap singers allowed to use the word while Paula Deen cannot? The word's not illegal. I cannot believe the Food Network caved. I'm white, from the north, have never used the word myself. But I think this is outrageous, that her contract was not renewed.


I'm having trouble understanding how anyone can ask this question with a straight and serious face, but I'll bite. As a female, I think similarly of the words slut/cunt/whore/bitch - they are a bit more acceptable for women to say and use, because those immensely hurtful words have a deep history of being tied to misogyny and patriarchy. A female using it however, can be a kind of way of reclaiming ownership of those historically hurtful words. It's mine to use - not for YOU (some misogynistic man) to use against me, but it's mine to reconfigure a new discourse. It doesn't mean that they're awesome words to use - but the context is completely and totally different.

I don't pretend to say that those words are equal in hurt to the N-word or other slurs and hate speech, but I think the idea is in a similar vein. It doesn't mean those words are awesome to use - but it's up for the demographics of who the words have been historically pointed at, to take the reigns of those same words and take it back.




To me, this is BS and rationalization. Women don't need to "own" these words. No one needs to use them, and I think the same of the "N" word, regardless of who wants to use it. For our kids to hear demeaning words thrown out indiscriminately and often in any kind of music desensitizes them to those words.


Well, it's not up to you to decide how and if people reclaim words that have been imparted onto them in very hurtful ways. It's fine that you don't - but that is your experience. When groups reclaim words, they're not necessarily demeaning anymore - that's entirely the point of this phenomenon.

That said, I absolutely agree that indiscriminate use of those words - or hell, indiscriminate *anything* in life, should be avoided.
Anonymous
Post 06/21/2013 20:30     Subject: Paul Deen Use of the the "N" word
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Why are black standup comics and rap singers allowed to use the word while Paula Deen cannot? The word's not illegal. I cannot believe the Food Network caved. I'm white, from the north, have never used the word myself. But I think this is outrageous, that her contract was not renewed.


I'm having trouble understanding how anyone can ask this question with a straight and serious face, but I'll bite. As a female, I think similarly of the words slut/cunt/whore/bitch - they are a bit more acceptable for women to say and use, because those immensely hurtful words have a deep history of being tied to misogyny and patriarchy. A female using it however, can be a kind of way of reclaiming ownership of those historically hurtful words. It's mine to use - not for YOU (some misogynistic man) to use against me, but it's mine to reconfigure a new discourse. It doesn't mean that they're awesome words to use - but the context is completely and totally different.

I don't pretend to say that those words are equal in hurt to the N-word or other slurs and hate speech, but I think the idea is in a similar vein. It doesn't mean those words are awesome to use - but it's up for the demographics of who the words have been historically pointed at, to take the reigns of those same words and take it back.




To me, this is BS and rationalization. Women don't need to "own" these words. No one needs to use them, and I think the same of the "N" word, regardless of who wants to use it. For our kids to hear demeaning words thrown out indiscriminately and often in any kind of music desensitizes them to those words.
Anonymous
Post 06/21/2013 20:09     Subject: Paul Deen Use of the the "N" word
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So..outraged white folks: What are you going to do in response to this Paula Deen scandal? Are you still going to criticize "black names" in your baby name threads? Still talk about "stores for poors"? [b]Let your kids go to schools with a 75%+ population of black students? [/b]

What say you DCUM crowd? How will you stand up and change the racist views of America? Because, IMO, calling someone a nigger and demeaning them in other prejudice/stereotypical ways are the same.


I live in PG county and I think our school is closer to 90% black.


I don't care about the race of kids at my kids' school. I care about the performance of that school. Unfortunately, low performing schools are often heavily minority populated. Don't confuse the course of concern.
Anonymous
Post 06/21/2013 20:00     Subject: Paul Deen Use of the the "N" word
Anonymous wrote:Why are black standup comics and rap singers allowed to use the word while Paula Deen cannot? The word's not illegal. I cannot believe the Food Network caved. I'm white, from the north, have never used the word myself. But I think this is outrageous, that her contract was not renewed.


I'm having trouble understanding how anyone can ask this question with a straight and serious face, but I'll bite. As a female, I think similarly of the words slut/cunt/whore/bitch - they are a bit more acceptable for women to say and use, because those immensely hurtful words have a deep history of being tied to misogyny and patriarchy. A female using it however, can be a kind of way of reclaiming ownership of those historically hurtful words. It's mine to use - not for YOU (some misogynistic man) to use against me, but it's mine to reconfigure a new discourse. It doesn't mean that they're awesome words to use - but the context is completely and totally different.

I don't pretend to say that those words are equal in hurt to the N-word or other slurs and hate speech, but I think the idea is in a similar vein. It doesn't mean those words are awesome to use - but it's up for the demographics of who the words have been historically pointed at, to take the reigns of those same words and take it back.

Anonymous
Post 06/21/2013 19:49     Subject: Paul Deen Use of the the "N" word
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Black Man here. I don't give a shit what Paula Deen or anyone else says. I'm sure that if ALL of us (black, white, etc.) were held under oath and asked if we ever made a racial/ethnic/sexist slur, we'd all have to say "yes, I have". I also don't consider anyone a racist just because they used the "N" word. I usually start by considering them ignorant. I'd have to dig a little deeper into their background before branding them with the "racist" tag.



+1. This makes the most sense in the entire damn thread.


Except that she has been accused of using the N word in the workplace, in 2007. That's not the same as someone saying it as a kid in the 50's.


Exactly. As a southerner who's near her age, I can't imagine using that word at any time. Similar to a previous poster, my sisters and I would never have been allowed to use that word growing up, and no one in our family did.
Anonymous
Post 06/21/2013 19:32     Subject: Paul Deen Use of the the "N" word
I'm sure this has gone off the rails by now, but I appreciate the opportunity to vent. The silence from the few friends who defended her when we all learned she was promoting diabetes drugs is DEAFENING. At the time it was all, "You are just slamming her because she's a successful fat, Southern, woman" no matter how articulately anyone expressed that, no, we were criticizing her for profiting from the illness that her food contributed to. Where are they now that she has been revealed for the crass self-serving racist that she is? Nowhere to be seen or heard.
Anonymous
Post 06/21/2013 19:25     Subject: Paul Deen Use of the the "N" word
Why are black standup comics and rap singers allowed to use the word while Paula Deen cannot? The word's not illegal. I cannot believe the Food Network caved. I'm white, from the north, have never used the word myself. But I think this is outrageous, that her contract was not renewed.
Anonymous
Post 06/21/2013 19:19     Subject: Paul Deen Use of the the "N" word
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:


haha, that's what I thought initially, but I was subsequently told (and not by a white person) that many black people think that white women have "flat-asses".


Sorry but that is a well know fact


I am white, and my ass is flat.



I have a little too much admixture. I'm black with a flat ass, sadly.
Anonymous
Post 06/21/2013 19:04     Subject: Re:Paul Deen Use of the the "N" word
ISS FRIDAY WE SO EXCITED YALL!!

FUN! FUN! FUN! FUN!



Anonymous
Post 06/21/2013 19:01     Subject: Paul Deen Use of the the "N" word
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:why is paula deen any worse than all those DCUM folk wirried about FARMS kids and low income housing and renters


same thing

You're absoFUCKINGlutely right.

It's just "coded."


Thats stupid , farms and race are different morons
Anonymous
Post 06/21/2013 19:00     Subject: Paul Deen Use of the the "N" word
Anonymous wrote:She should have been fired after the diabetes business.

She's such a fake, anyway. I don't feel sorry for her. What an opportunist.


Oh, the irony of opportunists on DCUM.
Anonymous
Post 06/21/2013 18:58     Subject: Re:Paul Deen Use of the the "N" word
I am very disappointed in the lack of Paula Deen pictures in this thread. Very disappointed in y'all.

Anonymous
Post 06/21/2013 18:51     Subject: Paul Deen Use of the the "N" word
She should have been fired after the diabetes business.

She's such a fake, anyway. I don't feel sorry for her. What an opportunist.
Anonymous
Post 06/21/2013 18:49     Subject: Paul Deen Use of the the "N" word
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If people knew what I said out loud in the privacy of my own home, I wouldn't have any friends. That said, Paula Deen is a fat, loud mouth pig. I don't really care about her using the N word... she just seems obnoxious as heck.

Oh... Black woman here!


OP here again (also a BW)
I understand your point PP...we all say and think some things (right and wrong) at home and in private....
HOWEVER, these are things that were said at businesses she owns...are alleged patterns of behaviour that colored her behaviour and patterns of behaviour in HER BUSINESS.
this came out of deposition taken as part of a lawsuit alleging sexual and racial discrimination...
NO one is suing her cause she said something to her neighbor or said out loud to herself when she was home alone....there is a big difference there..


The difference is $$$$ ya'll!


LOL @ Paula D.'s y'all
Anonymous
Post 06/21/2013 18:42     Subject: Paul Deen Use of the the "N" word
Sad she w fired. She is a nice lady. She was honest that at some time in her life she used the word. I am sure everyone has said something dumb in their lives. This is just too PC..I think the punishment didn't fit the crime