"Talk show host Laura Schlessinger won't stay away from radio very long -- only a weekend, in fact.
Sirius XM Radio said Monday it has a multiyear deal with Schlessinger to bring her "Dr. Laura" advice program to satellite radio in January. Specific terms were not revealed.
Schlessinger had said in August she was quitting her syndicated radio program, a week after she apologized for using the N-word on the air 11 times while talking to a black woman, and activists demanded her ouster.
She ends her traditional radio program on Friday, Dec. 31. The following Monday, she starts at Sirius."
For the full context, here is a link to Dr. Laura's N word rant.
Most of the Grio's readers on Facebook voiced strong disapproval of the deal. However, some readers made the following comments on the Grio's Facebook page:
Theon Dixon: "Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is your own eye" We are such hypocrites! We say whatever we want but don't let a white person say nigger. Smdh, at how stupid we are with this crap. Respect self first!!!
Kai Price: "Who cares!! Dr. Laura is on the air because the right people pay attention to the wrong things. If we would not give her the time of day, she would have no one to piss off. Seriously, so what she went on a Nigger rant...it's never what they say or call you, it's ALWAYS what you pay attention and answer to. Stop making her rich and important...ignore her; maybe then she will go gently into that good night."
Tamika Baskin: I don't understand why there was such a big deal about it, when black folks say it all the time. When is it time for us to get mad when hip-hop artists call women B!%CH.
Ricarra Farmer: We all just need 2 get over it. They only say tha word because they kno we still get mad n 2 get under our skin! If we show them that we are better than that and way past bein called nigger they will have nothin 2 say that'll make ppl get n... they feelins. We can't change everyones opinion of us but we can change our own minds n ignore ignorance. Gettin mad n doin nothin bout it ain gon change shit. Not sayin I agree with her but come on....how old is this word? I understand its meanin to demean our ancestors but we gotta blk pres ppl r scared of.....we made it! Y r we trippin??
First of all, no one should use the N word. The fact that some brothers and sisters use the N word does not give white racists the right to use the word. People must be judged by their actions and intentions. Yes, many African Americans use the N word. One cannot listen to a rap cd, whether the artist is gangsta or conscious, without repeatedly hearing the N word. Nonetheless, for the most part, African Americans do not use the N word as an insult. They do not intend to anger, humiliate or demean anyone when they use that word. As rapper Qtip said, many actually believe that they are using the word as a so-called "term of endearment".
However, when Dr. Laura, an old white woman, used the N word 11 times within a 4 minutes period while talking to an African American caller, her intention was obvious. Clearly, she intended to be offensive and dismissive. So yes, her use of the N word is more offensive to me than rap artists' use of the N word.
Finally, ignoring Dr. Laura, Don Imus, Rush Limbaugh and other bigots is not option. They reach millions of people. They have great influence over public attitudes and perceptions. We cannot play dead, and blindly hope that those racists just go away. Silence is tacit approval. We cannot allow this controversy to die down. We should not allow her to quietly and peacefully move to Sirius XM Radio. We must turn up the heat on her sponsors.
First of all, no one should use the N word. The fact that some brothers and sisters use the N word does not give white racists the right to use the word. People must be judged by their actions and intentions. Yes, many African Americans use the N word. One cannot listen to a rap cd, whether the artist is gangsta or conscious, without repeatedly hearing the N word. Nonetheless, for the most part, African Americans do not use the N word as an insult. They do not intend to anger, humiliate or demean anyone when they use that word. As rapper Qtip said, many actually believe that they are using the word as a so-called "term of endearment".
However, when Dr. Laura, an old white woman, used the N word 11 times within a 4 minutes period while talking to an African American caller, her intention was obvious. Clearly, she intended to be offensive and dismissive. So yes, her use of the N word is more offensive to me than rap artists' use of the N word.
Finally, ignoring Dr. Laura, Don Imus, Rush Limbaugh and other bigots is not option. They reach millions of people. They have great influence over public attitudes and perceptions. We cannot play dead, and blindly hope that those racists just go away. Silence is tacit approval. We cannot allow this controversy to die down. We should not allow her to quietly and peacefully move to Sirius XM Radio. We must turn up the heat on her sponsors.
I am black and I find that Dr. Laura use of the word was correct. Why is it that white people can't say the "n" word? The reverse would be if black people could NOT say a word. All the black organizations would be up in arms. When do we remove the stigma of this word? The only way is to use it. And it should not be wrong to just say the dam word in context to prove a point. How anyone can say she was wrong for pointing out the obvious. It is used a lot on HBO and rap songs. If we are going to berate people who use the word then it should be applied to all races. Not just non-black people. If you call a white person a cracker they won’t care or edit the word. Why cause they don't identify with that characterization. It should be the same with the "n" word. I am black, but I am not a "n" and most black people DO NOT consider themselves a "n" so why get offended. When my son gets called the "n" word he will not fight. Because he is not a "n" he a smart educated young black man with the ability to do right. So lets have the discussion about letting them use the "n" and then lets just continue to educate our young man and woman on how to do the right thing.
ReplyDeleteIf only blacks would get so upset when they see that white schools are funded three times the money black schools are NOW THAT IS RACISM! Where is Obama on that issue? We continue to look at stuff that doesn't matter but the fact is that the USA is on the bottom in education when compared to any other industrialized country. China, Japan, Russia, & all of EAU have better educational programs than we do. Maybe that is our answer.
Thanks for your comment. Here is my response.
ReplyDelete"Why is it that white people can't say the "n" word?"
Answer: White people created the term and used it to dehumanize, oppress, insult and degrade black people. The n word is directly linked to slavery and segregation. That's why.
"When do we remove the stigma of this word? The only way is to use it."
Response: I doubt that we will ever be able to remove the stigma from the word "nigger". African Americans have been using that word for decades. However, when white people use the word, it is still angers, degrades and humiliates black people.
"And it should not be wrong to just say the dam [sic] word in context to prove a point. How anyone can say she was wrong for pointing out the obvious."
Response: Dr. Laura did far more than use the word "in context to prove a point". Here is the true context. A black woman called Dr. Laura seeking help regarding her white husband's racial insensitivity. Before the caller completely described the situation, Dr. Laura began to question whether the caller was being "hypersensitive". Then, Dr. Laura said black people voted for Obama just because he is black. Dr. Laura then proceeded to say the n word 11 times. Even when the caller complained about Dr. Laura's use of the n word, Dr. Laura continued to repeatedly say the n word. Dr. Laura concluded the conversation by stating that the caller should not have married outside of her race. If that is not racist, I do not know what is.
"If we are going to berate people who use the word then it should be applied to all races."
Response: As a stated in the article, no one should use the n word.
"If you call a white person a cracker they won’t care or edit the word. Why cause they don't identify with that characterization. It should be the same with the "n" word."
Response: It will not be the same with the n word. African Americans did not oppress white people. Terms such as "cracker" were never used to oppress and subjugate white people. To the contrary, such terms were a misguided response to oppression. Therefore, such terms will never have the same impact as the n word.
"If only blacks would get so upset when they see that white schools are funded three times the money black schools are NOW THAT IS RACISM!"
Response: Yes. That issue is far more important than Dr. Laura's statements. I agree that we must address the issue of inadequate funding of black schools. However, we have a moral obligation to condemn all forms of racism. According to CNN, Dr. Laura has 9 million listeners. What she says matters.