Group Says Dr. Laura And Media Companies Must Be Held Accountable
WASHINGTON, Aug. 19
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a statement from Kathy Times, President of the National
Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) on the recent
criticism of conservative talk show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger for using a racial
slur on the talk show:
I
will never forget the first time I was called the n-word. In fact, a
young white man in Alabama hit me with a
double dose of hate and called me a n----- b----. It was 2002. It was
my first day on a new job as an investigative reporter. It took a few
seconds for the full impact of the slur to hit me. Then, it felt like
I'd been sucker punched in the gut.
I
can imagine that is how the African-American caller felt when she and
other listeners heard Dr. Laura Schlessinger
use the n-word 11 times... taken aback, shocked, and speechless.
When
will people learn it's never OK to use the n-word, no matter how many
times it is uttered in the name of entertainment, sarcasm or disgust?
Instead of helping one of her callers, Dr. Laura chose to go on a tirade
that appeared to reveal deep-rooted thoughts on politics and black
America.
Dr.
Laura apologized for using the offensive language. She does not have the
right to use racial slurs on public airwaves. She says she will not do
radio anymore, but there are deeper issues that must be addressed by the
company that syndicates her show – Premiere Radio Networks. Why wait
until the next on-air personality slips up?
Is
it time for the n-word and other racial epithets to be added to the list
of seven dirty words (made famous by comedian George
Carlin)?
The
use of those words hit broadcasters where it hurts them most – on the
bottom line with fines and lost advertising revenue. But the fear of
losing ad dollars should not be the only reason to
end this era of hate on the public's airwaves.
It
is past time for a movement to address "Talk Show Hate." As the
president of the National Association of Black Journalists, my goal is
not to change the inherent mindset of provocateurs and consumers of
any controversial media platform, but instead to
lead the charge in forums that educate those who dare to think for
themselves. I believe most people are open to embracing people of all
races based on the content of their character. We invite Dr. Laura and
Premiere Radio Networks to join us in a conversation leading to change
in the public discourse, which both embraces their right to free speech
and our desire to end the use of racial slurs and epithets on the
public's airwaves.
By
the way, that young white man who called me those terrible names
eventually apologized and gave me an interview. I accepted the apology,
but I'll never forget the venomous sting that my ancestors must have
felt when their slave masters conjured up the n-word.
SOURCE National Association of Black Journalists
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