Words, Part 6: The Deen of Languages

Blogger's note: "Words" is an ongoing feature in which I take a look at special qualities and misrepresentations of the English language, how much fun it is to play with its words, and why it reigns as one of the hardest languages to master.


Paula Deen, the Southern Belle of culinary arts, said the word nigger. That's right. A white woman born and raised and living in Georgia since the late 40's testified in a court appearance that she said it. It occurred, she explained, when she was a bank teller and a black man robbing the bank had a gun to her head. All things considered, I'd have to give her a pass on that one. She also stirred the pot with other questionably racial things she's allegedly said over the course of her life. She has to live with that, whatever came or comes out of her mouth. I neither condone nor condemn her.

The Paula Deen cookware collection,

available in a variety of colors.

Except for the kettles.

As a result of the court testimony and subsequent bad apologies from her, the Food Network chopped Ms. Deen from their programming. The network's refusal to continue Ms. Deen's contract created public outcry against the network, the consensus being the network over-reacted. However, the network has an image to maintain and it decided to distance itself from the incident. They are the boss, and they have that right, as does any other business that finds itself in the same position. I neither condone nor condemn them.

What bothers me about the controversy is how it was reported by the media, in particular their use of "the N-word." By that I mean, literally, "the N-word." The media, in their need to sensationalize the "news," presented it in that manner, as "the N-word." The media, I assume, was trying to address what they considered a sensitive subject in an inoffensive manner, which is bullshit and cowardly. Refer to it as a racial epithet or slur then, and leave it at that. Otherwise, put that disclaimer up - you know, the one they use every time they find the ratings balls to show pictures or videos that aren't suitable for children or may be disturbing to some viewers - and say it. Because when it comes to using words deemed offensive, speaking or writing the word by its first initial does not allow you a pass for not saying it. If you say part of it, MFer, you said all of it.

I think by now society as a whole is familiar, if not immune, to this word to the extent that there shouldn't be a need to abbreviate it. Ironically, it's been infused into popular culture by the very people who should be offended by it. It's been overused, diluted to the point that it should not be allowed to maintain a taboo status, at least no more than any other word. That's not to say people should feel free to run around injecting it into conversation without concern. The word certainly does not have glamorous history, and may indeed be offensive when used inappropriately. But it doesn't make sense that it's okay to say nigger in a song, or repeat it in front of a movie camera in excess of an estimated 100 times as was done in the movie Django Unchained. (That movie, by the way, grossed over $162 million, which I think is way more offensive). Nor does it make sense for one segment of society to be allowed to include it in its vernacular, yet punish another segment as if it committed a trademark violation.

Content and context. A word, any word, only has the amount of power one gives it. The word "Jew" can carry offense, too, but we don't call it "the J-word." This blog has a stated belief that there are no bad words, only misused words, and hiding a word behind a hyphen with a wink that "you know what I mean" is misusing it. There are other educated and responsible ways of not saying a word you're uncomfortable with without making me say it for you.

As for Paula Deen, she may lose some business, with dropped endorsements by companies like Target or Sears, where you can still get your favorite Nas CD with racially explicit language. No doubt this will turn out to be a bumpy road for her, but I can't see her hanging up her apron and stop cooking. She seems to have a lot of supporters, both black and white, and should rebound over time. She certainly has the money to sit back and wait it out. Those who found her behavior inappropriate have the right to step away, just as those who saw no intended harm have the right to promote her career and see her back on T.V. in spite of the decision by the Food Network and not out of spite for it. Perhaps it will be hosting another cooking show on another network, or maybe as a product spokesperson.

Just as long as it isn't Cracker Barrel.