Give me a break.
The trial is about unfair work practices, and the charges are mainly aimed at the behavior of her brother. (And for those of you who are unaware, the woman filing the hostile workplace charges is white. Just a little FYI.) Did Paula ever call someone a n-word in the work place? No. Is the issue that Paula personally mistreated employees because of the color of their skin? No. Did Paula have some goofy ideas about southern plantations? Yes. (And so does the rest of the South as you can't go to any state without signing up for the plantation tour. It's a money-maker.)
The question she was asked was if she'd EVER used the n-word in the past. What the hell kind of a question was that? Had they asked her if she'd ever used the term to belittle an employee, that might have made more sense. But to ask if she'd ever used the word? How many of you reading this have never used the word, either out loud or in your thoughts/opinions? How many of you have never said anything in the past that, taken out of context, could make you look mighty bad now-a-days? If you're thinking 'not me,' then I'm calling you a liar.
American social media..... gotta love it. It thrives on making celebrities out of nobodies. But where it really has fun is tearing down such celebrities and reporting on the drying up of their bank accounts. We are such a jealous society. And one that is so easily led. It should scare you (general you) how easily your thoughts and opinions are dictated to you by the media.
I saw this on Facebook today. Thanks to Kathy Lawson. You really made me think.
To be fair, I don't think the uproar is over the fact that she's used the "N" word in the past. Most people of her generation from the South probably have, even if they wouldn't admit to it under oath.
ReplyDeleteThe issue is that she didn't seem to recognize there was any problem with using the word. For example, she implied that using the "N" word is problematic only if it's "being used in any cruel or mean behavior." She also said that she isn't offended when her husband uses the "N" word in jokes, since it's just her husband telling them. If she had simply said "yes, I used the 'N' word in the past, and I regret it, it was a mistake"-- then I bet this whole thing would have blown over. But she didn't (until that ridiculous series of apology videos after-the-fact).
I also think her ideas about the plantation wedding were more than just "goofy." She made very clear that she loved the idea of a civil-war-era style wedding where all of the servers would be middle-aged black men in white bow ties. She said this "represented a certain era in America." These comments may not be intentionally mean-spirited, but they're utterly ignorant. Ignorant, for example, of the fact that the civil-war era servers she expresses nostalgia about were slaves. And again, in the deposition, she didn't recognize that this was wrong of her to say, nor did she apologize for it.
I agree that this media circus is way out of control and perhaps too focused on the ignorance of one celebrity chef, as opposed to the racism and ignorance that still exists to varying degrees in parts of this country. But that still doesn't excuse what she said.
A powerful post, Barb!
ReplyDeleteIt occurs to me that if she had made a rap video and used the word liberally, she'd be fine. Richard Pryor made a million with "That N.....'s Funny!" Most of what we say today will likely be deemed unacceptable by strangers 30 years from now.
Adam,
ReplyDeleteI feel unarmed taking on a lawyer, but I have age and experience on my side, so here goes.
Paula told the truth - she gets props from me right there. She could have lied and pretended to be telling the truth, which so many do. What she expressed about the use of the word is as common to people of her generation as the way your generation uses the word f*ck. Whether-or-not it is right or wrong, both words are offensive to different generations. And neither generation is willing to admit it and/or stop their use of such offensive words. How many times have I heard young people say such offensive things as 'you're a retard' [remember me teaching that word as a verb and warning you guys I'd smack you down if I heard it any other way]or 'that's so gay.' These terms are common to your generation, probably as common as the n-word of Paula's generation. They are offensive and ignorant. And common.
Have you ever gone tourist in the South? Plantation tours, mansion tours, are big business and big money. It is not just Paula, but it is definitely the mindset of the South. Right or wrong, romanticizing the plantation era is very common. I equate it to Poland and Germany rewriting the effect of Nazi-ism in their countries. Ever taken a tour of those beautiful cities in Europe and thought about the Jews who were systematically murdered there? Probably not.
I don't see Paula asking to be excused for what she did. She is approaching life as a middle-aged woman of a certain generation from a certain part of the country. I remember the way things were, and I understand her. Right or wrong? At the very least, she's not sitting back and muttering what she did was fine. At the most, she is repentent and apologetic.
The weak question (posed by a clever lawyer?) led to an answer and a media circus. Personally, I have no desire to hang Paula for her answer. Now, the unfair business practices? Have at it.
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment, Adam. I am so pleased to hear from you; and I welcome your opinions.