Race Related

It’s about Paula Deen. 

The headlines reported, under oath the television personality said she had used the “n” word, “in the past”.  If you do not know what the “n” word is, good!  If you do know, then no doubt you are aware it is a derogatory label/word that should never be said.  Exception – it seems if you are of African heritage and attribute the word to another of African heritage, eh!  I’ll say this.  In my circles it’s not acceptable, at all!!!

Anyway, I’ve read that using the “n” word was one of a few less-than-admirable racially demeaning admissions made by Paula Deen, of European heritage, born in the deep south in the late 40’s.  None of what I read was OK.  But did it warrant the consequences interested parties are dealing with these days? 

Several corporate entities have announced a cessation of contracts with Paula Deen and her companies.  Paula has offered tear filled commentary; words vouching for her sense of self that does not think, feel or condone what the reported racially based inappropriate incidents imply.

From the people, there’s a hue and cry of disgust and sympathy. Sympathy because “who hasn’t used demeaning terminology at some time?”  Disgust because here’s evidence of the strong undercurrent of racial disparity we cannot seem to overcome as a group of people in this country.  And the perpetrator is a public icon. One person posted on the Internet, “Don’t you wish you had picked your own cotton?”

The questioner was not speaking to a person like me but I have an answer.

“Having lived my entire life in this country I was born in AND having lived my entire life as the descendant of slaves AND having managed to live a constructive, happy life in spite of the emotionally draining feat of periodically dealing with persons and groups of persons who demean me simply on SEEING me, I for one wish they had picked their own cotton and labored and toiled, broke their own backs to earn their future without taking away from me and mine.”

But that has not been America's history.  The good thing is we have come very far.  The not so good is, when incidents like this Paula Deen moment surface, the resultant discussion is verification we’ve ‘got a ways to go’.  Depressing.