As a woman “of color”, I have to agree with Elisabeth Hasselback 100%. If a word is insulting, it is insulting across the board. However, I have never been a fan of black people using the “n” word simply because we “can”. It is low class. Many people, both black and white have fought hard to come to this point where we are that if you are white and you use the ‘n’ word, you reveal yourself to be a complete ass, as opposed to someone with simply a different perspective.
Whoopi makes the point that Elisabeth just doesn’t “get it” because she has never been black and doesn’t get I guess “the Black experience” (hello 1969). I am actually sure this is true, However, I doubt Whoopi knows what it is like to be on Survivor, or to grow up Italian American, or whatever. Not understanding what people go through is not a ticket to allowing bad behavior. In some cases it can lead to an understanding of bad behavior, but that is very different than excusing it. Anyhow, I have hard time hearing about “what we go through” from Whoopi Goldberg, I doubt with her fame and money she struggles much because she’s black. But then again, I have never walked in her shoes either.
Lastly, racial issues aside, I don’t get fighting to become ghetto. I hate this trend in our country to raise people to be foul-mouthed and have no manners. I mean this is a show of women for women. Why is being ladylike such a crime these days? We should be fighting harder to get a Thesaurus into their hands so they can express themselves without four-letter words.