# Paula Deen **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 27, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049 "2013-06-27T17:56:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 22
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/421 "2013-07-09T01:17:31Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > Oh yeah, totally. That’s why they didn’t make that movie Django Unchained. :rolleyes: > > Idiot. > > eta: ninja’d dammit! I can see how the reception to a movie like To Kill a Mockingbird would be unwelcome. The black man that is accused and tried for raping a white woman loses his case, even though clear evidence is presented for his innocence and goes to prison because of the South’s racist way. Blacks were so “inferior” that the town drunk and his white trash daughter could make stuff up, be proven wrong and have a man condemned. The status quo remains. Good guy loses. In Django Unchained, the slave is able to kill a power slave owner to rescue his wife. He kills a slave owner, the white people working for him and the old black man that was the slave owner’s right hand man. The bad guy loses, the good guy rides off into the night with his wife. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_jeffrey_lebowski/32/215_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Jeffrey\_Lebowski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Jeffrey_Lebowski)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/422 "2013-07-09T01:23:22Z")
Whoosh. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/423 "2013-07-09T01:26:49Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > Oh yeah, totally. That’s why they didn’t make that movie Django Unchained. :rolleyes: > > Idiot. _To Kill a Mockingbird_ was a family movie. I don’t think it could get made today without heavy bowdlerization. ---
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/424 "2013-07-09T01:28:04Z")
> [@Kid\_Charisma](#): > > For starters, if you read my post closely, you wouldn’t really need to read THAT close anyway because I never said any “victims were blamed.” But, instead, I said it’s ALMOST like the victims are being blamed. > > As far as Jim Crow goes, yes, I am aware that it included but was not limited to black people during the 1870’s and beyond. If you read any of my other post closely you would see that I also mentioned that not EVERYONE in the south was a flaming bigot. Which, indirectly, could also mean that there were also white supporters of the Civil Rights movement. Given that more often than not middle-class or above whites have almost always had a soap-box or platform from which to preach (not to mention there has always been more of them), it stands to reason that whites were a HUGE part of the success of the Civil Rights movement. So, there you go, no angle or agenda from me. > > What’s odd about me being very aware that she has, on some level, been mis-represented by the media? Is that not “another day at the office” when it comes to the handling of celebrities? I realize the image that is being crafted is that Deen is an old racist bigot. But, let’s be serious, it’s not like the media played spin the bottle and it was “her turn”. She provided some rather foolish ammo. There is something virtuous about being slow to speak. Whether she was under duress thirty years ago or thirty seconds ago, we all have a choice of what comes out of our mouth’s. Do I think our sins should haunt us for the rest of our lives? No, not particularly. > > But, then, you knew that already. I mentioned before I don’t think her whole empire should come to a grinding halt. I think she should be able to pull a Martha Stewart, lick her wounds, and revive her career. > > While calling someone a “nigger” probably wouldn’t be in the same vein as committing double homicide, I am glad you see the slim connection with the O.J. trial. I think the use of the word “nigger” was involved in that trial too. Oh, the irony. Should it be “just another day at the office” though? Is it fair to have all this damage done because of media one sided reporting? This strikes me as a pretty extreme backlash. ---
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/425 "2013-07-09T01:38:37Z")
> [@MacCat](#): > > [From the testimony](http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/19/showbiz/paula-deen-racial-slur) > > "Jackson lawyer: “ **Have you ever used the ‘N word’ yourself?** ” > Deen: “ **Yes, of course.** ” > Deen testified that she probably used the racial slur when talking to her husband about “when a black man burst into the bank that I was working at and put a gun to my head.” “I didn’t feel real favorable towards him,” she said, referring to the robber. > > Jackson lawyer: “ **Have you used it since then?** ” > Deen: “ **I’m sure I have, but it’s been a very long time.** ”" > > So, she testifies that she used it more than once, and _not just_ 30 years ago. But you beat that 30 years ago like a rented mule… Ok.. I appreciate you putting so many of my comments neatly for people to read. Now will you tell me why 30 year old comments should matter now? ---
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/426 "2013-07-09T01:43:25Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > It’s astonishing how invested someone can get in defending a racist. If people worked this hard _against_ racism, we’d have ended it by now. I’m not defending a racist, I am defending someone that the media is skewering her solely for ratings. ---
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/427 "2013-07-09T01:45:31Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > Holy shit, **aag3981** , you are boring. Bor-ring. I mean, you’re a flaming racist too, but sooo boring. > > ETA: ha ha ha snuck another in: > > Don’t quit now, **aag3981** , I don’t think you’ve made your point. If I’m so boring then ignore me and see if I go away. Otherwise, engage in the conversation. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/428 "2013-07-09T01:47:41Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > Don’t quit now, **aag3981** , I don’t think you’ve made your point. That pony is so one trick, it’s only one hoof and a fetlock. But it can count to 30. ---
**Author:** ![aag3981](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@aag3981](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aag3981)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/429 "2013-07-09T01:57:43Z")
Kolga, I would love to see where I argued for any of this. I’ll wait patiently for you to find it. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/430 "2013-07-09T01:58:30Z")
> [@aag3981](#): > > Should it be “just another day at the office” though? Is it fair to have all this damage done because of media one sided reporting? This strikes me as a pretty extreme backlash. There is no media one-sided reporting. Continuing to insist that there is is disingenuous at best, and lying at worst. You’re simply not right about this, you racist apologist fuckwit. > [@aag3981](#): > > Ok.. I appreciate you putting so many of my comments neatly for people to read. Now will you tell me why 30 year old comments should matter now? Once again, with feeling, and as has been explained to you multiple times in multiple ways from multiple people, it’s not 30-year-old comments, you racist apologist fuckwit. > [@aag3981](#): > > I’m not defending a racist, I am defending someone that the media is skewering her solely for ratings. That’s not what’s happening, you racist apologist fuckwit. > [@aag3981](#): > > If I’m so boring then ignore me and see if I go away. Otherwise, engage in the conversation. This isn’t a conversation, you racist apologist fuckwit. It’s you continuing to misrepresent what’s happening, bat your oh-so-innocent eyelashes to claim that you’re JAQing off, and continue to insist that there’s a perfectly legitimate explanation for the behavior that’s problematic. So continue to be a racist apologist fuckwit equine of a single trick, but you’re simply not right about any of what’s going on. > [@aag3981](#): > > Kolga, I would love to see where I argued for any of this. I’ll wait patiently for you to find it. Someone upthread copied and pasted every single fucking time you’ve made the statement about 30 years ago, for one, so go fuck yourself, you piece of shit. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/431 "2013-07-09T02:03:59Z")
> [@bup](#): > > _To Kill a Mockingbird_ was a family movie. > > I don’t think it could get made today without heavy bowdlerization. You know, I haven’t seen the film in years, but I don’t remember there being much “nigger” being thrown around in it. You said if it were made now, it would be limited to one use, by Bob Ewell, and he would be all demonized for it. But I only actually remember one use in the film, and it was by Bob Ewell. How many times is it actually used in the film? By whom? I have a sneaking suspicion it was already cleaned up for the film. If I’m right (and I’m not saying I am), what would account for that? As for it being a family movie, there’s no way in hell my parents would ever have let me watch that when I was a kid. There was racism and a rape. My father would have fainted dead away. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/432 "2013-07-09T02:18:13Z")
> [@miss\_elizabeth](#): > > It’s astonishing how invested someone can get in defending a racist. If people worked this hard _against_ racism, we’d have ended it by now. Don’t give up. I grew up in the sixties and racism was a lot worse then than it was in the eighties. And it was worse in the eighties than it is now. Things are getting better and that’s why racism is on the defensive. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/433 "2013-07-09T02:20:51Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > You know, I haven’t seen the film in years, but I don’t remember there being much “nigger” being thrown around in it. You said if it were made now, it would be limited to one use, by Bob Ewell, and he would be all demonized for it. But I only actually remember one use in the film, and it was by Bob Ewell. How many times is it actually used in the film? By whom? I have a sneaking suspicion it was already cleaned up for the film. If I’m right (and I’m not saying I am), what would account for that? > > As for it being a family movie, there’s no way in hell my parents would ever have let me watch that when I was a kid. There was racism and a rape. My father would have fainted dead away. Actually, scratch all of this. I don’t really want to get into some big conversation about To Kill a Mockingbird, book or film, because, frankly, I don’t see the relevance. Even if we could establish that it would or would not be made today, how would that advance any argument? After all, A Birth of a Nation also wouldn’t be made today. Does that mean we’re all PC namby pambies and that Paula Deen has an excuse? No. I’m not going to be convinced by a bunch of anecdotal evidence from a bunch of white people that “nigger” was ever remotely okay. No one can share a story from their childhood that will make me say, “You know what? That Paula Deen is peachy keen!” ---
**Author:** ![Tequila\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@Tequila\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tequila_Party)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/434 "2013-07-09T03:02:53Z")
> [@aag3981](#): > > I’m not defending a racist, I am defending someone that the media is skewering her solely for ratings. Yeah, because she totally needs it. Her lifeblood, nay millions, depends on one person on _this_ message board convincing exactly _zero_ people that this woman who isn’t known personally (wink) to anyone here, isn’t a racist despite all evidence to the contrary. So, in conclusion for the sane people who are feeding this insanity; we are all grateful that you are stepping up to fill this most important breach and do such a life saving measure. Actually, we just appreciate the comedy gold. Keep up the good work! I’ll check back in on you in August. Brownie points if you’re still at this by Christmas. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/435 "2013-07-09T03:27:40Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Actually, scratch all of this. I don’t really want to get into some big conversation about To Kill a Mockingbird, book or film, because, frankly, I don’t see the relevance. Even if we could establish that it would or would not be made today, how would that advance any argument? The relevance is that, number 1, a movie/novel with a decidedly anti-racist message that offends our sensibilities because of that word means we’re missing the forest for the trees, and number 2, it’s nice to use our standards today to judge people of the past, but documented instances of the word back then empirically show that the power and offensiveness that you say it had, it didn’t have back then. I’m not saying it wasn’t offensive - I’m saying it went from about an 8 on the offensive meter to an 11, where nobody can have a rational conversation because that word outweighs everything else. > [@jsgoddess](#): > > I’m not going to be convinced by a bunch of anecdotal evidence from a bunch of white people that “nigger” was ever remotely okay. Your white anecdotes don’t hold more weight than mine, but I listen to them, because I respect you. Mine are also from a childhood about ten years before yours. I’m not trying to say nigger was ever remotely OK. I got into this thread late and was prompted to post when you said you dumped your MIL’s ass because she used a racist word. That’s easy to say when you didn’t grow up with racist relatives. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/436 "2013-07-09T03:35:48Z")
> [@bup](#): > > The relevance is that, number 1, a movie/novel with a decidedly anti-racist message that offends our sensibilities because of that word means we’re missing the forest for the trees, and number 2, it’s nice to use our standards today to judge people of the past, but documented instances of the word back then empirically show that the power and offensiveness that you say it had, it didn’t have back then. You don’t have this documentation. I have no idea what empirical evidence you think you have, but showing that a bunch of white people used to use the word with impunity does not demonstrate that the word wasn’t powerful and offensive. You are defining the impact of the word based on the level of racism of the surrounding culture. OF COURSE the word will catch more flak if the surrounding culture is less racist. That just means the racists are losing, not that the offensiveness of the words are changing. > [@](#): > > Your white anecdotes don’t hold more weight than mine, but I listen to them, because I respect you. Mine are also from a childhood about ten years before yours. > > I’m not trying to say nigger was ever remotely OK. I got into this thread late and was prompted to post when you said you dumped your MIL’s ass because she used a racist word. That’s easy to say when you didn’t grow up with racist relatives. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it. My first husband also distanced himself from his racist family, so whatever. My “white anecdotes” are to say that your experiences, anyone’s experiences, where they postulate that nigger was said around the Christmas tree along with the carols in every white household were universal. But I’m not proving anything by them. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/437 "2013-07-09T03:43:59Z")
Off board, I have been informed of what I was missing when I read “Nigger has only recently become so offensive.” The “to most white people” is silent! ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/438 "2013-07-09T04:09:47Z")
Can we just talk a little bit about this “letter” that Ms. Jackson supposedly wrote stating how wonderful Ms. Deen was. It cannot have escaped the notice of anybody actually reading it that it was a request to develop a business relationship. Anybody but an idiot would realize that if you want somebody to support your business, you start by telling them how wonderful they are. Now of course this make Ms. Jackson a bit of an opportunistic hypocrite. Let’s then completely discount her testimony and ignore the actual case. Let’s also ignore anything said 30 years ago. What we are left with is that Paula Deen still insists that it is OK to find racist jokes amusing as long as her family and friends are the ones telling them and that she is still not aware the the n-word is offensive, even after being raked over the coals for using it 30 years ago and even after “apologizing” for using it. She still doesn’t understand that you don’t use that word if you are white. She refuses to “get it”. She’s a racist idiot and rather than acknowledge cultural differences that makes certain words OK within an ethnic group but not between ethnic groups she blames her staff for her own attitudes. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/439 "2013-07-09T10:17:28Z")
I admit that I haven’t kept up with this issue other than by checking this thread. Perhaps someone could clue me into Deen’s “I is what I is” stance/comment/blather. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049/440 "2013-07-09T16:02:58Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I admit that I haven’t kept up with this issue other than by checking this thread. Perhaps someone could clue me into Deen’s “I is what I is” stance/comment/blather. Sigh. Well, poor, misunderstood Paula credits her parents with raising her to be a kind person, but she contradicts that while claiming to be a naively innocent product of her Southern environment so she cain’t help it if she is accustomed to hearing and employing the n-word, it’s cultural, dontcha see. All white southerners use the n word, tell racist jokes, and pine for the plantations. And also a black held her up while she worked at a bank long ago and so she felt justified in referring to the robber as nigger and probably used the word since then and also she told someone she wanted to have an old fashioned wedding where she could dress up the “monkeys” as slaves but the media would be all over her if she did that wouldn’t they. And when pressed about her racist attitudes by Matt Lauer she impugned the blacks who work in her kitchen and shamed them for referring to each other as nigger thus totally deflecting the question and the blame by batting those sticky eyelashes and rolling her eyes at everyone who is unfairly persecuting her and forcing the fame and fortune right out of her greasy fingers. Basically she failed to uphold her image clauses and is looking to blame everyone and everything else for losing her contracts and sponsors. She could have apologized and run for office like many of our formerly disgraced but reelected politicians, but she’s chosen to minimize the feelings of the fans she alienated, the sponsors she embarrassed, and the general public who finds that word to be classless and ugly, so she’s pretty much lost all marketing credibility even while she gained some diehard support from the closeted and flaming racist Facebook slacktists and one clueless, repetitive weirdo here. She comes off as pretty sly and sleazy on the [Today Show interview](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PL02LMD8Gw), and it’s not hard to understand why sponsors are dropping her like a burnt fritter. Nothing, as far as I can tell, is preventing her from publishing cookbooks, opening more restaurants with her own earnings, or offering those Tea Party and KKK pancake socials and fundraisers. I’m sure Chik Fil A would love to offer her a store or two to grandstand in. But I doubt she has time to labor under her own efforts though while she’s still trolling for pity and white justice. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paula-deen/662049.md?page=23)