I don’t know why everyone is so shocked that a near 70-year-old Southern white woman used the N word. She’s probably using it like the F-bomb right about now. However, I am glad Food Network decided not to renew her contract – not because I’m interested in punishing her; I could care less – but because I think it takes a strong, no tolerance stance against racism. What’s interesting is how everyone has rushed to vilify this woman, like she’s the only one who’s had racist thoughts. At the end of the day, Paula will still be talking ish, planning theme parties with slaves as waiters and doin’ her southern bell on crack thing to the tune of millions of dollars. The same people who jumped on the bandwagon to screw her – when the heat dies down – they’ll be the same ones to piously say, racism is not a problem today. Things have changed. Um, no. People are just better at hiding things. Further, shifting societal morays seem to suggest that confession is not only good for the soul, all will be forgiven in the end. That’s obviously what Paula thought, otherwise she would never have admitted what she did – and may still do. And her apology? Meh. Not impressed. Nice touch, though. I say be like the Food Network. Make accountability more than a buzz word. Let’s put our money where our mouth is and do more than pay lip service when these kinds of thing occur. Hit perpetrators right in the pocket and tell them why what they’ve done is wrong. That’s the only way to affect change.
A Life Not Grey 
You Bring Up a Good Point, Kellye – Regardless Of the Use Of That Word (Nasty As It Is), For Some Reason, People Still Use It Today. There Has to Be Some Sort of Consequences to This Kind of Behavior. While She Made a ‘Public Apology’ (Without Anyone There to Ask Questions, Dig In to Highlight What She’s Made Of, Etc.), *No One* Can Truly Know What In In This Gal’s Heart.
Although the ‘Apology’ Seems to Make It Easy to Say ‘Meh’
Sadly, This Kind of Behavior Will Never Go Away, It Seems. HOWEVER, the Way We Respond to It (Legally, Physically, Spiritually, Mentally) Has to Be Both Just + Gracious. Cause, At the End of The Day, We All Have to Meet Our Maker…And We All Have to Answer to Our Actions – On How We Conducted Ourselves and Responded to Hate.
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Thanks for writing in, Narciso. I agree with you. It’s up to the rest of us to act in a similar fashion to the Food Network, in this case. We have to consistently and as a group – whoever is in this particular group, and it should be everyone, everywhere – say, no. This is not acceptable. Your beliefs are your own but, if you espouse one that is hurtful to others without due cause – skin color, religious preference, sexual orientation are not due cause – society and the companies that make up popular culture will not reward you with special contracts. Nor will the external community be swayed by milquetoast apologies. There should be accountability for bad behavior. Its how you teach any living creature a different path.
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