Hostile Holly

I accidentally watched part of The View this morning, and I caught this exchange. Though I don’t completely agree with Elizabeth, I certainly don’t agree with Whoopi and Shari’s explanation, not to mention Whoopi’s decision to use the n-word six times to prove her point (that’s not exactly a “private” use of the word, is it?). In my quite humble opinion, using the n-word within the black community does not reclaim it or take away its power; instead, it gives other ethnic communities permission to use the word. Bottom line: the n-word has meaning, and using the n-word perpetuates hate. I think Elizabeth’s question is valid: Why continue to employ a vernacular that signifies systemic oppression? By asking this question, Elizabeth acknowledges—not denies—the presence of systemic racism.

Additionally, it’s misleading to say Elizabeth was “schooled on her white privilege.” The only mention of white privilege was during the S&M Barbie segment prior to the segment on Jesse Jackson’s use of the n-word, when Whoopi briefly discussed her aversion to Barbie as a child because Barbie didn’t look like her. Looking like Barbie is an example of white privilege, along with always having a teacher who looks like you, or band-aids that match your skin tone, or seeing yourself reflected in the pages of a textbook. Questioning the use of the same language in different cultures is not an example of white privilege. Discussions on white priviledge and the use of the n-word in the black community are both meaningful and worthwhile, but different conversations.

After writing this, I’m sure someone will accuse me of being what’s wrong with this country, too. If you choose to make that accusation, please make sure to include the fact that I articulate the above-stated sentiments to—and, therefore, corrupt the minds of—200 high school students per year, even forcing them to read and discuss articles on white privilege, track the use of the n-word in To Kill a Mockingbird, and examine their use of the words they are allegedly reclaiming, both racial and sexual, such as bitch and whore.

Oh, Hostile Holly. Bless her heart.

jessicagoldharalson:

Elizabeth Hasselbeck gets schooled on her white privilege — and bursts into tears — in a heated discussion of the “N” word with Whoopi Goldberg on The View.

The best (or worst) part is that she really does seem to want to “get” why it’s OK for the black community to use the N word in private and white folks can’t, but she’s so stuck in the blinkers of her own unexamined prejudice that she has no idea how to have a real dialogue. Her desire to move beyond race is certainly admirable, but her utter refusal to acknowledge systemic racism and to think that “everything is better” really represents what’s still wrong with race dialogue in this country.

Oh, Elisabeth. Bless her heart.