By Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger
I never much liked Paula Deen’s cooking. Filled with butter and gravies and things like Krispy Creme Donuts for hamburger buns, Paula seemed too culinarily eccentric … to foodie excessive … too health oblivious even for a southern cook in 1813 much less 2013. Her story though, like her southern twang, had a certain charm to it: single mother of two left penniless makes ends meet by selling food-to-go out of her home kitchen and works her butt off until she reached the top of the sundae’s cherry with three shows on the Food Network and some spin off shows for her two sons.
That all ended Friday as a deposition of Ms. Deen was released. In that dep (in a case Lisa T. Jackson v. Paula Deen et al. involving a claim of racial and sexual discrimination by an employee of her restaurant, Uncle Bubba’s), Ms. Deen admitted to using the no-no of racial epithets in the past — the distant past, like 50 years ago. Here’s an excerpt from the transcript of Paula’s deposition to see just what I mean:
Q
Okay. Have you ever used the N word yourself?
A
Yes, of course.
Q
Okay. In what context?
A
Well, it was probably when a black man burst into the bank that I was working at and put a gun to my head.
Q
Okay. And what did you say?
A
Well, I don’t remember, but the gun was dancing all around my temple.
Q
Okay.
A
I didn’t — I didn’t feel real favorable towards him.
Q
Okay. Well, did you use the N word to him as he pointed a gun in your head at your face?
A
Absolutely not.
Q
Well, then, when did you use it?
A
Probably in telling my husband.
Q
Okay. Have you used it since then?
A
I’m sure I have, but it’s been a very long time.
Q
Can you remember the context in which you have used the N word?
A
No.
Q
Has it occurred with sufficient frequency that you cannot recall all of the various context in which you’ve used it?
A
No, no.
Q
Well, then tell me the other context in which you’ve used the N word?
A
I don’t know, maybe in repeating something that was said to me.
Q
Like a joke?
A
No, probably a conversation between blacks. I don’t — I don’t know.
Q
Okay.
A
But that’s just not a word that we use as time has gone on. Things have changed since the ’60s in the south. And my children and my brother object to that word being used in any cruel or mean behavior.
Q
Okay
Realizing perhaps too late, the Deen Food Empire (books, utensils, cutlery, you name it) sprung into action. First a very public apology for sins past, then a new revised one on YouTube, the town square of our age, where Paula looking quite shaken literally begs for forgiveness. PC gods served? You tell me:
On cable TV shows up and down the msnbc roster, Deen was decried as racist, uncaring, and calls for her banishment from polite society became overwhelming. So much so that the Food Network pulled the shows and consigned Deen to places we reserve for the likes of George Wallace and Sheriff Bull Connor. But is that fair?
Deen grew up in place far away –temporally and culturally — from most of her critics and, as one who grew up in the same locales, I can tell you that her sin was a popular one in the South in the 60’s . Everybody who wasn’t white and rich had a name: wops, pollaks, heebs, rednecks, pope lovers, crackers, and yes those christened with the “N” word. And each group used the words liberally to each other and even among each other. I never saw a fight over the name calling but there were some close calls.
Surely it wasn’t a very hospitable place for African-Americans who bore the brunt of discrimination, but neither was it a hospitable place if you were poor, or Catholic, or ethnic, or anything other than wealthy, white and Protestant. That didn’t mean people weren’t civil to one another. By and large they were, but there was a palpable feeling of place and hierarchy that was enforced with a rigid caste system administered by state and local governments. That sat pretty well with the white elite who ran things back then.
But you should know those in power considered folks like Paula Deen no better that the “n*iggers” they brought in to do their cooking and cleaning and to raise their kids. Those “people” were there and free only by fiat of the government in Wershington and, by god, if that was the case they were going to be useful, or so it was thought.
The South changed and evolved in the ’60s and ’70s with the Civil Rights Movement as Dr. King’s words touched hearts both white and black and brightened them all. For those who wouldn’t listen, scenes of pregnant women blasted with water cannons and vicious police dogs attacking kids was surely enough. White people who drove pickups and worked in plants and farms started to realize that the folks who lived across the railroad tracks and who drove older pickup trucks and worked in plants and farms weren’t really much different from themselves and they had the same lack of control over their lives. The wedges of words that the ruling élite had no interest in curtailing melted away and it is clearly true that the advent of political correctness shown a glaring light on those southern dinosaurs who couldn’t or wouldn’t change.
Which brings us back to Paula Deen. Paula likely grew up in one of those same southern small towns like I did. She also likely made a distinction between “black people” (as they were called then ), who worked hard and raised their families as best they could under grinding poverty, and “n*ggers” who were seen as lazy, irresponsible, thuggish and no account. She likely came to learn that names reflect stereotypes and they can be and are often wrong; that people don’t fit nicely into boxes; and that, as Edmund Burke so wisely reminds us, you can’t draw up an indictment against a whole people.
Paula evolved and the South evolved. But the question remains for Paula and those like her: When is the sentence for violating political correctness over? When can you freely admit a mistake made decades ago without fear of reprisal? Not the criminal kind administered by the state, but the reprisal from the overlords of decorum who sit in ivory towers or corporate boardrooms and wax philosophic on all manner of society’s ills and largely for their own benefit ? When will a society committed to free expression allow itself to deal honestly with its past and say publicly a two-syllable word that most find offensive?
In my view, you don’t need a word that no one can utter. You don’t need to continually explain and apologize for sins made years ago in a culture far, far away if you’ve done it once and sincerely. And perhaps most importantly, you don’t need to feel society’s wrath for simply telling the truth about that society.
Paula Deen is no hero, but she is certainly no villain for growing up as she did and living as she did. When we master that fact perhaps we can overcome the racism that divides us even as we accept that our differences spring largely from things over which we have little control, and that we can come together in spite of ourselves if we forgive as freely and as often as we decry.
Source: Huffington Post
~Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger
Gene,
Thanks … cyber warfare run amuck
Blouise,
Former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff retired Marine Gen. James “Hoss” Cartwright. He hasn’t formally been charged under the Espionage Act yet, but he is the target of a Grand Jury investigation. Given that the EA is the Obama administrations tool of choice in pursuing leakers? That’s likely the charge forthcoming. But that’s the least of his problems would be my guess. My knowledge of the USCMJ is limited, but it’s generally much harsher than civilian law.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/28/james-cartwright-leaks_n_3515559.html?utm_hp_ref=politics
P.S. By “this case” I mean this case of whether Paula Deen is a racist; not the court case. And I will amend one statement to make it stronger:
Except the instance she admits to occurred in 1986, 27 years ago, and she admits to later casual conversational usage than that. Her situation was not “far different from the present” in 1986.
Mark: Except your premises have nothing to do with this case!
Mark: A person shouldn’t be tarred for something said 50 years ago in a situation far different than the present.
Except the instance she admits to occurred in 1986, 27 years ago, and she admits to later usage than that. Her situation was not “far different from the present” in 1986.
Mark: based on a skewed interpretation of a video snippet that nobody complained about at the time.
Well first I didn’t see it “at the time,” but I complained about it upon seeing it. Second, “skewed” is your subjective characterization of our interpretation, you present no evidence to demonstrate we are misinterpreting it other than your own assertion that you wouldn’t interpret it the same way.
Juliet: Sorry, but I won’t let it pass. I can agree to a standoff, but if I have the time to answer, I will not let falsehoods stand as the last word.
Wry … perfect!
You downtown boys are dangerous
AY,
No … which general?
AY,
Excellent. Just a few more ingredients and I’ll be a Ruben.
Yeah, over the STUXNET deal? That cat may actually deserve it too. If true, he wasn’t revealing wrongdoing against the public, he was revealing information about an ongoing foreign intelligence op. I wonder how the USCMJ is going to treat him too. You know the Espionage Act isn’t the end of it.
Gene,
Wry toast….
Blouise that was great….
Off topic…
Did anyone see that an army general is being charged with leaking classified info under the espionage act….
However, since I like my gals wry, what does that make me?
Blouise,
I like it! Never heard that usage before.
Gene,
There’s another common usage often uttered by young men to their buddies: She’s white bread and you, my young friend, are toast.
I’m fairly certain that’s a secondary consideration to whether Zimmerman is a murderer (degree TBD) or acted in self-defense, AY.
Oh, so its a race to the term racist….so was Martin or Zimmerman the bigger racist…
AY,
Cracker is pejorative slang, but white bread is slang that can either be pejorative or denoting something bland and uninteresting. Compare:
“You white bread, *(*)$(*(%@$$!”
and
“That’s kind of a white bread paint job.”
Juliet,
I’d to thank you for your absolutely stellar contribution which is the argumentative equivalent of “you’re a loser, dooty head”.
It looks good on you.
AY,
Are you asking me that question?
But what a cracker or white bread….. Are those slangs?
I refuse to eat anything that is White Does that make me a racist?
Mespo,
I agree that it has been a good discussion.
“I’ve seen no proof that Ms. Deen harbors any racist sentiments despite what some disgruntled employee seeking cash says or based on a skewed interpretation of a video snippet that nobody complained about at the time.”
*****
“Skewed” interpretation? That’s your opinion. People view things differently.
Bob has no problem with friends who use the word “nigger” for effect in conversation. I would. Fortunately, I have never heard any of my friends use that epithet for a Black person.
Do you have any evidence that shows that the “disgruntled” employee doesn’t have a good reason for her charges of discrimination?
By the way it has been a good discussion and one that needs to be had — by everyone.
Mike S:
No one’s integrity was questioned merely their breathless rush to condemn based on awfully thin evidence. Sorry you feel the way you do but the bottom line is that if I’m blind for demanding convincing proof of racism you might consider you’re blind for not. You forget I’ve lived in it since birth and have some feel for dumb versus diabolical when it comes to this topic.
My premises in this whole endeavor are simple:
A person shouldn’t be tarred for something said 50 years ago in a situation far different than the present.
I’ve seen no proof that Ms. Deen harbors any racist sentiments despite what some disgruntled employee seeking cash says or based on a skewed interpretation of a video snippet that nobody complained about at the time.
If you want to make that your case, so be it, but like everything else on the blog we can let the readers decide.
“No one’s integrity was questioned merely their breathless rush to condemn based on awfully thin evidence.”
Mark,
When I’m discussing this issue calmly, without rancor and I see discussion dismissed as a “breathless rush to condemn” which certainly connotes certain things, then I rightly feel my integrity is being questioned. Those words in this context connote sloppy thinking, knee jerk reactions based upon political reasons and a blatant disregard for an individual’s condemnation in the media.
Had I decided to use such connotative words to characterize the arguments put forth by yourself and Bob, Esq. I might have used something like “the racial insensitivity you two display.” I didn’t go that route because I respect the integrity of you and Bob and feel I know you two better than that. This is a disagreement Obviously it seems that me, Tony, Elaine and Blouise are not held in similar respect regarding our integrity. Not myself, nor any of the other three has been intemperate in their arguments against your position, nor have they used such ad hominem characterizations to assert their beliefs. I could give you contrasting quotes but the record is in the comments above and I do think you should reconsider some of your comments in this discussion.
“I’ve seen no proof that Ms. Deen harbors any racist sentiments despite what some disgruntled employee seeking cash says or based on a skewed interpretation of a video snippet that nobody complained about at the time.”
Sorry to burst that bubble but I watched the Paula Deen episode on Dr. Henry Luis Gates excellent TV show “Who Do You Think You Are” when it originally aired since that is one of my wife and I’s favorite shows. The TV interview that Juliet linked to referenced that show I looked forward to that episode since my view of Paula was positive at that time and I had watched her on her own show and as a guest on Craig Ferguson’s “Late, Late Show”. As a guest she was a pleasure who kept up with Craig’s signature double entendres. After watching “Who Do you Think You Are” I came away disturbed with Deen and a little annoyed with Doctor Gates, who as host was overly solicitous to her statements particularly regarding her “slaveholder” ancestor. The show went through the county census records where one could see the 37 slaves (not workers) listed as property. Ms. Deen made the expected appearance of being shocked, but then she is a performer. As a therapist though, I was disturbed by her performance because it didn’t ring true. Here is the link to watch that show: http://www.yidio.com/show/who-do-you-think-you-are/season-3/episode-12/links.html
What interests me too is your continuing assertion that Ms. Deen “only” used “nigger” a few time 50 years ago is based on her testimony to which you obviously give determinative credibility, while at the same time dismissing the plaintiff as merely a self-serving seeker of financial reward. This formulation discounts the fact that Deen’s testimony can be seen as just as self-serving because she has a lot to lose. To give it more credibility, even based on the snippet of testimony you provided in your blog post, is I think accepting the improbable, especially in light of the 2012 tape which at least five commentators here based their judgment as to Ms. Dean insincerity on matters of race.
I must also mention the intemperance which Juliet had heaped upon her for presenting that video and for her remarks upon it. All she presented was done with civility and class, yet she was attacked as if she was someone like Ralph Adamo. Since she seems new to commenting here it was a pretty rough welcome, not deserved by her comments. I hope this will not deter her from commenting in the future, since it would be our loss.
Finally, I can’t end this without a mention of the use of the term PC. This is a most pernicious term, coined at a Conservative Think Tank, as a means to allow racial intemperance to return as acceptable means of discussion. It further allows bigots to call those who label comments as racist, to be called racists in turn. Words and phrases do have meaning as asserted by Conservative wordsmith Frank Luntz and PC has made it safe for people to be outright bigots again. Now some, perhaps yourself, would defend this assertion by saying that there should be no banned words if we are to have free speech. I agree 100% with that concept and I would never for instance ban the epithet “nigger” as much as I wouldn’t ban the word “kike”, or even “Christ Killer” to his closer to my home. What PC does though is limit my right to call out bigots by diminishing/dismissing my protestations as mere PC. While we should never ban any speech, I am an absolutist on this, neither should we diminish the ability to bring societal opprobrium upon those who use speech in a hurtful, offensive manner.
All in all though I must thank you for producing a guest blog that has engendered such a wonderful discussion. While I point out what I see as intemperance in your characterizations, none of it lacked civility and this thread shows we can discuss sensitive topics, that touch a nerve in each of us, in the calm civil manner that Jonathan Turley asks for. Well done, even if I disagree with you, this has been fun and never at any point aroused anger in me because of the quality of everyone’s dialogue.
Thank you, Mike. I’ve had my Internet chops busted by my better (and worse) than these. I’ll be around.