Racist White Advice Columnists Cannot Help Black Women

In August 2010, a young Black female that used the on-air name “Jade” called in to the Dr. Laura Schlessinger show seeking advice on how to handle her husband and his friends. Hubby and his friends are White by the way, and the caller (Nita Hanson aka “Jade”) is Black.

Dr. Laura’s poor response to this caller landed her butt in boiling  hot water. Most found the talk show host’s behavior to be so bizarre, so unprofessional and so unbelievable that both advertisers and listeners bailed in droves.  What motivated such a negative reaction was Dr. Laura’s repeated use of the N-Word during her interaction with this African American caller.

Yeah, I know.

The downfall of Dr. Laura began when “Jade” called into her show, asking for help with her husband’s friends. Jade explained that she was black, her husband was white, and his friends frequently said racist things or pretended she wasn’t even there while making jokes about Blacks.

Dr. Laura asked for specific examples.  “Jade” responded that the friends often asked her “Oh, well, how do you black people like doing this?” and “Do black people really like doing that?” In other words, they were being typical, clueless, insensitive and racist by assuming that this ONE Black woman was the elected representative to explain and demonstrate Everything of Blackness to Whites world over!

Now if that were not bad enough, Dr. Laura repeatedly talked over and interrupted the caller’s questions and explanations.  The first time by interjecting that she didn’t believe those statements by the White friends were racist.  I suppose that statement laid the foundation for the exchange that followed which inspired Dr. Laura to respond to a Black woman with racially denigrating epithets.

Before we go any further, let’s take a moment to define racism and what exactly constitutes a racist statement.

Racism:  An ideology based on the idea that humans can be separated into distinct racial groups and that these groups can be ranked on a hierarchy of intelligence, ability, morality etc.  The use of race to establish and justify a social hierarchy and system of power that privileges, preferences or advances certain individuals or groups of people usually at the expense of others. Racism is perpetuated through both interpersonal and institutional practices.

Racist:  Someone who believes their race or culture is superior to any other; someone who makes crude remarks to another’s race or insults them. A person who basically judges other people on the basis of their race. This is not limited to negative judgements alone – attaching positive characteristics to a person because of racial considerations is still being a racist.

The Black woman caller eventually asked about the friend’s use of the N-word around her, and Dr. Laura responded with the argument that the N-word was used all the time on HBO and that it was OK for black people to say it but not white people.  Dr. Laura stated that she found that to be “confusing.” But, Dr. Laura didn’t say “N-word” (the acronym). Oh no!  Instead, she actually used the word “NIGGA!” and she repeated the word passionately a total of 11 times in a five minute period.

The Black female caller (Jade) was aghast at Dr. Laura’s unprofessionalism and racial slurs.  Can’t say that I would have a different reaction myself. You would think someone with 30 years of experience in the industry, held in such high esteem by loyal listeners around the nation might have put on the brakes, gone to commercial, and come back acting like she had some damn sense.

But no, didn’t happen. Instead, things only got worse.  Dr. Laura jumped up on her conservative Republican soapbox, and associated this woman’s White husband and his racist friends with “half-Black President” Barack Obama, “black-think” (which to her meant that Black people only voted for Obama because he was half Black), and the NAACP!

Huh?

Anyway, here is the complete transcript from the call that caused all the controversy (The first instance of the use of the N-word is highlighted in red):

SCHLESSINGER: Jade, welcome to the program.

CALLER: Hi, Dr. Laura.

S: Hi.

C: I’m having an issue with my husband where I’m starting to grow very resentful of him. I’m black, and he’s white. We’ve been around some of his friends and family members who start making racist comments as if I’m not there or if I’m not black. And my husband ignores those comments, and it hurts my feelings. And he acts like –

S: Well, can you give me an example of a racist comment? ‘Cause sometimes people are hypersensitive. So tell me what’s — give me two good examples of racist comments.

C: OK. Last night — good example — we had a neighbor come over, and this neighbor — when every time he comes over, it’s always a black comment. It’s, “Oh, well, how do you black people like doing this?” And, “Do black people really like doing that?” And for a long time, I would ignore it. But last night, I got to the point where it –

S: I don’t think that’s racist.

C: Well, the stereotype –

S: I don’t think that’s racist. No, I think that –

C: [unintelligible]

S: No, no, no. I think that’s — well, listen, without giving much thought, a lot of blacks voted for Obama simply ’cause he was half-black. Didn’t matter what he was gonna do in office, it was a black thing. You gotta know that. That’s not a surprise. Not everything that somebody says — we had friends over the other day; we got about 35 people here — the guys who were gonna start playing basketball. I was going to go out and play basketball. My bodyguard and my dear friend is a black man. And I said, “White men can’t jump; I want you on my team.” That was racist? That was funny.

C: How about the N-word? So, the N-word’s been thrown around –

S: Black guys use it all the time. Turn on HBO, listen to a black comic, and all you hear is n!gger, n!gger, n!gger.

C: That isn’t –

S: I don’t get it. If anybody without enough melanin says it, it’s a horrible thing; but when black people say it, it’s affectionate. It’s very confusing. Don’t hang up, I want to talk to you some more. Don’t go away.

I’m Dr. Laura Schlessinger. I’ll be right back.

——– BREAK ———

SCHLESSINGER: I’m Dr. Laura Schlessinger, talking to Jade. What did you think about during the break, by the way?

CALLER: I was a little caught back by the N-word that you spewed out, I have to be honest with you. But my point is, race relations –

S: Oh, then I guess you don’t watch HBO or listen to any black comedians.

C: But that doesn’t make it right. I mean, race is a [unintelligible] –

S: My dear, my dear –

C: — since Obama’s been in office –

S: — the point I’m trying to make –

C: — racism has come to another level that’s unacceptable.

S: Yeah. We’ve got a black man as president, and we have more complaining about racism than ever. I mean, I think that’s hilarious.

C: But I think, honestly, because there’s more white people afraid of a black man taking over the nation.

S: They’re afraid.

C: If you want to be honest about it [unintelligible]

S: Dear, they voted him in. Only 12 percent of the population’s black. Whites voted him in.

C: It was the younger generation that did it. It wasn’t the older white people who did it.

S: Oh, OK.

C: It was the younger generation –

S: All right. All right.

C: — that did it.

S: Chip on your shoulder. I can’t do much about that.

C: It’s not like that.

S: Yeah. I think you have too much sensitivity –

C: So it’s OK to say “n!gger”?

S: — and not enough sense of humor.

C: It’s OK to say that word?

S: It depends how it’s said.

C: Is it OK to say that word? Is it ever OK to say that word?

S: It’s — it depends how it’s said. Black guys talking to each other seem to think it’s OK.

C: But you’re not black. They’re not black. My husband is white.

S: Oh, I see. So, a word is restricted to race. Got it. Can’t do much about that.

C: I can’t believe someone like you is on the radio spewing out the “n!gger” word, and I hope everybody heard it.

S: I didn’t spew out the “n!gger” word.

C: You said, “N!gger, n!gger, n!gger.”

S: Right, I said that’s what you hear.

C: Everybody heard it.

S: Yes, they did.

C: I hope everybody heard it.

S: They did, and I’ll say it again –

C: So what makes it OK for you to say the word?

S: — n!gger, n!gger, n!gger is what you hear on HB –

C: So what makes it –

S: Why don’t you let me finish a sentence?

C: OK.

S: Don’t take things out of context. Don’t double N — NAACP me. Tape the –

C: I know what the NAACP –

S: Leave them in context.

C: I know what the N-word means and I know it came from a white person. And I know the white person made it bad.

S: All right. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Can’t have this argument. You know what? If you’re that hypersensitive about color and don’t have a sense of humor, don’t marry out of your race. If you’re going to marry out of your race, people are going to say, “OK, what do blacks think? What do whites think? What do Jews think? What do Catholics think?” Of course there isn’t a one-think per se. But in general there’s “think.”

And what I just heard from Jade is a lot of what I hear from black-think — and it’s really distressting [sic] and disturbing. And to put it in its context, she said the N-word, and I said, on HBO, listening to black comics, you hear “n!gger, n!gger, n!gger.” I didn’t call anybody a n!gger. Nice try, Jade. Actually, sucky try.

Need a sense of humor, sense of humor — and answer the question. When somebody says, “What do blacks think?” say, “This is what I think. This is what I read that if you take a poll the majority of blacks think this.” Answer the question and discuss the issue. It’s like we can’t discuss anything without saying there’s -isms?

We have to be able to discuss these things. We’re people — goodness gracious me. Ah — hypersensitivity, OK, which is being bred by black activists. I really thought that once we had a black president, the attempt to demonize whites hating blacks would stop, but it seems to have grown, and I don’t get it. Yes, I do. It’s all about power. I do get it. It’s all about power and that’s sad because what should be in power is not power or righteousness to do good — that should be the greatest power.”

Wow, what a mess! Not sure exactly how I would have responded, but you can bet it would not have been with the calm and politeness of  “Jade.” Nope, not this Sistah! There would have been an entirely different headline hitting the news the following day that included phrases like “Dr. Laura Sobs on Air After Getting Told Off and Clowned Half to Death by Caller” or “Dr. Laura Says N-Word To Wrong Black Woman!”

Anyway, I have a different take on the issue and will be presenting my stance within the next day or so. But I’d love to hear your opinion of the exchange and broadcast.

Do you think it makes sense for Black women, young people of color (of all races), to call a senior citizen White female that cannot relate to them on ANY LEVEL to seek relationship advice?

Since she’s been married her entire life, what does she know about dating in the 21st century? What does she know about interracial relationships, internet dating games, pick up artistry, or being a “baby momma”?  What does she know about experiencing racism or sexism at work for no reason other than you are a woman of color and the men in your office believe that you are fair game due to the stereotypes they’ve heard about women of your race?  What can Dr. Laura or anyone like her do for the majority population of this country which is people of brown hue that are NOT rich White Jews like she is?

Hmmm?

If you haven’t heard the exchange for yourself, the audio clip upon which the transcript above is based is included below.  Please leave your comments.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/livecoverage/2010/08/dr_laura_schlessinger_apologiz.html

Interview with Nita Hanson About Dr. Laura’s apology
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k29VptXblgI

Deborrah

Veteran social researcher, relationship advice columnist, author and radio host. Author of hundreds of articles on American and black culture, gender issues, singles, dating and relationships. Author of "Sucka Free Love!" , "The 24 Types of Suckas to Avoid," "The Black Church - Where Women Pray and Men Pray," and "Why Vegan is the New Black" all available on Amazon.Com. Her unique voice and insightful commentary have delighted fans and riled haters for 20 years. Read her stuff on SurvivingDating.Com and AskHeartBeat.Com.

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Tags: black stereotypes, black women with white men, dating advice for black women, Dr. Laura and Jade, Dr. Laura nigga, Dr. Laura racist, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, interracial marriages, racist whites

Category: Society and Culture