Michael Drew shares his point of view on the Paula Deen mess.
Like many people, I’ve been following the continuing story of the restaurateur and TV food personality Paula Deen — the news of her deposition, her tearful video and television apologies, her being dropped from lucrative endorsement deals.
Her situation highlights not only the ongoing state of race relations in the United States, but also the nature of celebrity endorsements, and how quickly we take offense.
First, about race in the U.S. As we celebrate our nation’s independence, our lives, liberty and pursuit of happiness, we still cannot erase racial injustice. Anyone who thinks that the re-election of President Barack Obama to a second term has led us into a post-racial age need only look at the shocking, dismaying Twitter comments following his victory and inauguration to see that ugly, ignorant and indefensible racism is still, unfortunately, all-too alive in America. Paula Deen’s casual use of the “n” word pales in comparison to the vitriol in the Twitter-verse.
To read the full story visit Huffington Post.
Paula dean is an older southern woman. If she still thinks lightly of the n word, it is not to be unexpected but. Not an excuse. However, the fact that she admitted to saying the n word is commendable. At least she was honest. Her punishment is justified but the landslide against her is excessive. Just using the n word in the past does not mean that someone is still racist.
Everone has said the n word once. I wil not shop at those stores that dropped her
The very public people who use the word nigger on a daily basis in the entertainment business need to stop. The word nigger does not belong to the black race or rappers or anyone. It belongs to history and should be left their. What double standards we have.
I just listened to Jay A’s new release called Magna Carta Holy Grail. The third song called Tom Ford is a rap song liberally sprinkled with the N-word. And I only heard a short sample on Amazon music. So why the double standard?