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Yikes. Thursday morning on “The View,” during a discussion on the N-word prompted by the revelation that Jesse Jackson used the slur in his controversial Fox News tape, Whoopi Goldberg and Elisabeth Hasselbeck had a heated back-and-forth that ended with Elisabeth crying. As she tends to do.
Whoopi, who earlier in the broadcast had used the n-word repeatedly, sending the censors into overload, argued that the word is only as powerful as a society allows it to be and advocated for using the word to give it new meaning. Elisabeth, meanwhile, felt that she couldn’t teach her children not to say the word if her black co-hosts and their children were using the word, arguing that, “we don’t live in different worlds.”
Whoopi then launched into a heated explanation of why black and white America still remain separate: “It isn’t balanced, and we would like it to be, but you have to understand, you have to listen to the fact that we’re telling you there are issues, there are huge problems that still affect us,” she said.
Elisabeth replied, in tears, “When we live in a world where pop culture then uses that term, and we’re trying to get to a place where we feel like we’re in the same place, where we feel like we’re in the same world…how are we supposed to then move forward if we keep using terms that bring back that pain?” Which makes no sense, but hey, it’s Elisabeth!
WATCH:
What do you think of all this?
Are you Americans aware that your the only people who have this problem and keep it going? We don’t have a black/white controversey in Canada, never have.
You say it goes back to the sixties? Try a couple of hundred years.
It amazes us in Canada that you Americans can’t let go of the past, both black and white. The N word is no worse than the F bomb, I’m totally offended by that word. Neither should be used, and most certainly around children. Only low life people talk with these words in their vocabulary, get some education and it won’t be in your life. Grow up and protect your children from cursing. Go to church and maybe you’ll stop swearing. This discussion should not be at all, the words should never be used period. Never
Elisabeth is an idiot.
After reading most of your comments, I find that as long as we have to deal with all of the political correctness shit we will never get away from the 60′s. Black people don’t want it to go away, what would they use to make the white people cow to them. I think Elizabeth was right and Woopie was not. There is no way to teach that something is a bad word if it’s OK that some can use it and most can’t. I have lived in multi racial towns my whole life and non of any of this crap touched us or maybe we were happy enough not to spoil it for everyone. These days everyone is so politically correct that it nakes me sick. I live around regular people that have better things to do than HATE their neighbor no matter whaat color or religion they are. I for one can’t throw rocks. I’m not that perfect.
please notify of followup comments
I like that the show has opened up this dialogue. The show is called “The View”. The co-hosts get to discuss their “views”. They don’t have to be politically correct. And while I don’t always agree with them, their discussions often give me food for thought. I like that it allows a peek into the world from someone else’s perspective. Please note I said “a peek” – not to be mistaken to mean that I know what it’s like to be in the shoes of another.
Due to surgery i’ve been home during the day to take in the View. I’ve since taken it off my viewing list! They consistently interrupt and talk over top of each other which causes anxiety. And who died and left Joy boss? She’s condescending, arrogant, rude & obnoxious. It’s obvious all the attacks on Elizabeth are due to the fact she’s a Republican and the other gals oppose. (Discounting Barbara), since when does having a tv name make one so intelligent that their opinion is the only one that matters? Get a grip. Now I know why Ellen took the award!
I have not watched the video; I’ve changed mind and decided I don’t want to see it.
I’m in disagreement with the argument that the N word should be used to lessen its ability to denigrate people with a dark complexion.
And to TP,
White women do not face the same discriminations as Blacks. I resent your argument as such. Yes, I agree that in a patriarchal society, women are encouraged to keep “their place.” However, out in the world, white women are also revered and protected. And a white woman will get a job and win a contract before any Black, despite the qualifications presented. In a “nice neighborhood,” a white woman will obtain the home she wants; a Black will be deterred — despite the credit history.
As a white woman:
= Are you followed around a store from the moment you entered?
= In your car, are you stopped by police for no reason at all?
= Even though you presented your Passport, are you detained in Customs for four hours, sometimes an entire day for no reason other your skin color fits a profile?
= Do your friends get a police escort to your home because like you, they have good jobs and drive nice cars?
= Even though you don’t drink and have never taken illegal drugs, on your job, have you been “randomly” drug screened four times in one year while others have never been?
I, too, worked in a male dominated industry. It was also a white male dominated industry. I had better customer relations, more certifications, higher advanced education than many in my department. Yet, I was labelled as “special” and paid less.
I can go on and on… But I’ll end with this FACT:
The Civil Rights Amendment and Affirmative Action policies aided more white women than the total of Blacks who benefitted. “The United States Department of Labor found that white women are the primary beneficiaries of affirmative action.” Look it up.
What a load of hogwash. Black people have a ginormous chip on their shoulder. Grow up, get a life
I think that what Mrs Hasselback misses here is that it is perfectly acceptable, and quite common, for an oppressed group of people to embrace demeaning terms aimed at them and flip the meaning of these very harsh words to a meaning of compassion and understanding. My jewish friends joke w/ one another using a very similar type of verbiage. I would never consider using the terms they use. Mrs Hasselback is a conservative white christian. Oppression is not an experience she has dealt with, and it is in this void, that she cannot understand why people do this. The fact that she may hear this term in music or overhear it in conversation, and she is not allowed to use it hearself or oppose it for that matter, is what irks her so much. Speak to your friends and family the way you want to, but please Elizabeth, do not try to take consolation away from an oppressed group that your own ancestors oppressed. Cliff
More Bull crap Cliff…..Why don’t you blacks and whites in the US stop fighting, just stop. The rest of the free world thinks its disgusting that you keep this battle going. Take it to the courts the way our native indians did and get all kinds of perks like not paying taxes on anything…………reserves and free housing.
Go about it the right way
My Dear, Dear Connie.
Your comments are quite troubling. The tone of your (lengthy) response clearly shows your contempt for others whose visions, views and complexion differ from yours. Please, do us all a favor, take a much needed vacation.
There are blacks in the community who want to remain “apart”. If people want to be a country of people then why are their shows like Ms. Black America, the Black Music awards , the Latino Music award….GOD forbid someone come up with the idea of a WHITE music awards show. Oh, no, they are prejudice. CUT the crap. I am white, proud of it and have treated everyone I meet as an individual. Yes, there are some traits to different races but that person is a human being and should be treated as such until their actions demand otherwise. If you are a foul-mouthed, mean, hateful. violent or prejudiced person, then I want nothing to do with you.
You wanna drop the n-bomb, you go right ahead. It justs goes to prove that you are a person of lower intelligence, lower self-worth and you just keep on making yourself look like you just have no common sense no matter what diplomas or degrees or awards are on your walls or shelves.
I may not know what it is to be black, but then again, you don’t know what it is to be white. To NOT get the job because you are NOT a minority. I have seen people take tests for a job and seen a company hire not the qualified person but the minority so we can have a good percentage of minorities working for the company. THAT is crap. I so want a less qualified person being a police officer.
Glad now that I don’t watch the show. Sorry that so many support it.
Go for it Connie, I’m with you
I think the Whoopi is right that we all do not live in the same world and it is simply not a black and white issue, but one that pans over many other issues. I also think that you can teach your children that certain things are acceptable for one group of people but not another. Elisabeth is being niave. To be quite honest, I have never liked her consevative, judgemental views. But, the larger issue I have is that Elisabeth Hasselbeck is supposed to be portray the views of 20-30 something women, and to be quite honest, most women in that age group are not that conservative. The View needs to do some reorganizing.
I agree with those that have said the Elizabeth has met her match. She wasn’t crying because of the use of the “n” word. She was crying because of other states she made, like us living in the same world. Whoopi called her on it. Whoopi had work really hard to get where she is. What did Elizabeth do to get where she is?
Veronica, at least Elizabeth is educated………….you can’t even spell the smallest words like “states” instead of statements and Whoopi has work…………do you mean worked? Take an english course
In a follow-up discussion to this story, Whoopi Goldberg was a call-in guest on the Larry King show on July 22nd that was being hosted by one of her co-hosts from the “View.” As a defense to the use of the “n” word being OK, Whoopi indicated that the only thing that would stop her in her tracks was if someone called her stupid. The sad truth is that any person of African descent who calls him or herself the “n” word appears to fall into that category. And the question is, “How is it that anyone could be so stupid as to use the “n” word to identify themselves?” Peace and Blessings.
” I think she cried because this isn’t an issue can be dressed up with kittens and rainbows. It involves complex, deep drama that can’t be worked through in 45 minutes on Dr. Phil.
They want to be “done” with the issue of race and wonder why-oh-why can’t we just be free, hug a tree and be all “the same” already, because she’s there. She’s cool! She’s totally post-racial! What’s your problem?
But then there was the whole not realizing that saying “we’re the same” and us actually being “the same” are two entirely different things. It think it’s a combo of guilt and frustration because she knows she doesn’t get it, but doesn’t want to go down that scary path to finding out what the “real” problem is.
Crying over shit like this is a cheap way to show you care or that you take it seriously when you’re really just crying because you think people are “picking” on you. It’s a sort of luxury only white women of a certain caliber can afford. Mainly, non-poor, young and attractive white women.
If you’re an unattractive, old, broke white woman or if you’re a non-white woman and you have the nerve to cry, no one gives a shit about you. No one feels sorry for you. No one tries to help you understand.
Elisabeth is just using the tools given to her to demonstrate that she’s a “good white person.” Not one of those bad white people who teaches their children to hate us darkies. Her tears were trying to tell you that ”
I am tired of listening to people talk about other people’s daily struggles as if they were their own.
especially while the people who have to deal with these issues for their entire lives are right there in the room ready to offer the rest of us insight into their lived experiences.
This was an opportunity for people to share their experiences and learn from one another. But instead we have a hysterical white woman interupting people and then crying when she realizes that no one is backing her up and has no idea what she’s even talking about on national t.v.
This was an opportunity for a really interesting dialogue. but instead this sheltered little barbie doll couldn’t keep her mouth shut for more than 5 seconds and no one could get a word in edgewise
If only people like Elizabeth would learn to shut up and listen to other people for a moment then maybe she wouldn’t get so overwhelmed and trip over her words like a hysterical 50′s housewife.
If anyone can use the N word then I can and I don’t care what anyone else says. It seems to me that Americans of African descent want to keep racism going for whatever reason. I have learned they are the most racist people I know and that is the experience I have had.
I watch the view every day,and love the show. Everyone has always give Elizabeth a hard time except for Barbara because she is a republican. I understand what she was trying to say but Whoopi and Sherry did not give her a chance to explain her point,same with Rosie. When Sherry shut Barbara down and said I do not want to hear that come out of your mouth,but it is ok for her to say it was very rude.
DOUBLE STANDARD. Its OK for some people to say or do things, but its NOT OK for others. Either we all are held to the same standards or not. Where does it end? Its OK to commit robbery because two generations ago blacks were slaves? If we are striving to be color blind, then we all have to adhere to the same standards. Period. Whoppie is a bully and Elizabeth should have quit a long time ago.
I agree with ks. Whoopi was dead on. By taking a derogatory term and making it your own, you render it powerless. This is exactly what we are doing with the comedy in NYC “feminazi”. We have taken this derogatory term poked fun at it, and made it powerless.
Well, the responses on this site are quite diverse and truly amazing. One can surmise the following: some Black people have (seemingly) removed the sting from the use of the “N” word the same way some women have (seemingly) removed the sting from the use of the “B” word. These words, when spoken in anger by someone of another race, or another gender, are offensive. I agree with Whoopie Goldberg, “I do not know any N-words”. I also do not know any H-words either. Our brains are encased for a reason, to protect it from harm. So are our thoughts. They reside within our minds, so that we are not constantly attacked for having a different “View”.
I am not sure why Jackson thought he was above everyone else but the clip: http://www.clmnews.com/Jessie_Jackson.html and his subsequent apology says it all.