Elisabeth Hasselbeck Cries After Sparring With Whoopi Over N-Word (VIDEO)

Thursday morning on "The View," during a discussion on the N-word prompted by the revelation that Jesse Jackson used the slur in his controversial Fox News tape, Whoopi Goldberg and Elisabeth Hasselbeck had a heated back-and-forth that ended with Elisabeth in tears.

Whoopi, who earlier in the broadcast had used the n-word repeatedly, sending the censors into overload, argued that the word is only as powerful as a society allows it to be and advocated for using the word to give it new meaning. Elisabeth, meanwhile, felt that she couldn't teach her children not to say the word if her black co-hosts and their children were using the word, arguing that, "we don't live in different worlds."

Whoopi then launched into a heated explanation of why black and white America still remain separate: "It isn't balanced, and we would like it to be, but you have to understand, you have to listen to the fact that we're telling you there are issues, there are huge problems that still affect us," she said.

Elisabeth replied, in tears, "When we live in a world where pop culture then uses that term, and we're trying to get to a place where we feel like we're in the same place, where we feel like we're in the same world...how are we supposed to then move forward if we keep using terms that bring back that pain?"

Watch:

From ABC, 7/17

Previously: "The View" Heats Up Over Racism, Whoopi Declares, "This Is A Racist Country"

Comments

[bb922335]

Funny how today Sharpton made the same basic point as Hasslebeck, but nobody says a word. Even funnier that when Hasslebeck is making said point it makes me drool but Sharpton doing so makes me vomit.

Imus didn't even drop an N bomb and he caught more crap than all of this.

[nellpost]

I believe it's called reverse racism?

[yngcelt]

As an American I have always believed in and supported the First Amendment. But where is the line between freedom of speech and "offensive" or "hateful" language? There is double standard in our country in this sense when considering that it's acceptable for those with dark skin to use a word like "nig.er" yet it is not acceptable for whites to use such a term yet it is also socially acceptable for those of dark skin to use racial slurs and steretypes of other races, particularly those of European ancestry in popular entertainment and social situations.
The defense for this is often that lighter skinned people are barred from using the so-called "n-word" due to the enslavement of Africans during the early years of our country's establishment. However, what is often overlooked is that not ALL people of European ancestry enslaved Africans during that time and in fact, it was President Lincoln who emancipated Africans and it was people who were not of African ancestry who also fought for their freedom during the American Civil War. What is also ignored is the fact that both people of African and European ancestry fought for civil rights during the 60's and it was another " white" President who passed laws for civil rights at that time. How about instead of the constant self-victimization and finger pointing at the bad apples of the past there were some gratitude expressed for those who fought on the side of African Americans?

[dartagnan]

Whoopi has a point, I think -- the n-word can be "de-toxified" by repetition, just as the word "gay" was by the homosexual community.

And while we're on the subject, can somebody explain something to me? Why is it politically correct to use the term "person of color" but politically incorrect to say "colored person"? This is a serious question. I have asked it of many people and have never actually gotten an answer.

[heal57]

Forget 'pc police'; just use respectful terminology. I would not want my son or grandshildren using such a vulgar word and just becase a person's African-American, it doesn't make it okay.
This bs attitude of some blacks just make things worse. Knock it off. All races, be respectful, please.


Independent for Obama '08

[acanthus]

"Person of color" refers to any non-white person. "Colored person" was a term that applied specifically to blacks years ago.

[erathwomen]

What it comes down to is a fundamental lack of understanding among many people, black or white, about what the word means. It's not just a word, there's nothing empowering in using it. It is representative of the millions of slaves who lived and died in slavery and suffered its aftereffects for 400 years. That one word stands for the oppression of those millions and anyone who uses it dishonors those millions, full stop. There is no discussion, there is no "It's ok for some and not for others to use it." It's always wrong to use it, I don't care who says it. That word was used to systematically dehumanize millions of people and it disgusts me that anyone would use it, even the news bureaus reporting the stories.

[Seattlelite]

As an AA, if find it NO less offensive for a AA to use the N word as I do a white person using it. I really am tired of Whoopi and don't find her funny at all. She made a dam fool of herself when Michelle O came on the show and she said "yes it's nice to see a black women on TV with all her teeth". Why is it okay for Whoopi to stereo type black women. This business that blacks have the right to says racial comments about blacks but white do not just fuels the division. Whoopi time for you to get some new material.

[acanthus]

"Fuels the division"? The division goes far beyond the "n-word" and who gets to use it, and trying to stop blacks from using it won't make the division go away. Not by a long shot.

[GravitonX]

Elizabeth is a phoney like most who preach the we're all Americans ridiculousness. We just all happen to have citizenship. That's it. I betcha Elizabeth lives in an all-white neighborhood and avoids that other part of her "One America" like the plague.

Statistcal reality demonstrates that when any previously all-white neighborhood sees a mass influx creating 12-15% admixture with Blacks, no matter if they are of the same socio-economic class, whites begin to flee precipitously until a virtual conversion of the neighborhood occurs within little more than a decade. We know this as white flight.

For whites, the insistence on Blacks calling themselves American-only is really code for maintain the relative status-quo and shut-up about your history and your condition, period.

[gladys46]

I've tried this before ... I'll try it this way:

For once, may AA's decide WHEN!? Eliz in totally disingenuous as is many white americans in many matters concerning AAs!! Why not ask then listen then be better informed as Whoopi insisted!!?

That word was engineered by racist white america! It was "their" word, their weapon! Now that AAs have diffused it, taken it's stranglehold away ... white america wants to continue controlling the word, 'cause of their own associated shame!

It's a deflated word now ... we will say WHEN!

[ann1]

GravitonX, soooo true!

[bamilt0]

Right on.

[Vorticose]

BLAh BLAH BLAH BLAH man are there any FACTS in your statements.

[Indubio]

For the sake of everyone who hopes for a positive future, I hope you're wrong. ~30 years ago America lost its sense of community and opted to become a society of me firsters. If people have a screw my neighborhood/ society attitude it's natural they would think less of their nation, which is a more abstract notion. For generations, America was not just a collection of citizens; it represented an idea and if you believe this idea is dead I would contend it demonstrates extreme cynicism. Politicians/media play the idea of America to the electorate like maestros but the problem is that because of cynicism, it rings pretty hollow; yet it still resonates with many. I care what happens to Americans regardless of where they may live; their ethnic/religious background doesn't matter. I've less sympathy for Republican­s/conserva­tives believing that we should let them stew in the pot they created for themselves. I know it's hard for many on the left to accept Obama's apparent centrism on many issues but I find his talk of a united America inspiring since it's the only way we will be able to dig ourselves out of the hole conservatives have created for all of us. Regretfully, a nation of individuals won't be able to do this and so if you are accurate, and if America is really only 300 million people who happen to share citizenship and little else then I would argue we're finished as a country.

[MyOwnPerson]

You are 100% correct in your last sentence.

[RAYINNJ]

What many on this blog don't get is that the use of the word among blacks is between "family"! For example, YOU may be able to call your wife a "B****" and get away with it. It may not be as much a demeaning term since it's used "within" the confines of your home/family. However, if I come into your home and say to your wife "Hey B****, get me a beer", you'd punch me in the face! The n-word doesn't have much 'punch' when used among ourselves. That's because the ruling majority has the "power" to take that word and put it into other areas affecting our lives. Imagine a supervisor using that term - would our raises be affected, will our employment be threatened? That is the context Whoopi is talking about.

[NewtC]

Bull crap. A man who calls his wife a b!tch, especially in front of their kids, is not just being familiar. It's demeaning, cruel, and a rude thing to say, period. Don't make excuses just because some people "keep it behind closed doors" when they use derogatory language.

The N word is an insult, regardless of the skin color of the person saying it. The same goes for any other insult or name calling. Stop making excuses and start demanding adherence to standards. Don’t buy pop culture/music that abuses race and gender.

Change the attitude, change the world.

[blindjester]

You have just shown that the B**** word is as offensive as the N***** word. Both are ugly. Hurtful. Demeaning.

So why talk that way at all? Why keep these words current? Why defend their use?

Why save the most offensive words of all for those you love the most?

[bb922335]

You can't be serious.

[TrueIndy08]

I am a 24 year old black female and I find the term to be DISGUSTING!!!! I don't like hearing it, from anyone!!!! It is a derogatory word that was used to denegrate black people!!! Why anyone would choose to use it in a negative or so called "good" way is just beyond me...

I don't listen to rap bc thats all they say.... I have a 16 month old son and I will most certainly not allow that language in my home from, his friends, or his music!!!!

The part about living in DIFFERENT WORLDS... I will agree with that to an extent... I agree bc we still find white people who have bad feelings towards black people... and vice versa...

I did a project on race relations.... I asked my subjects (30 whites) how they felt if their child came home with a black, hispanic, or asian mate....

Most were ok with Hispanics and Asians but had concerns about the black mate... WHY???? When someone can answer that question, I will further understand race relations in America!

[gladys46]

Now that AA's have taken the "sting" away from this word ... taken away one of racist white American's words thought to have been "one" of their mighty weapons used successfully to demean and dehumanize AAs ... people now want to control the word! That's amazing!

Was this not racist America's discription of AAs ... so now they're ashamed of it!? Is that it?

Suppose AAs say when ... suppose for once, AAs decide WHEN .. then what!!?

I don't appreciate Eliz, for various & sundry unrelated reasons!

[aberforth]

I am a 45-year-old white guy married to a black and japanese woman about the same age. I think it's important to know who is speaking. The N-word DOES have different context when spoken by different people. Even as liberal as I am (though Libertarian on social policy and the economy), I still can't use the N-word in a constructive way. And I will never be able to because of a little thing called the history of the USA. Do you really want a stranger calling your grandmother "granny" like you do? Or, more appropriately, if you use a bad word to describe your uncle, don't you resent it when someone who doesn't know him says that about him? It matters who is speaking.

Mainly, I'm just so very very glad we as Americans are having this conversation on a more regular basis. If Barack Obama has done nothing else, that alone is an astonishing gift to our country.

[mypov123]

I appreciate how other times Whoopi is able to have a reasonable and civilized debate with the other women on The View (particularly Elisabeth), but I have to disagree with her on this issue. As a Black person, I don't think Black people should continue giving validation to a word that was meant to disrespect us and make us feel inferior. The so-called "turning the n-word into something that has positive meaning" doesn't work, because even Black people don't always use it in a positive context, it isn't always used as a "term of endearment".

The use of the n-word should stop altogether, regardless of the ethnic background of the person saying it.

[heal57]

Elizabeth Hasselbeck is correct; knock it off, Whoopi. I am so sick ofthe PCpolice.


Independent for Obama '08

[acanthus]

PC? Don't you think it's PC to try and make blacks not use the word?

[naturallight]

on a lightet note,

Madonna thinks 'words' are magic. It is called Kabballah.

[thankulord13]

You White folks can say what ever you want but the reality is that we live in two different worlds and Whoopi is right. Stop all the Obama quotes about how Black people need to take responsibility because you White folks need to take some responsibility also and when you people start owning up to your part of why we have these race issues today! Look at the statistics with jobs, education, salaries the list goes on and on. So stop always trying to pass the buck that is why we are in this mess today because of you people and your stay the course mentality!

[naturallight]

NEWSFLASH>>>>

The white race did not enslave the black race.

The British Empire enslaved the black race, as well as all the other races.

Without white folk there would be no civil rights movement. More importantly without white folk, there would have been no Civil War. Relax Elizabeth, no reason to feel guilty.

[scrutiny1]

NEWSFLASH>>>>

The British Empire was white.

"Without white folk there would be no civil rights movement. "

Without white folk there would have been no need for a civil rights movement or a Civil War.

[thankulord13]

That was the White Race. The British were not the only ones. The Dutch, Spain, France and others partook in this immoral act against humanity.