I know in many parts of the country that summer is over and kids are back in school. We have not gotten to that point yet. We are still a few weeks out. This summer has been a little bit different for us. 4 of the 5 kids are growing up, getting a social life, so spending time with Brunella and I seems has become a lower priority. I am not complaining. I just have to keep reminding myself that they are growing up so I have to give the the room to experience the events that go with that. We still plan things as a family, and we are all close enough that I don't see that changing as each of them continue to make their way into teenagers and young adults.
I was going to wait another week before getting back to a normal broadcast schedule, but the current situation just begged for me to come back and allow some rational discussion of this topic. I know the TV guys have had their fun, and most radio hosts have stayed away from this for their own reasons. I am neither, and too many of my friends in and out of broadcasting have asked for my take on this to just sit on the sidelines and not talk about it.
Now, let me start by saying Dr. Laura and I are not friends. We have met twice, and spoke briefly both times. The first time I was a complete smart-ass, at a New Orleans NAB convention at the reception in her honor. She walk up and introduced herself, so I told her I didn't care who she was, I was there for the free boiled shrimp platters they were giving out.
The second time, we met at another NAB convention, but this time my boss, who was a friend of hers, introduced us to each other. We talked about how I liked her approach because she doesn't play favorites. She treats all her callers the same, and tells them the way she sees it no matter if they like it or not. She explained that she feels, as I do, that talk radio listeners can smell BS a mile away, and that the only way to keep a loyal following is to speak your mind.
I have listened to the unedited audio from this broadcast. I have seen both the long form transcript of the entire call, and the edited, slanted, and biased transcript put out trying to make more of the situation than what really happened. I feel Dr. Laura chose her words poorly. There are several different ways she could have said the same thing without using the "N word" over 10 times. She got caught up in the conversation and was reacting to the situation, plus I am sure just a little frustrated with the caller who seemed to be a little dense, or perhaps a little miffed Dr. Laura disagreed with her point. No matter the reason, there were other options, and in hindsight, I am positive Dr. Laura wishes she had decided to use one of them.
The fact is, she used the word because at that moment, she felt she had to make the point that this one word has been put to one of the most extreme double standards known to man. I am not making excuses, but instead want to point out that she did not use this to describe a person, or to demean anyone. She instead was explaining what she hears when she listens to certain entertainers and programs geared to African Americans.
It should never be OK for anyone to use this word, ever. The history of how this word should make it something that no one wants to invoke no matter what the situation. It is a word that no matter how it is used means you are demeaning the person you are using it to describe. Doesn't matter the color of your skin, the heritage of your family, or the economic background you come from, this word is has a negative impact, and should be something that no one would want to have in their vocabulary.
Was her point valid? Is this word used repeatedly by African American entertainers? Why if this is such a bad word, would they want to demean themselves and others by uttering this devastating hate speech? I know it supposedly means something different when said by a black man, but the fact is, it doesn't.
My father, and grandfather for that matter, always told me respect is earned. You get people to respect you by your actions. If you don't want people to demean you, your heritage, or your race in a certain fashion, it starts with you not doing it yourself. Excusing the bad behavior because it has always been that way is not an excuse. It has to be a conscious decision to take the stand that you won't do it, and you won't allow it in your presence from anyone you know.
I speak from experience. My heritage is "Acadian American" as my friends back home dubbed it one time. I am a proud Cajun. For decades, Cajuns were referred to as the rear end of a raccoon by many people. As my grandfather explained to me as I became a teen, this was actually started as a Cajun French word for ignorant. Because it sounds similar was eventually changed by non-French speaking people to the rear end of a raccoon. Many Cajuns embraced this, to the point you can to this day find merchandise for Certified and Registered rear end of a racoon's decals, bumperstickers, hats, t-shirts, etc. from that era. I try hard not to use that word to describe our heritage anymore, but I slip up in a heated debate from time to time. But the first step is to make the conscious decision not to use that word anymore.
Dr. Laura was also talking about the fact that some become hypersensitive and see racism and hatred where there is none. In the instance she was talking about, I feel she was right again. Some people have not been taught the social skills not to ask ignorant questions. In the case Dr. Laura was dealing with, Caucasian friends of the African American person she was talking to was asking the caller if black people really do this, or do that. That is someone being curious, and to be honest rude because of ignorance, of other people's culture. I would bet if she asked her friend if they realized that was rude, or hateful, the person asking the question would be completely upset she thought that way.
I have seen this type of ignorance first hand. My brother in law, who happens to be African American has had this exact thing happen to him repeatedly over the years in my presence. Like I do when people ask me how a fat man like me can do something I've just accomplished, he usually just smiles, and answers their question. Admittedly, sometimes the answer is sarcastic. I've found it is easier to just answer the question and move on. Attempting to educate the ignorant is usually only causes the person asking the question to feel as though you are being paranoid, they don't see the issue.
I think what really got me about this whole situation is that Dr. Laura admitted she made a poor choice. She apologized for the lapse of judgement. There are people and groups out there that are acting as if she said this pointed at a person, or that just saying the word, no matter the context makes her racist. There are even people promoting that we should make the "N-word" the 8th deadly word regulated by the FCC. Well, please do. That way when they slap huge fines on guys like Dave Chappel, Kat Williams, and the dozens of African American entertainers out there using this word in the most negative way possible, the people attempting to exploit this faux pas by Dr. Laura will have no choice but to prove that Dr. Laura was actually right even if her choice of words was wrong.
Coming up we'll talk about the latest in the Gulf of Mexico, and how BP is trying to limit their libality. We'll also have this week's News You Can Use, and of course we want to hear your opinion, call in right now, (646) 595-3426. This is The Joey Sanders Show on Blog Talk Radio.
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