“The View” co-hosts got heated yesterday when Sherri Shepherd and Barbara Walters argued over the use of the n-word. It all started when Barbara repeated the phrase while quoting presidential candidate Herman Cain (who had originally been referring to the name of a hunting camp used by Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry.)
However, despite it’s newsy context, Sherri still became visibly uncomfortable and expressed herself as such.
“When I heard [Whoopi] say it, it was fine, [she] said it a different way. But when I heard you [Barbara] say it, I didn’t like the way you said it because when you say it, you say ‘n-*-*-*-e-r,’ and I don’t like ‘n***er.’ [Whoopi] didn’t say that, she said ‘n***a.’ I don’t know if it’s a semantics thing, but it’s something that goes through my body.”
Barbara: Forgive me if i didn’t say it exactly the same way.
Sherri: Even if you did, you wouldn’t have said it the right way. It’s nothing on you Barbara.
Barbara: So you’re saying because I’m white that I shouldn’t use the word?
Sherri: Yeah, it’s something about hearing you say it.
Barbara: So no white person should use that word?
Sherri: You know, I feel differently from other people. I don’t like it when you use the word. Now, I have used it with my friends, with my family, [but] I don’t say it like you. So when you say it, it’s a different connotation.
Barbara: I’m not sure I understand why.
Sherri: I know, and you probably wouldn’t and I probably could never explain the way I feel.
So, readers, is it okay to repeat the word when quoting someone while reporting the news?
