Dr. Laura and the N word
Aug-13-2010

David Bernhart of Burbank was listening to KFWB's Dr. Laura Schlessinger yesterday afternoon in the 1 p.m. hour. "Dr. Laura blurted out the N-word several times in rapid succession to a caller, a black woman married to a white man, wanted to ask about racially hurtful remarks that other white people make to her and why her husband does nothing about them. Dr. Laura quickly concluded that the woman was hypersensitive, first pointing to African-American comedians on HBO who employ the N-word and then to black people in general, stating that the word is practically a term of endearment within that community. Not surprisingly, the caller was dissatisfied to hear that if some blacks call each other a particular word, everybody should feel free to use it. At that point, Dr. Laura might have steered the conversation in a better direction."

Bernhart continued: "Instead, apparently chafing at society's notion that a white person shouldn't throw the word around, she exclaimed, 'Nigger, nigger, nigger.' While it was clear that Dr. Laura wasn't directing that term toward the caller personally, I was shocked at such an example of schoolyard frustration coming from a radio professional whose opinions I've tended to agree with more often than not. And a few moments later, she repeated the barrage."

"Yes, I did use the 'n' word and I regretted it as soon as the call was over," responded Dr. Laura when asked about Bernhart's experience. "While it was in the context of making a point about the unfortunate use of that term by others who deem it acceptable or funny, it is a word that is hateful, hurtful and I should not have used it even to prove a point. After the call, I was terribly upset about it and pulled myself off the air for the rest of the show. Wednesday, at the top of my program, I will apologize to my listeners."

Posted by Clay Kohut at 12:43 AM - Link to this entry  |  Share this entry  |  Print