Should Barbara Walters have used the N-word?

City Bound · #21 10/09/11, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMartianChick

As far as cleaning up the n-word and taking it back to its pure roots... Well, I think that ship has sailed. You can't unring a bell and there is little chance of reaching into the minds of all human beings to erase the negativity that surrounds that word. For that reason, I wish that it would die a slow death. Unfortunately, that death seems to be a bitter and painful one.

I agree you can not unring a bell once it has been rung, but the bell eventually goes silent. There are a lot of people living in the echoes of the past as though that bell were still ringing out today.

This is a serious questiong: Do you think blacks and white will live peacefully as a real community someday, and if so how will they do that? I know a lot of different races and ethnic groups live together today, but rarely are they a true community, rather they sort of live in seperate worlds while living side by side, and that seperation is mutually maintained by all the races and ethnic groups. I know a few people on the fringe mingle and marry, but you can not really count them, because they are such a small percentage.

fordy · #22 10/09/11, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by City Bound

I agree you can not unring a bell once it has been rung, but the bell eventually goes silent. There are a lot of people living in the echoes of the past as though that bell were still ringing out today.

This is a serious questiong: Do you think blacks and white will live peacefully as a real community someday, and if so how will they do that? I know a lot of different races and ethnic groups live together today, but rarely are they a true community, rather they sort of live in seperate worlds while living side by side, and that seperation is mutually maintained by all the races and ethnic groups. I know a few people on the fringe mingle and marry, but you can not really count them, because they are such a small percentage.

................Here is something I don't understand about black folks.........WHY , can't they take the initiative for their own self interest ! Back during Katrina , I remember them standing around all over the area waiting for someone too rescue them , after the earthquake in Haiti , they're running around with No plan , so soon after aid starts arriving they seem incapable of cleaning UP the area around their tin shanty's..................No recognition for a collective solution too their reoccuring problem , no organization within their own community and now it seems their headed right back too the same disorganized lifestyle that preveiled immediately prior to the quake !!!
..................Also , this same disorganized tribal fractured existance exists all over Africia . , fordy

poppy · #23 10/09/11, 10:34 PM

I don't get the fuss about the N word. I don't find it offensive at all and I much prefer it to some other terms I have heard in its place. My wife hates insulting words of any kind and even she is not upset too much by the N word. I notice it is used mostly by older people though because younger people have picked up other terms instead and some of them make me cringe when I hear them. I refuse to use them and will just stick with the word Nookie, thank you.

TheMartianChick · #24 10/10/11, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by City Bound

I agree you can not unring a bell once it has been rung, but the bell eventually goes silent. There are a lot of people living in the echoes of the past as though that bell were still ringing out today.

This is a serious questiong: Do you think blacks and white will live peacefully as a real community someday, and if so how will they do that? I know a lot of different races and ethnic groups live together today, but rarely are they a true community, rather they sort of live in seperate worlds while living side by side, and that seperation is mutually maintained by all the races and ethnic groups. I know a few people on the fringe mingle and marry, but you can not really count them, because they are such a small percentage.

I would like to believe that one day all of the racial strife will die down... I see signs of it every day in each subsequent generation. My parents' view of racism was different from mine due to the things that they experienced. Though they molded and shaped some of the feelings that I have, my stance is slightly different from theirs.

When I typed out my post explaining how some blacks feel about about the n-word, I discovered that one of our daughters aligns herself more closely with me, while the other doesn't see the word as being nearly as offensive as I do. Our girls are only a year apart and were raised in the same household... But they have different thoughts on the matter.

What I did see as our girls grew up was that race wasn't as big of an issue with them at school. They had a very diverse group of friends and interracial dating was extremely common. So common that it wasn't seen as interracial dating it was just called dating.There were still factions at their school that were prone to not intermingle on both sides of the fence.

I see a lessening of the importance of race among my childrens' generation and people are more closely bound by similar interests like music or sports. I have hope that their children will continue to improve the process.

Edited to add: I forgot to address the bell-ringing aspects of your post... The bells have NOT stopped ringing in many places. I don't deal with racial issues that affect me on a daily basis, but that is not true for every black person in America. There is a school of though that suggests that we are in post-racial America when we are not. Maybe my grandchildren will live in post racial America, but it is not here today. In general, things are easier for black women than they are for black men.

TheMartianChick · #25 10/10/11, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordy

................Here is something I don't understand about black folks.........WHY , can't they take the initiative for their own self interest ! Back during Katrina , I remember them standing around all over the area waiting for someone too rescue them , after the earthquake in Haiti , they're running around with No plan , so soon after aid starts arriving they seem incapable of cleaning UP the area around their tin shanty's..................No recognition for a collective solution too their reoccuring problem , no organization within their own community and now it seems their headed right back too the same disorganized lifestyle that preveiled immediately prior to the quake !!!
..................Also , this same disorganized tribal fractured existance exists all over Africia . , fordy

With Hurricane Katrina, there were a lot of things going on. There were a lot of poor people and the storm hit at the end of the month when people didn't have a lot of money.

(I will skip talking about what government could have done to alleviate some of the problems because you didn't ask about that...)

The people should have left New Orleans prior to the storm making landfall.A lot folks didn't believe that they would have so many issues from the storm because they had never seen it happen in their lifetime. They had survived smaller storms and felt that they could weather it out. Many of these people were homeowners and didn't want to have to abandon their properties (things), They knew that after a storm hits, it sometimes takes awhile to be allowed back into the area.

It takes money to evacuate. People were told to go x number of miles inland. Without vehicles or gas money, they would have been stranded on the side of the road. Many had health problems.

Once the storm hit, a lot of people who were trying to get to better places were turned back by law enforcement and not allowed to leave areas that had become unsafe due to the storm.There were the actual shootings and the rumor mill that was making the chaos out to be even worse than it actually was.

There were plenty of people on roofs and things after the levees broke. The swirling waters carried the potential for more than just drowning. There were gators, snakes and debris. I remember seeing a dolphin that got trapped inland...If that could happen to a dolphin then there were surely sharks in the water, too. (They can call it Lake Ponchartrain all they want...That is OCEAN!)

Many people, black and white alike engaged in rescue efforts. To do that, you had to have a boat. If you didn't have a boat, then you really couldn't engage in rescue efforts.

Many people, black and white set things up to try to help the people. I remember reading about a man who set up a soup kitchen to feed the people with whatever they could scrounge up. He was a man who knew how to cook and used his talents to help in the ways that he knew how.

The biggest problems were know-how and the psychological aspects of the storm. Most city people don't know how to make unclean water potable. Even if they were preppers, a lot of their preps would have been washed away by the water. Between the high temps and the lack of drinking water, a lot of people weren't thinking clearly. A lot of people were actually traumatized by what they witnessed and were just incapable of functioning. I forget what the statistics are but most of New Orleans was on anti-depressants when they (residents) returned to the city.

As to Haiti, there are far too many issues to go into right now. The country has been fractured so many times by tyrants. The people didn't have clean water before the quake and there is very little arable land. The illiteracy rate is through the roof and being a criminal is almost the only career path that actually guarantees you a daily meal. (How do you partner with another criminal to improve your lot in life?) There was very little earth moving equipment on the island and many of the buildings were made of concrete. The quake made it nearly impossible to move slabs to rescue anyone until earthmoving equipment arrived.

Right now, there are plenty of Americans getting wealthy on the donation money that was sent to help the people (I know of two men who are doing so

) and it is completely legal, though morally reprehensible.

TheMartianChick · #26 10/10/11, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poppy

I don't get the fuss about the N word. I don't find it offensive at all and I much prefer it to some other terms I have heard in its place. My wife hates insulting words of any kind and even she is not upset too much by the N word. I notice it is used mostly by older people though because younger people have picked up other terms instead and some of them make me cringe when I hear them. I refuse to use them and will just stick with the word Nookie, thank you.

My experience is that it is more commonly used by older whites and younger blacks. The problem with the use by older whites is that they are presumably the caregivers of young whites and could perpetuate the use of the word for the next generation.

For me, the largest problem with the use of the n-word by young blacks is that they will be tomorrow's parents and could also perpetuate the use of the word. Even more troubling is the way in which the n-word is interwoven into music...the fabric of culture.

When I think back on the music of my formative years, the songs were pretty much just good clean fun. Don't get me wrong. I was a serious Prince fan and some of his lyrics were rather risque, but they weren't filled with so much angry racist sentiment or the level of put-downs that today's urban music is rife with. This summer at cookouts, we played 70's, 80's and 90's R&B. A nice soundtrack for reminiscing about 'back in the day'. What in the heck will they be playing at cookouts 20 years from now? I sure hope that the lyrics won't be n-word this and n-word that!

City Bound · #27 10/11/11, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMartianChick

Edited to add: I forgot to address the bell-ringing aspects of your post... The bells have NOT stopped ringing in many places. I don't deal with racial issues that affect me on a daily basis, but that is not true for every black person in America. There is a school of though that suggests that we are in post-racial America when we are not. Maybe my grandchildren will live in post racial America, but it is not here today. In general, things are easier for black women than they are for black men.

Racism is a two way street, that seems to be over looked. Black people are just as racist as whites.

One very bad thing about the racial utopia you think is dawning with each new generation is that a great deal of important aspects of a person's individual identity are aborted and disassociated for the sake of creating a sense of universal uniformity. For example, if there is clashing over specifics then many of the people who encourage this utopian vision think it is best to destroy the specific difference and instead replace it with simplified universal and generalized similarities, like everyone has a nose, everyone has skin, we all have feelings....that is all fine and dandy, but after some time people are going to feel weak, hollow and diluted, because the over simplified difinitions that utopianist give to explain what a person is and how they should live fall greatly short of the richness of identity that many people find in their own communities with their own people. I know this from first hand experience from attending NYC public schools taught by a lot of ex-hippy left overs who tried to brainwash this way of thinking into our little sponge minds. By the time I got out of school I felt like the invisible man, hollow and empty because of all their politically motivated ego deconstruction.

I like all the different people on this earth, for one reason or other, but I dont think we will ever live in a racial utopia like the communists and hippies said we would, and that is not a bad thing, because that is the way god made the world.

lilmizlayla · #28 10/12/11, 01:02 AM

all name calling is wrong. I dont think the N word is any worse than being called any other derogatory name. Being black does not afford them special attention just because of the history. Its all or nothing. Why is it okay for me to be called an FB..and not a N? I would rather be called a N than a FC. The definition of N is "stupid black person"....The slang for FB..FC...DB...FU is much worse.
I make it a point to not name call...so i am for all of them not being used. though I am not going as far as to say one is "better" than the other..cause it isnt..they are all equally disgusting

poppy · #29 10/12/11, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilmizlayla

all name calling is wrong. I dont think the N word is any worse than being called any other derogatory name. Being black does not afford them special attention just because of the history. Its all or nothing. Why is it okay for me to be called an FB..and not a N? I would rather be called a N than a FC. The definition of N is "stupid black person"....The slang for FB..FC...DB...FU is much worse.
I make it a point to not name call...so i am for all of them not being used. though I am not going as far as to say one is "better" than the other..cause it isnt..they are all equally disgusting

What ever happened to sticks and stones? I've been called a DA, DF, OWF, SS, UF, OB, FI, and SOB but it hasn't hurt me yet. And we've been married 43 years.

City Bound · #30 10/12/11, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poppy

What ever happened to sticks and stones? I've been called a DA, DF, OWF, SS, UF, OB, FI, and SOB but it hasn't hurt me yet. And we've been married 43 years.

haha.

TheMartianChick · #31 10/12/11, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by City Bound

Racism is a two way street, that seems to be over looked. Black people are just as racist as whites.

I decided to just respond to this portion of your post, because I agree your statement about the various aspects of culture that make ethnic groups of people unique. I'd like to believe that humans can embrace the similarities in people while celebrating the differences.

To address the comment about racism being a 2 way street... You are absolutely correct. In addition to people holding prejudices about other racial groups, there are also prejudices within racial groups that cause people who (generally) look alike to be at odds with eachother. Among many ethnic groups, the darker skinned people of each respective group are viewed to be somehow not as good. It is a sad reality.

Several months ago, when a similar topic about racial prejudices came up, I mentioned that there are a lot of stereotypes on both sides of the fence. While I won't post any of them here without prior approval, there would likely be some surprise at some of the prejudices that blacks have historically held towards whites.

In my novels, I try to have a few teachable moments for people of all colors, for that reason. I'm (certainly) not perfect, but I do strive to be honest and present a more balanced view on racial issues. On this site, I tend to give a viewpoint that is more of a black perspective, because that is missing here at HT. On some other sites that are predominantly African American, I try to make sure that the other side of the argument is represented. Not everything that is perceived as being racial prejudice, actually is.

Fowler · #32 10/12/11, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by copperkid3

Not sure, but it appears that there maybe a crack and a clear double standard in the black liberal line.....
one could almost say that some are even 'racist'??? Only blacks can use the 'n' word; heaven
help the '------' if they do so too......even if it is the world class liberal, Barb Wawa-Walters.

http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=673275&GT1=28103

"I'm saying when you say the word, I don't like it," said Shepherd, who said she has used it
among African-American family and friends. "When white people say it, it brings up feelings in me."

Walters had said her use of the word "gives me chills myself" and stressed that she was using it
only to explain the story. Shepherd said that Walters was free to use the word if she wanted to,
but that it made her uncomfortable.

"You can do anything you want, Barbara. You're Barbara Walters," she said.

*****************************************

People always crying polictical correctness and along with having double standards seems to be the ones keeping racism alive.
BTW: It makes me uncomfortable saying African Americans, I think Africans get offended by it too. especially the whites ones....LOL

Old John · #33 10/13/11, 08:44 AM

A little anecdote, from my family:
When my oldest DDaughter was about 6 years old, we had some Friends over to the house. One of the Friends, in conversation, used the "N-word". My DDaughter said, quietly, "We don't allow that word in our house."

The Family Friend's face face turned red, and he apologized to her and to us. I did instruct my DDaughter, that it is not polite, for children to correct adults.
And my Friend said, "That's okay, out of the mouths of babes, sometimes comes wisdom."
My old Friend remembered that little story and told it for many years afterward.
He has been gone for a few years now, though.

acde · #34 10/13/11, 10:35 AM

There will always be a debate as long as there are people like sherri who think words can only be used by certain races, when you get rid of that sense of entilement people will get along. as far as natural disasters what ever happened to ask not what your country can do for you but, WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOURSELF?.

lilmizlayla · #35 10/14/11, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMartianChick

Among many ethnic groups, the darker skinned people of each respective group are viewed to be somehow not as good. It is a sad reality.

While I won't post any of them here without prior approval, there would likely be some surprise at some of the prejudices that blacks have historically held towards whites.

.

I have noticed that also..the lighter the skin..the most prejudice they receive.

It would be Interesting to know what some of the prejudices there are held against whites from the blacks......I know that most black women perceive white women to be with black men, because black men can run over them more than with a black woman. That was an interesting perspective. I hate to say it, but I have noticed that also.....

TheMartianChick · #36 10/15/11, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilmizlayla

I have noticed that also..the lighter the skin..the most prejudice they receive.

It would be Interesting to know what some of the prejudices there are held against whites from the blacks......I know that most black women perceive white women to be with black men, because black men can run over them more than with a black woman. That was an interesting perspective. I hate to say it, but I have noticed that also.....

It depends on the circumstances...a darker skinned man is more likely to be suspect, while a lighter skinned one is more likely to be thought of as "clean cut" and decent.

Lighter skinned black women are more likely to make it in Hollywood because they are deemed to be more beautiful. In day to day life, I have seen guys pass by prettier darker skinned women in order to try to talk to lighter skinned ones that were only so-so in appearance.Many of the lighter skinned/darker skinned issues are holdovers from slavery and go hand-in-hand with the hair texture issues.

Without going into detail, I will say that some of the stereotypes that many black people hold about white people involve either food preparation or animals. I have found them to be about as accurate as the stereotypes that many whites believe about blacks...A stereotype is usually a generalization with a small kernal of fact that is misconstrued due to a lack of knowledge about the history and culture of the people involved.