General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAre you kidding me? Defending Paula Deen on DU? You're outing yourself
as someone who just doesn't think that blatant racism is all that bad.
Excuses abound and all of them suck completely.
It's not accidental. It's not because she's an older southern woman.
It's because she's a nasty racist piece of work and a bully.
Enough.
Paula Deen Uses the N-Word: 8 Shocking Details From Her Deposition
<snip>
1. She refused to have her empire destroyed by a piece of pussy. (Also, she uses that word!)
Former employee Lisa Jackson said that she was hired to replace a general manager at the restaurant Uncle Bubbas who was fired for having sexual relationships with underage servers. While demanding the manager be fired, Jackson says that Deen told her brother, If you think I have worked this hard to lose everything because of a piece of pussy, you better think again. Asked in her deposition whether she actually said it, Deen responded with an abso-friggin-lutely: I said that day and I would say it again today if it applied. She then repeated the sentence, making not being in that room a regret well all have to live with for the rest of our lives.
2. She really wanted to stage that Southern plantation-style wedding. But she didnt because the media wouldnt understand.
Jackson said she was put in charge of arrangements for Bubbas wedding, which Deen apparently said she wanted to have a true Southern plantation-style theme. What, pray tell, does that mean? Well what I would really like is a bunch of little n----rs to wear long-sleeve white shirts, black shorts, and black bow-ties, you know in the Shirley Temple days, they used to tap dance around, Deen reportedly elaborated. Alas, the wedding Deen envisioned never came to be. We cant do that because the media would be on me about that, she reportedly told Jackson. In her testimony, Deen said that she actually was referencing the beautiful white jackets with a black bow-tie she saw the wait staff of middle-aged black men wearing at a restaurant she visited in Tennessee or North Carolina or somewhere.
3. She did not use the N-word to describe the waiters.
Deen objected to the accusation that she used the N-word to describe the waiters. Asked whether there was any possibility that she may have slipped and use the word, she said, No, because thats not what these men were. They were professional black men doing a fabulous job. Still, when asked why nicely dressed black men would be a part of a Southern plantation wedding, she said it reminded her of southern America before the Civil War. After being reminded that black men serving people in the South before the Civil War were slaves, she agreed, but said she did not mean anything derogatory by her comments.
4. She doesn't think that watching porn or being racist at work makes you a bad boss.
In her deposition, Deen was asked whether the fact that her brother admitted to watching pornography and using the N-word at their restaurant caused her to have concerns about him running their business. She responded, just because hes got a sense of humor does not make him a bad person or incapable of running a business. Questioned as to whether jokes of a sexual or racist nature are in poor taste at a place of work, she responded, We have all told off-color jokes
Every man Ive ever come in contact with has one.
<snip>
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/06/19/paula-deen-uses-the-n-word-7-shocking-details-from-her-deposition.html
orpupilofnature57
(15,472 posts)And MSM uses it to gain a whole audience, Ignoramuses !
Captain Stern
(2,201 posts)She's not an overt racist, like somebody in a white supremacist group, but she's still a racist.
In some ways her kind of racism is even worse, because she honestly doesn't understand that she's a racist.
At least with the white power types, you know where they stand.....they hate blacks, jews, or whoever, and admit it. You can see them coming from a mile away, and know what to expect. Deen's kind of racism does far more damage (and I bet even some of her best friends are black)
cali
(114,904 posts)one must be a member of a white supremacist group- or something akin to one- strikes me as a high threshold. I get what you're saying, but I think it's been made clear via her deposition that her racism is pretty out front.
alfie
(522 posts)and it is NOT ok to use that word or make racist jokes or sexist jokes. It bothers me that she just seemed to shrug it off as "so what?"
Response to alfie (Reply #3)
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xmas74
(29,676 posts)You can't stop those comments from being made at home but in this case they were in a work environment. It's a hostile work environment, end of story.
Response to xmas74 (Reply #36)
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xmas74
(29,676 posts)It's there in black and white.
She was released from Food Network after the deposition. She was given that opportunity to defend herself and that's what came out.
NRaleighLiberal
(60,019 posts)Amazing....America, where the riches and attention of so many "celebrities" (and quite a few politicians) are in directly opposite proportion to their true quality as people.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)It is an insult to the rest of us from the deep south to say that it's because of the way it was when and where we grew up that she is the way she is, and speaks the way she speaks.
Although I heard the N word on occasion growing up, I have NEVER used the word to refer to the black race generally or to people specifically. Anyone who is not a racist knows, even at a young age, that that word is an insult and is derogatory. It is NOT an alternate for "good ol' boy."
ONLY a racist (like some people I know) would say some of the things she's said and do some of the things she's done. She probably doesn't even regard herself as a racist...it's so deeply ingrained in her thinking.
She is what was called in my day "white trash" or "trailer trash." Is that racist? Not sure. But use those terms where I'm from, and everyone immediately knows the kind of person you're referring to. (Nothing against trailers. I used to live in one.)
orpupilofnature57
(15,472 posts)RebelOne
(30,947 posts)I live in a mobile home in the South. And it is also insulting.
DLevine
(1,788 posts)Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)it was commonly used when I was growing up, and it specifically refers to a kind of person. I don't know of another term with that particular meaning.
Roseanne Arnold made a joke using it once. Something like, "We're Hollywood's worst nightmare. Trailer trash with money."
You can live in a trailer & not be trailer trash. I've lived in two. They were both pretty nice, actually. I just hope the formaldehyde didn't do permanent damage. I think they're no longer made w/all that formaldehyde.
sarisataka
(18,770 posts)I needed a good laugh today
TalkingDog
(9,001 posts)So, not racist. But Bigoted and Prejudice. Congrats. You are now one of "Them".
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)You are now one of "them."
hlthe2b
(102,357 posts)give themselves a massive MI, stroke, or at a minimum, overwhelming obesity/type II diabetes, while eating her horrendously high fat high sugar excessive fare, my guess is she will do just fine.
Is she a racist or just damned stupid? My guess is both.
mnhtnbb
(31,402 posts)A couple of years ago--before she came out about her diabetes--
she had a run in with Anthony Bourdain. Anybody remember that?
He was all over her unhealthy cooking style and her response was
to make some cutesy comment about whether someone had peed
in his cereal that morning.
Well, a woman with whom I used to work years ago--now retired as I am--
and spending way too much time watching Faux News (she wasn't like
that when we worked together) posted on her fb page about how funny
she thought Deen's comment was. I took her on about it and ended up
unfriending the woman after she suggested that I should be "put in a time out"
for disputing her point of view. This is from a woman whose career I made for
her when I hired her to head a department that reported to me. Time out?
F*ck you, sweetie.
Fast forward. Paula Deen comes out about her diabetes. Then she gets outed
about her racism. Can you see why I'm laughing?
It never ceases to amaze me the lengths people will go to defend their views--regardless
of how wrong they are. I earnestly tried to engage my friend about the health issues
of diet (yes, she's a lot heavier than she was when we worked together) and we worked
together in a hospital.
Any bets on whether I'll ever hear from this "friend" with a 'gee, I guess you were right'
message? I'm not holding my breath!
Lucky Luciano
(11,258 posts)Last edited Sat Jun 22, 2013, 12:43 PM - Edit history (1)
Not even a contest.
Logical
(22,457 posts)Lucky Luciano
(11,258 posts)Ranging from sophisticated culinary expeditions in Japan, France or Spain, to incredible street food all over the world - and on to places that are just done for the sake of expedition - like The Congo, Laos, Mozambique. That is way cooler than cooking some boring butter stew on some boring non adventurous set. Bourdain has an enviable life!
Logical
(22,457 posts)Phentex
(16,334 posts)and you are right. That's what bugged me so much about her diabetes statements...she went to great lengths to deny she ever promoted an unhealthy lifestyle. She even claimed she had always promoted moderation. Liar.
I never disliked her before then but it's been downhill for many years.
FN wasted no time cutting her loose!
LuvNewcastle
(16,856 posts)No network is going to hire her and no store is going to carry her products. It's kind of sad that she was able to act that way as long as she did and be as successful as she's been. I'll bet she blames the whole ordeal on the woman who's suing her, too. People like Paula rarely see the error of their ways.
Lucky Luciano
(11,258 posts)Hassin Bin Sober
(26,337 posts)LuvNewcastle
(16,856 posts)sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)the already.
trueblue2007
(17,238 posts)Guy Whitey Corngood
(26,505 posts)and just so much better than the rest of us "knee jerk reactionaries". In their zeal to show how much more thoughtful and measured they are they miss what's obvious and right in their face. It's like the DU version of CNN. Sure there's two sides to the story. And sometimes one side is a bigoted asshole who likes to dress up black men like in some kind of sick plantation fantasy.
This is not a fucking ten year old who doesn't know any better. It's commendable not to jump to conclusions when you read some inflammatory headline. It's ridiculous to read her deposition and conclude we're the "mean ones" here who just don't understand the poor thing. This whole thing started because she's being accused of discriminatory practices in the work place. For those of you who post shit about who among us hasn't said "nigger" in their lives (I haven't but I've been called one). Fine, but how many of you who have used it have also used your positions at work to harass or discriminate against others?
Sheldon Cooper
(3,724 posts)Mz Pip
(27,453 posts)Deen doesn't live in a bubble where that kind of language and behavior is common place. She's a public figure working in a large diverse environment. She should know better. The fact that she doesn't seem to get that the rules of discourse in a public work environment don't apply to her is astonishing. There's an arrogance there that is pretty appalling.
cali
(114,904 posts)and the arrogance is pretty appalling.
PatSeg
(47,586 posts)was on the genealogy show, "Who Do You Think You Are" and the woman just oozed fake honey. I couldn't imagine how anyone watched her cooking program. Her reaction to finding out that her ancestors owned slaves was rather revealing. Unlike other people I've watched on this program, Deen didn't seem affected by the revelation at all. Though I have a feeling it wasn't a revelation for her.
This is a phony, self-absorbed, mean-spirited, poorly educated grifter. I've known women like her and the camera personality doesn't come close to the-behind-closed-doors Paula.
tammywammy
(26,582 posts)Her banana pudding recipe is fan-freaking-tastic, and I will continue to use it.
After reading the various things she's said, mostly it just makes me sad. It makes me sad that there are people that think it's okay to have slaves as waiters at a wedding. Or to say the N word about people or think that pornography is okay at work.
There's no excuse for her behavior and Food Network was right to let her go. There is no defense to her actions.
mountain grammy
(26,648 posts)SidDithers
(44,228 posts)What a perfect description.
That was really well said.
Sid
jessie04
(1,528 posts)Blatant stupidity...blatant ignorance...blatant upbringing maybe.
I hope people won't judge you at your worst time and rather judge you at your best.
I guess we all can't be perfect.
You might want to show some understanding and forgiveness. Someday you WILL make a mistake.
You will want forgiveness too.
cali
(114,904 posts)not to mention that I haven't said or implied that I'm perfect.
In post after post you keep trying to make this about me. It's not.
Response to jessie04 (Reply #23)
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Dreamer Tatum
(10,926 posts)idwiyo
(5,113 posts)xmas74
(29,676 posts)You can't stop someone from making comments like that at home but the fact remains she was the boss and she made those comments at work. She personally helped to create a hostile work environment.
This wasn't just one comment. This was a series of comments, all made in a work environment. If this were a huge corporation allowing the comments to stand nearly everyone would be screaming bloody murder.
I'm not advocating racism and misogyny but if you're going to do it, do it at home so no one has to hear the crap. The workplace is not the place to hear it.
ForgoTheConsequence
(4,869 posts)I grew up around rural Iowa and I've heard plenty of racist garbage. Racism is racism even if you put a "gee, golly, shucks" face with it. There are racists all over and it has many different ugly heads. From the outright racism I witnessed in Boston/New England to the policies that are still active today that keep minority communities down.
DLevine
(1,788 posts)liberalhistorian
(20,819 posts)I'm not really all that surprised, sadly enough, considering that yesterday we had people openly defend the firing of a woman from her job for being a domestic violence victim (and her blackballing from similar positions in the field), openly victim-blaming and shaming and saying "women should know better" and it's their fault for "making bad mate choices". As if we are issued a crystal ball upon birth so that we can foretell the actions of every man we meet.
So, given that as well as the increasingly-prevalent defense of blatant sexism, it doesn't surprise me at all to see the blatant, open defense of in-your-face racism here, either. Unbelievable. More and more, I don't recognize this place anymore.
xmas74
(29,676 posts)It might be getting to be about time for me to take another break from DU. It's getting to be a bit much around here.
BTW-got a link for the other thread? I'd like to read it and take note of the names defending the firing of a victim.
liberalhistorian
(20,819 posts)with my post, but it must not have taken. Here it is:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023059894
xmas74
(29,676 posts)No surprises from that poster at all.
liberalhistorian
(20,819 posts)And don't you just love the business people who say they'd do the same thing, downthread? Bleh.
Response to liberalhistorian (Reply #54)
devilgrrl This message was self-deleted by its author.
riverwalker
(8,694 posts)still being sold at Target, Walmart, J.C. Penney, Sears, Amazon, and others.
The asshole is crying all the way to the bank.
bluedigger
(17,087 posts)There's no reason they should remove it from inventory and take a loss on it just because it has her name on it. If they continue to buy more of her product you might have a case, but she already has made her money on existing sales.
rrneck
(17,671 posts)Her racism is but one small part of her failure as an intelligent human being.
LeftInTX
(25,551 posts)It's disgusting that someone who is in the public and should know that they need to treat all people with respect didn't learn this years ago.
duuser5822
(54 posts)No sane, non-racist person would even think about defending that sad woman.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)And my thread wasn't even about DUers.
It's hate. Period.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023052983