Paula Deen's use of the "N"-Word

[DrPhil]

I think there is enough stuff posted in this thread out of Paula Deen's own mouth. Even her joke about her Black friend's Blackness will not be found funny by everyone. People who do not find it funny have every ability to be pissed. It is certainly not the first time that people respond to other people (comedians included) for making jokes that seem more driven by an uncomfortable belief system rather than "rough humor." Such is life.

I would be interested to see how this would go if this was about Paula Deen talking about another group of people--let's use LGBT as an illustration. If Paula Deen admitted to using a gay slur in the heat of anger or was taped making jokes with a homosexual friend that not everyone found funny; Paula Deen ranting about how homosexuality is traditionally frowned upon in the Deep South therefore she is an innocent and mindless product of her environment; and Paula Deen saying that she doesn't see what's wrong with HER USE of gay slurs because some of her chefs who are gay use them around each other (she said that about the racial slur). Yeahhhhh...I would love to see the LGBT community (as a collective, not individuals) say "haha...you're hilarious...have fun!!" Yeahhhhh...I would love to see people TELL the LGBT community that it was innocent and mindless fun on the part of an older white woman from the Deep South...therefore...there should be no negative opinions and potentially no negative consequences. I would also love to see companies underestimate the purchasing power of the LGBT community and the supporters of this community and say "nooo, we're keeping Paula Deen...but don't take this to mean that we are making a statement against you...."

Yeahhhhh...I won't hold my breath waiting for things like this to happen.

Whether or not Paula Deen is racist would depend on whether her prejudices are manifested into actions that negatively impact other people. Annoying people, angering people, not being considered funny, or hurting people's feelings are not the crux of racism. That is why diversity trainings and rainbow pissing ponies designed to get people to smile at each other don't work.

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

Here is a thoughtful, thought provoking, open letter I read on Facebook:

http://afroculinaria.com/

I did not understand much of what this culinary writer was saying. But, I gather that this writer is saying "I understand...it's how things happen...let's get together."

I respect that writer's opinion but some of us can multitask. We can talk about Paula Deen and tackle larger issues regarding the structure of racism. Yes, there are people of the African diaspora who were and still are consumers of Paula Deen. I was not and still am not among them but I enjoyed seeing her commercials.

[SWTXBelle]

I didn't realize Paula Deen might have been referencing an actual specific restaurant: http://blogs.laweekly.com/squidink/2..._nostalgia.php

"I knew immediately which restaurant she was referring to -- Pittypat's Porch, named for the slave-owning Gone With The Wind character, which claims to be the longest continuously operational restaurant in Atlanta. It opened in 1967, and hasn't changed much in the intervening decades. It aims for "an atmosphere similar to an old plantation."

I always associated waiters (black and white) in white dinner jackets with older restaurant traditions (since I have family from New Orleans, my main experience was with Galatoire's, Brennan's, Antoine's, The Court of Two Sisters, Tujaques) but not with slavery.

[KDCat]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I didn't realize Paula Deen might have been referencing an actual specific restaurant: http://blogs.laweekly.com/squidink/2..._nostalgia.php

"I knew immediately which restaurant she was referring to -- Pittypat's Porch, named for the slave-owning Gone With The Wind character, which claims to be the longest continuously operational restaurant in Atlanta. It opened in 1967, and hasn't changed much in the intervening decades. It aims for "an atmosphere similar to an old plantation."

I always associated waiters (black and white) in white dinner jackets with older restaurant traditions (since I have family from New Orleans, my main experience was with Galatoire's, Brennan's, Antoine's, The Court of Two Sisters, Tujaques) but not with slavery.

That really doesn't help her cause. I don't think she was into it for the camp factor.

http://clatl.com/atlanta/pittypats-p...nt?oid=1958129

[SWTXBelle]

Originally Posted by KDCat

That really doesn't help her cause. I don't think she was into it for the camp factor.

http://clatl.com/atlanta/pittypats-p...nt?oid=1958129

Oh, I didn't note it to "help her cause". I found it interesting that there was a specific restaurant she might have been "inspired" by when planning her brother's wedding. The fact that the restaurant apparently has bad food is decidedly unsouthern.

[KDCat]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

Oh, I didn't note it to "help her cause". I found it interesting that there was a specific restaurant she might have been "inspired" by when planning her brother's wedding. The fact that the restaurant apparently has bad food is decidedly unsouthern.

Yep.

My grandma was from Arkansas. "Southern" was the first thing I learned to cook.

So. much. good. food.

[LXA SE285]

Walmart and Caesars just dropped her. Shit's gettin' real, y'all.

http://m.deadline.com/2013/06/paula-...nt-today-show/

[AlphaFrog]

I might stop in more often, now that DrPhil is back.

And, as to not derail the thread....butter.