On Paula Dean and the “N” Word: We are an imperfect nation just as we are an imperfect peoples. After all, we are human – and as such we are incapable of perfection. Improvement yes – perfection no. Our mistakes are legion – but as a nation we tend to be, IMHO, largely a self-righting ship. By that I mean, that we may take on heavy water, encumber ourselves with self-imposed sins, or at times follow the wrong or less-worthy path – or, perhaps, we simply tend to be rather slow to follow the right one. However, in the end, it seems to me that we somehow manage, generally speaking, to head off into the right direction, especially as it relates to correcting the biases of the past and the avoidance of future ones. Clearly, our course of correction has often proved to be a meandering one and painful one. At times we head off onto diversionary side-trails, but in the end, we seem to come back to the main road and try to make our way forwards upon it -- and in doing so we become, hopefully, a better, more compassionate and more enlightened tribe. As for the recent Paula Dean controversy, I know few of the details, nor am I much familiar with her background. I’ve not followed, particularly, her career except to know that if one were to observe my person, they might easily conclude that I have over-indulged in the consumption of more than a few of her recipes. She is apparently guilty of employing the infamous “N” word in some context or the other. Again, I am quite unfamiliar with the details. Does she deserve to be forgiven? Doing or not doing so will, in most instances, prove to be a “personal” judgment call. Corporate America, when it impacts “reputation” and/or the bottom line tends to be unforgiving. I for one, tend to value highly the concept of “redemption” – and there are few among us who could not, from time to time, benefit from the pursuit of a redemptive pathway. I include myself in this category. As for the use of the “N” word, it has always been, as it continues to be, a pejorative “vulgarity.” We should not forget, however, that once upon a time it was not, by many, considered to be the “radio-active” expression that it has become. With respect to certain generations, it was a word that was frequently tossed about – sometimes deliberately employed and intended as a very harsh insult, but just as often, I believe, in an unthinking and unremarkable way – as a common and everyday reflection of the widespread and deeply ingrained biases of another time. It is clear to me, that there are a number of us that would like to pretend that use of the “N” word was but a “rare” thing. Today, the reaction to it is typically one of “horror” and shocked “indignation” -- as if no one wishes to possibly believe that someone would ever consider uttering such thing or that such times actually existed when the term was in common use. Such attitudes, whether it is realized or not, are ones that reflect, I believe, a preference for whitewashing (no pun intended) the past – and doing so makes many of us feel more “comfortable.” I do not consider myself a “relativist” – but I wonder which is the greater sin: the unfortunate and occasional foolish use of the “N” word in contemporary society (for whatever reason) – or the tendency to overlook that many of us ourselves once employed the term and gave no special thought to doing so? Few of us, of my particular generation and region of birth (the South) can look into a mirror, and in truthfulness, claim complete innocence. As for me, I think we do an injustice to those to whom the pejorative “N” word was frequently directed, if we do not acknowledge its past history and how ubiquitous the use of the term once was. We should remember our past sins – we should not forget them. It only through the acknowledgement and recognition of the failures of the past (along with those of the current day) that we can hope to better ourselves and to correct our pathway forward. To not remember the widespread nature and depth of our past transgressions is to diminish the seriousness of them – and to diminish, as well, the value, meaning and “greatness” of the long struggle to correct and make amends for them. Personally, I am grateful for redemption and forgiveness (and the pursuit of them) -- whether one manages, individually or collectively, to fully achieve either.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Jun 2013 04:05:52 +0000
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