For those of you who are smugly satisfied at Food Network Star, Paula Deen’s fall from grace after admitting she has used the “N”word in the past; fill in the blank of this little poem:
“Eeny, meeny, miny, moe, catch a ………….. ”
When I was a kid, we all used this counting rhyme every time we chose up sides for a ballgame. I even remember saying it when picking playing partners during Vacation Bible School recess at First Lutheran Church.
During the innocence of our youth, most of us said the forbidden “N” word on occasion; like when dad opened the big can of mixed nuts at Christmas time and we’d all pick out our favorite. I’m not sure I knew the real name for Brazil nuts until high school.
I remember laughing hysterically at Mel Brooks’ “Blazing Saddles” movie..especially how the old lady first greeted the new black sheriff or when the church bell rang covering up the “N” word as Gabby Johnson announced the sheriff’s arrival.
These admissions, I suppose, could get me fired but I, like most of my peers, grew up and realized the insensitivity of certain words and became naturally more sensitive to the feelings of others.
Before having anything to say here about this subject, I wanted to be dang sure of what Deen actually said and what her termination was based upon so I read the entire 140 page transcript of her court deposition in which she and her brother, Bubba, are being sued by a former manager at his restaurant ..Lisa Jackson…for a million and a half dollars claiming she was harassed and worked in an environment rife with innuendo and racial slurs. I would encourage you to read the whole thing for yourself too before coming to any conclusions based on hyped-up tabloid TV or internet headlines. What I took from her interrogation was that if anybody should be charged with harassment it would be Jackson’s lawyer for the way he treated Deen in the witness chair.
The deposition transcript HERE.
The bottom line is that Deen grew up in the deep south during the 50’s and 60’s in the days of state mandated segregation. Changing old habits and attitudes probably came a lot harder for her than for somebody like me up north whose cultural diversity was limited to Norwegians and Dutch. I don’t know Paula Deen but have appreciated her story of building a business with nothing more than a dream, hard work and determination which eventually resulted in the phenominal success she’s enjoyed. A Facebook friend of mine who works in network TV recounted a recent backstage meeting with Deen who was about to appear on a talk show. He said he was surprised that she still enjoyed her cigarettes but was as sweet as sassafras tea on camera and off. And, from watching her cooking show over the years, that’s been my impression of the lady too; a genuine, fun loving, caring mom of two fine sons who, yes, might even laugh at an occasional naughty joke. She certainly doesn’t deserve to be railroaded out of a career for admitting that she has used the “N” word in her past but not for a long long time.
It’s just a puzzle to me how most Americans dream of achieving personal and financial success and yet, when somebody else actually does it, we can’t wait to see them crumble like a dried up cookie.
On its web and Facebook sites, The Food Network is getting blasted by viewers for the hasty decision to dump Paula Deen. Good.
I can’t help but wonder if there’s not more to it than what we’re hearing. At 66, could it be that the network feels Paula is becoming too old to attract the dream viewer demographic? Maybe she should get together with Emeril Lagasse on a discrimination lawsuit of their own. You remember that Emeril was cruising along with his popular nightly live cooking show when “Bam” he was cancelled. Two people who played a major role in building The Food Network suddenly out on their ear..along with their high salaries.
I’ve watched Paula Deen since her first appearance on TV when she was taking part in a program called “Door Knock Dinners.” I marveled at how she gently and respectfully visited with folks who were sometimes reluctant to allow a TV crew into their home to make a gourmet meal from what was in the cupboards and fridge. As outgoing as Paula Deen has been on her many television and personal appearances over the last dozen years, I don’t believe she’s a good enough actress to be concealing a true personality filled with bigotry and hate.
If you’re not convinced, there’s the rock pile..start casting.
17 Responses
Doug, Im afraid you are gonna get the whole nine yards from the people that can hide themselves and their opinions behind their keyboards, so I just wanted to be the first to say……Very honest blog. I hope that the people who cannot be as honest will go easy on you.
thank you SO MUCH, Doug, for putting in words what I’ve been feeling all week since this whole brouhaha began. I distinctly remember a time in the ’80s in my dad’s kitchen (he was born in 1919), and he said “that word”. I didn’t argue with him, although he and I were so diametrically opposed politically and our political conversations generally degenerated … I digress … but he said the word, and I asked him not to say it. His reply was that “it was perfectly acceptable back then.” My reply was that it might have been perfectly acceptable back then, but in these times it is not. My point is that there were many things that at one point were perfectly acceptable that are not acceptable today. Paula stated that she’d used that term many, many years ago. And your eeny, meeny, miney, mo comment is a reminder that there are many, many of us who live in glass houses. Again, thank you, Doug. I’ve been quite emotional about this whole issue, and my heart breaks for Paula.
It is certainly a good thing that most of us are not in the public eye. I would hate to have everything I say, and I do strive to be politically correct, judged every time I opened my mouth. I have turned some of the talk shows off the last few days because they are taking this way out of bounds! Isn’t it amazing how many people are out there that have never spoken out of turn? I think this is going to turn around and bite a few people in the butt! Leave the lady alone. Thanks for speaking up Doug! Maybe Steve will even weigh in on this one! Pick on those that make insensitive, hurtful remarks every day and don’t even know it.
I am 43, we used “catch a tiger”. As for Dean, she had no choice in the deposition, she was under oath and they would have nailed her for perjury if she said otherwise. But, her Food Network days were numbered anyway. Hiding the fact she was diabetic while cooking with gobs of butter then schlepping diabetic drugs after she came clean. Then in the last two weeks she came out with her own line of butter!?!?!??! Not to mention falling ratings and the changing styles at FN. She was a public relations train wreck that the Network was glad to be free of.
I suppose I may be in trouble for using the word “Schlepp”? 😉 Please note the sarcasm
I do not condone the use of the “N” word at all, but I wonder what would have happened if an African American chef from the Food Network would have admitted under oath that in the past they used the word “honky” or some other derogatory word, Some times the standards are so one sided.
People, so quick to criticize. I doubt there are many people over the age of 50 who have not used the word or heard it as kids. Times have changed, it was wrong then and is wrong now.
But to ruin a career over things said in the far distant past, that is not right either. Just check what many, many politicians have done, said or taken part in over the years. They get a bit of time out of the limelight and they resurface all over again……………….
Like you Doug, I grew up in the 40’s and 50’s among nothing but white folks. We played eeny meeny with the inappropriate N word and also ate N toes at Christmas. It wasn’t appropriate back then and it isn’t now but we were to young to understand that. I don’t know all the facts in Paula’s lawsuit but anyone of us would have to admit using the N word sometime in our life and in most cases in our youth. Kids today grow up knowing that derogatory terms are inappropriate and the N word seems to be only used by Blacks in the inner city. I’m sorry about how Paula is being treated and if her only sins were in her youth then she is being destroyed by so called political correctness. Sometimes there is too much of it and sometimes not enough. Let’s just get back to judging people for what they do today and let the past be the past.
I could not agree with you more! This nation is becoming more intolerant as each day passes. How sad. To be crucified for having said something many years ago is really reaching. It is a scary situation. What’s next? The Food Network, Wal-Mart and other former supporters of Ms. Deen made a knee jerk reaction. I certainly hope they each restore Ms. Deen to her former roles for them.
But the truth of the natter is that she is just one more example of an intolerant nation. There most assuredly will be more sacrifices.
I agree with everything you said. We went to Savannah and ate at The Lady and Sons. She is sweet, kind and has the prettiest blue eyes. She came out and visited with us at our table. I have always loved her and I will continue to long after this mess has blown over. He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. I think we all know where that came from and should keep that in mind!!
With the comments to date seeming to agree with Doug, that Paula’s been taken to the cleaners on this one, I hope that someone smarter than me could pass it on to Paula to let her know that there are many of us who will continue to support her and who feel she’s been done wrong. I’m sorry Walmart is dropping her, because I bought two of her Santuko knives at WM that I positively adore. My advice is to add those knives to your own kitchen arsenal before they’re gone.
Hmmm…Deposition. $1.5 M lawsuit. Call me cynical but I sense opportunistic litigation. I like the Japanese court system where loser pays (both ways). But I’m just a CAC (Crazy A.. Cracker).
An excellent blog, Doug. And your readers have sent some very thoughtful comments. Thanks to all!
Great blog Doug. Thank you for putting into words so well what many of us are thinking, or trying to say. i agree with you and most of the other comments. Most of us are not, or ever will be “famous”, but it is very scary to think of facing something such as what Paula is going through. You never know these days. Who has never said Shoulda Woulda Coulda ever if their life??!
Do you ever marvel at the double standard that persists in this country when it comes to political correctness? I am constantly puzzled by Black Entertainment Television Awards, Miss Black/Hispanic America, local Black/Hispanic Chamber of Commerce organizations, the NAACP and I could go on but won’t. Until everybody lives by the same standards, let’s not castigate someone who has never shown any hint of outright racism for a slip of the tongue.
P.S. I like the comment about opportunistic litigation. Hope the judge dismisses the suit as frivolous.
THANK YOU DOUG! finally somebody injecting some honest common sense into this mess! I have watched her show for years and seen her interact with many blacks in that time with NO sign of anything but respect and in some cases a genuine affection. I wont be watching food network again…
It is really about attitude. Remember when Children’s Care Hospital and School used to be “Crippled Childrens Hospital and School?” Change of name was reflection of attitude about how children with disabilities are perceived. Ms. Deen’s use of the N word might have been from habit, but she knew, just as the rest of us Baby Boomers who grew up hearing the N word know that saying the N word is a reflection of attitude and saying the N word in public is wrong. Doug, did you ever use the N word while you were on a live broadcast?
Ah could nevvver stand her syrrrupy suthen acceint, but this is a bum rap. I’d hate to be held accountable for stuff I’ve said 50 minutes ago, not to mention 50 years. The fact that the Brazil nut subrogate was racial never even crossed our minds.