The biggest summer for racial tension since 1994 continues, this time with a strange, n-word-laden rant from what has been typically perceived as a fairly innocuous source: Dr. Laura Schlessinger. Speaking to a black caller who called for advice on handling racial tensions with her white husband, Dr. Laura uses the offensive word eleven times and ultimately tells the caller that if she doesn't "have a sense of humor," she should not "marry out of your race."
The caller explained that she was beginning to grow "resentful" of her husband because he seemed comfortable with a neighbor continually making racist comments about her. When asked to give an example, the caller told Schlessinger that he had used the n-word, to which she replied that she didn't see a problem with that. "Black guys," she explained, "use it all the time. Turn on HBO, listen to a black comic, and all you hear is n*gger, n*gger, n*gger." Then, of course, the conversation veered inevitably (and uncomfortably) towards Barack Obama, with Schlessinger continuing: "We have a black man as president and we have more complaining about racism than ever."
After the caller expressed some discomfort with the tone of Schlessinger's comments, the host scolded her, telling her not to "NAACP me" [according to the dictionary, the proper term is to Breitbart] and, finally, "if you're that hypersensitive about color, and don't have a sense of humor, don't marry out of your race." Wow. Not that Dr. Laura hasn't gotten in trouble for insensitive comments before: In 2002, Schlessinger found herself in hot water for calling homosexuality "a biological mistake." That, however, was not directed at a particular caller, nor did it use specific slurs.
Dr. Laura's rant made it to primetime tonight thanks to CNN's Rick Sanchez, who led his 8PM program with the story, getting ahead of The O'Reilly Factor (leading with a 14th Amendment debate) and Countdown (leading with an interview with an American mechanic).
Update: Dr. Laura has apologized on her website.
Her words: "Black guys use it all the time. Turn on HBO and listen to a black comic, and all you hear is nigger, nigger, nigger. I don't get it. If anybody without enough melanin says it, it's a horrible thing. But when black people say it, it's affectionate."
Later, the on-air discussion with a caller identified as a black woman went like this:CALLER: "Is it OK to say that word? Is it ever OK to say that word?"
DR. LAURA: "It depends how it's said. Black guys talking to each other seem to think it's okay."
CALLER: "But you're not black, they're not black, my husband is white."
DR. LAURA: "Oh, I see, so a word is restricted to race. Got it. Can't do much about that."
CALLER: "I can't believe someone like you is on the radio spewing out the n-word, and I hope everybody heard it."
DR. LAURA: "I didn't spew out the n-word!"
CALLER: "You said 'nigger, nigger, nigger,' and I hope everybody heard it."
DR. LAURA: "Yes they did, and I'll say it again: nigger, nigger, nigger is what you hear on HBO."
And...
DR. LAURA: Why don't you let me finish a sentence? Don't take things out of context. Don't NAACP me, leave them in context.After the conversation with the caller, Schlessenger added: ""If you're that hypersensitive about color and don't have a sense of humor, don't marry outside of your race."
Schlessinger wrote an aplogy that appeared on her Web site.
"Yesterday, I did the wrong thing," she wrote. "I didn't intend to hurt people, but I did. And that makes it the wrong thing to have done. I was attempting to make a philosophical point, and I articulated the 'n' word all the way out--more than one time. And that was wrong. I'll say it again—that was wrong."Schlessinger wrote that she "was so upset [she] could not finish the show... I pulled myself off the air at the end of the hour. I had to finish the hour, because 20 minutes of dead air doesn't work. I am very sorry. And it just won't happen again."
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Howard Stern Blasts Dr. Lauraby 3v1ld34d12,507 views
This show at the end of the day was pop culture entertainment to sell manufactured products to listeners to generate profits ?. Would manufacturers want their products associated with the " n word and a converted to Jewish religion /mixed European origin American woman to sell their products ? Would it alienate potential consumers? Those were questions that pop into my head when I first learned about the controvercy.
wallyknowll1 3 days ago
Black people are just annoying. They are the ones keeping that word alive. They still use it by calling each other NIGGER so they are okay with it. They are niggers
tictacpaddy 1 week ago
Oh I did agree with her when she spoke on interracial relationship. Some friends or family members may have take offend to a person based of color not the person itself.
badabingcorporatemob 1 week ago
Me being a black man in 2012 the word doesn't bother me. But!!!!! Right Wing white American see a black person say "NIGGA" and there white ears hear it and the word "nigger" comes out there lips. If your gonna make a point lady, next time know the right words to say.
badabingcorporatemob 1 week ago
@kylemcentee You are having some kind of hysterical, psychotic episode - while you claim that the World is oversensitive? LOL!
If you represent Strongsville, Ohio, why the fuck would I go there? You're not much of an ambassador: thanks to you, I now know it's likely to be some kind of colony of subhuman degenerates, who probably spend most of their days foraging for nuts and berries...
I think Strongsville, Ohio, is the best place for you, you fucking brainless hunk of meat.
thebearclawjones 2 weeks ago
@thebearclawjones lol anybody can talk shit on YouTube comments you fucking pussy. Come to Strongsville Ohio you little mark ass fucking Cunt. We will see who the bitch is. People ARE wayyy to sensitive and they are ruining our country by being bitches about fucking everything.And if your too much of a bitch ass nigger to come here then go FUCK YOURSELF because Mr. BearClaw (badass) is never going to do shit. FAGGOT
kylemcentee 2 weeks ago
@kylemcentee I can't understand how you were allowed to live when there must have been plenty of opportunities to drop you down some fucking stairs outside the hospital and have it look like a tragic accident.
Obviously, somebody fucked up.
thebearclawjones 2 weeks ago
@thebearclawjones yes "TOO SENSITIVE" fucking prick what part didn't you understand?
kylemcentee 3 weeks ago
@kylemcentee Hahaha - "too sensitive". Idiot.
thebearclawjones 3 weeks ago
damn straight! people are ridiculous with getting offended over everything. I hate it.
kylemcentee 3 weeks ago