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August 19th, 2010
11:12 AM ET
Caller to Dr. Laura's radio show: "It's still very hurtful"
When Nita Hanson called Dr. Laura's radio show last week, she was looking for a little advice to deal with a sensitive and very personal racial issue. Instead, she found herself on the receiving end of a stinging five-minute rant laced with the "n" word. Nita is speaking out publicly for the first time exclusively on CNN's American Morning.
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I think Dr. Laura was out of line. Apparently she is not a very intelligent person to begin with. However, I can not imagine why Jade, who appears to be intelligent would call a radio talk show host to seek advice in the first place.
Soon the NAACP will want the letter N removed from the alphabet. Personally I am very careful when I speak with a African American(I am just an american ) for fear that I might say something that will hurt their feelings and get me arrested . If that makes me a racist , well then I am proud oof it.
@Jimmy there is indeed a double standard where the N word is concerned, as A black woman i have yet to understand why those who share the same race as myself would want to take one of the worst words in history and use it as a form. of endearment. The word does not, will not, and never will mean anything good.
It is high time for the black community to clean up their acts, we talk every day about equal rights, and justice, and at the same time, say it is ok for us blacks to use the word with each other, but no one else should use it? WE can't have one set of rules for ourselves and another set of rule for everybody else.
I fully understand why some of "WHITE AMERICA" will never change their racist feelings towards "BLACK AMERICA", we constantly use the excuses of slavery to continue to blame WHITE AMERICA, slavery is over and gone, how can we as a race muddy the legacy of People such as MARTIN LUTHER KING, ROSA PARKES, and all those who fought for our freedom, with the N Word?
The word should not be used by ANYONE, and if the black community wishes to continue using it with each other, then by GOD do not cry racism when someone outside of the race does. we need to clean up our own back yards.
Let's talk about how Ms. Hanson at one time called it the "N***** word" instead of the "N-word." Better yet, let us count how many time's Ms. Hanson used the 'N-word." Now, I don't disagree that Dr. Laura went off on a rant and should have stuck to the original topic at hand, but at the same time, I feel that Ms. Hanson also encouraged the rant to continue when she asked, "What about the N-word?" What, Dr. Laura can't use the entire word, "N*****" while simply pointing out how often it is used on such channels as HBO, but Ms. Hanson -CAN- use the entire word, "N******" to point out what Dr. Laura said? It is not as though Dr. Laura directly called anyone the "N-word."
Dr. Laura...underestimated, undervalued and marginalized Nita "Jade" Hanson. "Some" white people tend to do that a lot. They think they are superior..........and they aren't!
THE DOUBLE STANDARD RESPONSE: First of all, I’m not sure what you mean by African-Americans “get to say the N-word.” It sounds like you think you’re missing out on something good! If you want to say the N-word just say it and get it out of your system. No one should say it… To the extent that you hear African-Americans using the word, it is because their ancestors “got” to go through slavery and Jim Crow… African-Americans didn’t invent the word but took the power out of the word by using it in such a way as to have some of its Caucasian inventors angry that they can’t use the N-word in 2010 – that’s quite an accomplishment.
Moreover, there is nothing new about like communities being able to speak to each other (even in a public forum) in a way that is not acceptable for others. For example, I might not be as well received as Jeff Foxworthy is for telling stereotypical “redneck” jokes, Jerry Seinfeld who often tell Jewish jokes, or George Lopez who makes fun of Mexicans and Hispanics… The N-word is a line in the sand that has been drawn after many years of African-American suffering… In short, we can all make fun of our brothers, sisters, and parents but it has always been the case that nobody else can.
there is totally a double standar, I am also agree that if they find that word so ofensive why don't they say anything when african american people uses that word!!!!!
I want to thank CNN for giving both Nita Hanson and Dr. Laura the opportunity to tell their side of the recent contriversary between the two. I have to admit that I did not want to hear anything that Dr. Laura had to say about the incident, the tape said it all. However, I thought it only right to listen to her side if I wanted to post a comment. I did watch the segment last evening on Anderson Cooper 360 with John Roberts. I think that Dr. Laura believes she was trying to make a point to the caller, however, she is a professional and should have known when to stop, but she didn't. Eleven times using the n-word, come on. She has done the right thing by stepping down,but not to regain her first amendment rights, but to re-evaluate her sensitivity level or lack there of.
I do not want to see her on any further networks trying to explain her side when it is clear from the taped phone conversation. Maybe she should take a lesson from Don Imus (which I am a fan of), sincerely apologize, learn and grow from the mistake, rebuild the respect fans and pay it forward.
Sincerely, Michele
WOW! Dr. Laura is crazy!!
We turned off "Dr. Laura" ranting "ad-vert-ice" when realizing she was part of a network of right-wing radio blahs. When a noted radio contributor and real medical doctor and psychiatrist (David) killed himself, it was obvious that rational discussion did not attract the frustrated at-home wives of WWE-fan husbands, excited by table-throwing and trash talk. This includes prime time viewers of this ridiculous entertainment, whence kids learn the grosser points of back-street fighting. Miss Laura now blames 'media-minder.' Thank our unique democracy that some balance is coming in "on cat's paws" to respond to KFI in LA, and other 'clearmedia' propagandists. Her remarks in context were far worse than the always unacceptable derogatory and hurtful words. As Caucasian educators, we find that it is an extremely small segment – from all races – which finds the 'n' words a satiric form against 'whitey,' whom when educated knows the true genesis of these words, coming mostly from the deep south and still spreading in private amongst many "sunbelt" states. I now recommend, Lewis Carroll's famed "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass," in any medium, for informed presentation of the nature of little "tea-parties" and "nonsense" language in delightful satire from what is an historic continuum. RG et IG
Comment to Dr. Laura story.
I understand the sensitivity of the "N" word. But is there is a double standard? I hear the "N" word from "people of color" on the street, parking lots and on the radio most every day. My question to the black community is if it is so offensive why aren't you doing more to stop its usage among African Americans, RAP'ers, comedians, etc...?
I don't use the "N word". I don't like it. I understand how hurtful it is. I also don't like hearing African-Americans using it. Since it is such a bad thing, why do they continue to use it themselves. I still haven't heard this one answered.
I just found the actual call online............Instead of giving the woman sound advice, Dr. Laura ranted about a whole bigger issue instead of sticking to the caller's marital situation. Calling her out about the black community being "over sensitive" and then yelling the "N-Word" over n over n over again.........was so out of line. She has too many years on the radio to do something so bush-league.
Ms. Hanson is a very classy lady. Lesser people would hardly be this civil to someone who has been so offensive. She's very brave to speak about this publicly. I hope our nation can heal the racial divide. We've come so far, but clearly have a lot of ground to cover yet.
I like what she says – "I don't think someone should tell you what you're feeling is right or wrong."
not all republicans are racists... but if you are a racist there's a good chance your a republican....