Paula Deen

amarissa85 · June 2013

Has anyone heard about what is going on? It was mentioned in my lit class today, and now I see it on FB as well. What are your thoughts?

BlondieBia21 · June 2013

She claims ignorance that she was brought up in the time when using those words were acceptable. If she's going to own a business and be a popular face of TODAY, there's no way she wouldn't know that what she said was unacceptable and not tolerated today. It is a sad world that racism still exists. I'm not saying she is a racist because unfortunately, some people do not think before they speak and words like that come out. Even if they just "come out", it's still unacceptable!

amarissa85 · June 2013

suchgreatheights324:
Honestly, I've never liked her. It doesn't change my opinion of her because I'm not surprised.

I watch her show often and have always liked Paula Deen. I was shocked to hear about it today.

kateisgreat · June 2013

BlondieBia21:
She claims ignorance that she was brought up in the time when using those words were acceptable. If she's going to own a business and be a popular face of TODAY, there's no way she wouldn't know that what she said was unacceptable and not tolerated today. It is a sad world that racism still exists. I'm not saying she is a racist because unfortunately, some people do not think before they speak and words like that come out. Even if they just "come out", it's still unacceptable!

MIL was brought up in the same era and the same area as Paula Deen, and she also uses inappropriate/ racist language. I don't allow it around DD and all the IL's think I'm overacting and being ridiculous. They don't think I should be concerned because neither I nor DD is black..... they totally don't get it. They also all claim to not be racist in the least. I'm sorry, but if the color of someone's skin is a part of you talking trash about them, that's racist. I could go on for days about how much that woman angers me with her ignorant comments, and she is completely clueless that she is doing anything "wrong". I'm willing to bet Paula Deen has a very similar mentality.

CaliforniaDream87 · June 2013

I can care less what "time frame" you grew up in. If you refer to African Americans as the "N" word...you are racist.

Period.

ELauren88 · June 2013

CaliforniaDream87:
I can care less what "time frame" you grew up in. If you refer to African Americans as the "N" word...you are racist. Period.

OMG she didn't! All I've heard is that she's not being renewed on the food network...*off to find an article*

Soleil3 · June 2013

https://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2013/06/20/193913397/stuff-you-might-have-missed-in-the-paula-deen-brouhaha

I'm kinda meh on it. She said she doesn't use it now, but yes she has said itin her 60 years of life. Not all that shocking.

People need to chill out.

CaliforniaDream87 · June 2013

Soleil3:
https://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2013/06/20/193913397/stuffyoumighthavemissedinthepauladeenbrouhahanbsp;I'm kinda meh on it. She said she doesn't use it now, nbsp;but yes she has said itin her 60 years of life. Not all that shocking. People need to chill out.nbsp;

Everything I've read is that she's allowed this type of language in the workplace as well as used it. Not to mention the pornography claims.

OP asked our opinions and were giving our opinions.

TurtleMomma · June 2013

Here's the article I found on it.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-televisionmt1thewrap99011-20130621,0,3215823.story

I'm kind of ambivalent towards the whole ordeal. I've never been interested in her stuff and she comes off too Martha-Stewart-ish to me. Finding out about her 'rough' language is kind of "meh" in my book.

BellaOso · June 2013

I get that many will argue that in some regions and to some generations this is/was considered acceptable. But we aren't talking about some lady who continued to live in a backwoods community and didn't interact with more forward thinking individuals - we are talking about a woman who made her way into millions of homes. We are talking about a woman who was surrounded by agents, managers, handlers, etc. She knew that was unacceptable. Who doesn't know you don't use that language? Who doesn't know that you don't judge someone by the color of their skin but rather the content of their character? Come the freak on.

That said, I always thought Paula Dean was off her nut. I think all that damn butter blocked the blood flow to her brain. That's one cooky broad.

Soleil3 · June 2013

CaliforniaDream87:
Soleil3:
https://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2013/06/20/193913397/stuffyoumighthavemissedinthepauladeenbrouhahanbsp;I'm kinda meh on it. She said she doesn't use it now, nbsp;but yes she has said itin her 60 years of life. Not all that shocking. People need to chill out.nbsp;
Everything I've read is that she's allowed this type of language in the workplace as well as used it. Not to mention the pornography claims. OP asked our opinions and were giving our opinions.

It doesn't bother me that she allows it in the workplace in context, isn't it one of those words black people are allowed to say to each other?

Not you people here, the people that are demanding her head on a spot and insisting she lose her job because of it. It's a good topic for discussion and I always value opinions

ELauren88 · June 2013

Soleil3:
CaliforniaDream87:
Soleil3:
https://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2013/06/20/193913397/stuffyoumighthavemissedinthepauladeenbrouhahanbsp;I'm kinda meh on it. She said she doesn't use it now, nbsp;but yes she has said itin her 60 years of life. Not all that shocking. People need to chill out.nbsp;
Everything I've read is that she's allowed this type of language in the workplace as well as used it. Not to mention the pornography claims. OP asked our opinions and were giving our opinions.
It doesn't bother me that she allows it in the workplace in context, isn't it one of those words black people are allowed to say to each other?
Not you people here, the people that are demanding her head on a spot and insisting she lose her job because of it. It's a good topic for discussion and I always value opinions

I'll agree that the npr article doesn't give the whole situation a very bad face, at all. Makes it seem like it can just be brushed off the shoulder. But PP has it right that she should know better than to allow this type of language/attitude in a work place she controls.

I will agree with you, Soleil, that it *is* a type of double edged sword when it comes to the "n" word. In the sense that african-american people are free to say it all the time, in any context, but it is extremely taboo for anyone else. I don't believe that word should be used at all. I know it's initial definition is not a racist one, but the word evolved into a racial slur, and no one should have a "right" to use it.

LJUTCMommy · June 2013

Honestly, I wasn't surprised. Her casual attitude about using derogatory, racist language is fairly common among people from her area and in her generation.

It's horrible and I'm glad someone called her out on it, but I thought everyone knew she was racist already.

It reminds me of when everyone freaked out about the spying on our emails/phone calls. Didn't everybody already know that?

CaliforniaDream87 · June 2013

Soleil3:
CaliforniaDream87:
Soleil3:
https://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2013/06/20/193913397/stuffyoumighthavemissedinthepauladeenbrouhahanbsp;I'm kinda meh on it. She said she doesn't use it now, nbsp;but yes she has said itin her 60 years of life. Not all that shocking. People need to chill out.nbsp;

Everything I've read is that she's allowed this type of language in the workplace as well as used it. Not to mention the pornography claims.

OP asked our opinions and were giving our opinions.
It doesn't bother me that she allows it in the workplace in context, isn't it one of those words black people are allowed to say to each other?
Not you people here, the people that are demanding her head on a spot and insisting she lose her job because of it. It's a good topic for discussion and I always value opinions  

I can't speak for other African Americans as I don't use the "N" word and was raised to never use the "N" word. I think the word is loaded and disgusting. I absolutely take it offensively when ANYONE refers to an AA as the "N" word.

But I feel the same way about any racial derogatory word...

kcooper1986 · June 2013

I am in no way saying that it is acceptable, but I do find it extremely difficult to sit back and say that it is any more wrong for her to say it versus when African Americans say it. There is no "context" that makes it ok....for ANYONE. With that being said, the only reason it is a huge deal is because she is white. Isn't that just a little "racist" in itself? That African Americans can use it, but other races can't?

kcooper1986 · June 2013

And to clarify, I am not saying all African Americans use that word, but the ones who are the first to freak out about things like this usually are....

BubblyDevil · June 2013

I don't like her and could care less about the whole situation. Aren't there more important things in the world to focus on?

CaliforniaDream87 · June 2013

kcooper1986:
And to clarify, I am not saying all African Americans use that word, but the ones who are the first to freak out about things like this usually are....

Not true.

bdawn8403 · June 2013

Personally, I couldn't care less what she or anyone else says. It's just a word. By taking offense to a certain word you are giving it power.

BellaOso · June 2013

kcooper1986:
And to clarify, I am not saying all African Americans use that word, but the ones who are the first to freak out about things like this usually are....

Yikes. Disagree. This is a little stereotype-y and you might get your singed butt handed back to you on that one. Hang on tight. (It won't be me, not my style. I don't have to win the interwebs.)

There is A HUGE movement against this type of language by a vast majority of African Americans. I actually only know a few teens and rappers who throw that kind of language around anymore.

SarahRut · June 2013

For anyone curious to see what the rest of the case it about, here is a link to the complaint: https://www.scribd.com/doc/148781831/Jackson-v-Deen-Et-Al-Complaint

The issue isn't just that she used the N word (which in my book is inexcusable wherever and whenever you were born) but that, as an employer, she knowingly created a work environment where extraordinary levels of racism and sexism were tolerated.

After her admissions that she doesn't consider racist jokes in the workplace a problem (in her deposition transcript) I wholeheartedly support the Food Network's decision to terminate her. If they had continued to employ her, they would be implicitly saying that they would tolerate this standard when Deen was in semi-control of Food Network work-spaces.

And as a born-and-raised southerner, I am super pissed to hear people excusing this behavior because she is from the south or from another generation. That is no excuse. She and everyone should know better!

*stepping down off of high horse/soapbox/pulpit*

Edit for formatting

BellaOso · June 2013

bdawn8403:
Personally, I couldn't care less what she or anyone else says. It's just a word. By taking offense to a certain word you are giving it power.

I think this is easier to say when you are not from a culture that was oppressed. Just sayin'.

I say this all the time about the See You Next Tuesday word, and other such words, but I think the long held racial slurs that are most common in the U.S. I don't have the ability to imagine how hurtful that must be.

amarissa85 · June 2013

Not justifying at all however the context in which black people and white people use it is somewhat different. Although I am sure there are those that would beg to differ. I went to high school in a place that used the word often. I was often called that but it didn't really bother me. However, I have gone into a grocery store and been bumped by someone and flat out the person said, "fluckin n!gger." Empowering or not, that is offensive.

ETA: the word shouldn't be used regardless.

amarissa85 · June 2013

BellaOso:
bdawn8403:
Personally, I couldn't care less what she or anyone else says. It's just a word. By taking offense to a certain word you are giving it power.
I think this is easier to say when you are not from a culture that was oppressed. Just sayin'. 
I say this all the time about the See You Next Tuesday word, and other such words, but I think the long held racial slurs that are most common in the U.S. I don't have the ability to imagine how hurtful that must be. 

I agree with you.

CaliforniaDream87 · June 2013

amarissa85:
Not justifying at all however the context in which black people and white people use it is somewhat different. Although I am sure there are those that would beg to differ. I went to high school in a place that used the word often. I was often called that but it didn't really bother me. However, I have gone into a grocery store and been bumped by someone and flat out the person said, "fluckin n!gger." Empowering or not, that is offensive.

ETA: the word shouldn't be used regardless.

This is the argument though, and this is why I'm glad I was was raised that this word was NEVER acceptable. If AA's can refer to themselves as the "N" word it's ok for anyone else.

How do we say "yes,It's totally acceptable for us to say it but NO ONE else". That theory seems very very ridiculous. Anyway, there really is more to this whole "Paula Deen" issue...

ETA not implying you think it's ok.

kcooper1986 · June 2013

BellaOso:
kcooper1986:
And to clarify, I am not saying all African Americans use that word, but the ones who are the first to freak out about things like this usually are....
Yikes. Disagree. This is a little stereotype-y and you might get your singed butt handed back to you on that one. Hang on tight. (It won't be me, not my style. I don't have to win the interwebs.)
There is A HUGE movement against this type of language by a vast majority of African Americans. I actually only know a few teens and rappers who throw that kind of language around anymore.

Oh you are free to disagree, I don't mind in the least. I know this isn't exactly a topic that everyone is ever going to agree on. To make it more complex, people's opinions are also skewed based on their experience. For me, I work in a field and live near areas where the particular people I was referring to will throw a huge fit if someone who isn't AA uses that word, but then will turn around 30 sec later and greet a friend using it. Then on the flip side, I know and am friends with many AAs who would never DREAM of using it, nor think it is ok. I didn't mean to imply that more think it is acceptable than not, I just meant that many of the people that I personally come into contact with on a regular basis happen to be in the group that think it is ok if you are AA....I still don't think it is acceptable, ever.

BellaOso · June 2013

Yeah, sorry, I'm white and I don't buy the whole, "How can it be okay for them to say and not for us to say," line that I so frequently hear.

Ummmm because this isn't preschool and we aren't 7.

If an African American uses it as a greeting with friends, I still think it is inappropriate, but it is not my place. If someone says it in front of me, it is my place to say, "I don't like that."

I had a very good friend of mine start to tell a racist joke in front of a group of friends, most of them laughed and smiled. At the end of it, I said to him, "I'm not sure what I have done or said to make you think I would enjoy that kind of joke, but I don't. In the future, please don't share those jokes with me." Everyone was kind of shocked but 2 of the girls came up to me later and said, they didn't like those jokes either didn't know what to say. 1 other girl called me a b!tch. Whatever. Rather a *** that makes sure people don't say that crap to me than a moron who nods and smiles.

plunderb · June 2013

I thought her apology was ridiculous. She basically said I'm old and from the South, so I don't know any better. And I'm thinking, are you 200 years old? Because really there has not been a time in the last 60 years when that type of language and attitude has been ok. Except among racists.

TurtleMomma · June 2013

msspeedymarie:
Do all of you people who are saying this is no big deal actually know the context of what she is supposed to have said? It's not just her use of the "n" word, but the entire context of when she said it at least this particular time.https://gawker.com/pauladeensaysofcoursesheusesthenword514272160She was talking about planning a wedding for her brother, and after seeing another event where black men were waiters in white jackets, started talking about how great an old fashioned "Southern wedding" with black men pretending to be slaves being the servers would be, and in the lawsuit, one of her employees says that Deen said the following:"In her suit, Jackson alleges Deen said, Well what I would really like
is a bunch of little ners to wear longsleeve white shirts, black
shorts and black bow ties, you know in the Shirley Temple days, they
used to tap dance around. Now, that would be a true Southern wedding
wouldnt it? But we cant do that because the media would be on me about
that.Um, that's insulting and racist as it fluckin' gets. The use of the "n" word is about the least of the racism there, if this is true.

My lack of caring is not meant in a way that condones her behavior. Its more meant that its being dealt with so me getting hot and bothered about it isn't worth the effort. I will get up in arms if I'm in a small group and something like that happens [and it has in the past] and I will do what needs to be done.

LJR 84 · June 2013

I've never really cared for her and this doesn't really surprise me. She comes across as being extremely ignorant.

Cfisher7646 · June 2013

Im black and I dont say the N word not all black people say it. So for someone who is in the spot light to think its ok to use it is wrong. Not every black person thinks the same, how do u think we finally have a black president. Wow some white people always say they are not the bit racist but things like this come out and everyones true colors come out.

Journeymichael · June 2013

BellaOso:
Yeah, sorry, I'm white and I don't buy the whole, "How can it be okay for them to say and not for us to say," line that I so frequently hear. Ummmm because this isn't preschool and we aren't 7.nbsp;If an African American uses it as a greeting with friends, I still think it is inappropriate, but it is not my place. If someone says it in front of me, it is my place to say, "I don't like that."nbsp;I had a very good friend of mine start to tell a racist joke in front of a group of friends, most of them laughed and smiled. At the end of it, I said to him, "I'm not sure what I have done or said to make you think I would enjoy that kind of joke, but I don't. In the future, please don't share those jokes with me." Everyone was kind of shocked but 2 of the girls came up to me later and said, they didn't like those jokes either didn't know what to say. 1 other girl called me a b!tch. Whatever. Rather a *** that makes sure people don't say that crap to me than a moron who nods and smiles.

I agree!

littlemissblondiex · June 2013

I also agree with Soleil. Black people use this word and call each other this word. It's hypocritical. I don't go around calling other white people derogatory names. Also, I think racism is a product of your environment and unfortunately in her day it was probably common to speak like that. I'm also "meh" about the situation because I could care less what words she uses as long as I don't have to.

BlueJewelM · June 2013

littlemissblondiex:
Im also "meh" about the situation because I could care less what words she uses as long as I don't have to.

The correct phrase is "couldn't care less". By stating you "could care less" means...well, you COULD in fact care less. Meaning you care a little, you dumb cracker.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself. I'm just teasing for the sake of the argument. Plus I have no idea what race you are, so it's wrong of me to assume.

But see, by me using a racial slur, it makes me look dumb, uneducated, and clearly I'm making an assumption about you, that you are white. Which is wrong on my part and unfair to you.

For me it comes down to this...if Paula Dean was a smart woman, she would have thought about the words coming out of her mouth. I don't care how much she justifies it or makes excuses for herself, if you want to be a successful and public persona...you must hold yourself to a higher standard than you would the other dumb rednecks that use the N word. Good for Food Network for booting her off. I don't think we should tolerate racism or racial slurs in any context. To me, AA people that use the N word are just as dumb INDIVIDUALS as Paula Dean is! When I think of AAs using that word I think of the amazing AA men and woman who fought so long and hard for equal rights. I know lots of AAs that do not allow the use of that word! So it makes me cringe when people say "why is it okay for AAs to say it to each other?" Well, just because someone decides to wake up and kill someone doesn't make it okay for humans to kill one another...

So yeah I never understood that argument.

amandamays88 · June 2013

I didn't read all of the comments but I just thought I'd tell you all that I live in Savannah GA and my mom hosted my baby shower yesterday at one of her banquet halls attached to lady sons. Which for those of you who don't know...that's her restaurant here. 2 days before the shower when I heard about this I thought oh nice watch there be news cameras outside her restaurant on Saturday during the baby shower and sure enough there were news cameras filming as my guests and I were arriving. 2 of my guests were stopped to give an interview of what they thought of the story lol Anyway, the baby shower was beautiful and the food was great! Just thought y'all might think this was funny.

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