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

[PSRinNJ2]

I think black people have given this word far too much power. When the use of this one stupid word incites people to anger and violence, the person using the word has been given the power. The word should be used often, by all people, as a way to describe the ignorance of a buffoon of any ethnicity. Over time, the definition of the word will change and the word will be defanged.

You'll never end racism, whether it be white racism towards blacks or black racism towards whites. Ignorance is taught by the ignorant. Keep in mind my favorite line by the late, great George Carlin: "Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that half the people are dumber than that!"

[LollieDotCom]

That is the funniest, most terrifying quote I've ever heard from George Carlin!. I've never seen it before, so I'm repeating it to make sure everyone gets as tickled and frightened as that makes me!

"Think of how stupid the average person is and realize that half the people are dumber than that!"

[stepintothelight]

"whether it be white racism towards blacks or black racism"

I like the description on wiki ....

"In the case of institutional racism, certain racial groups may be denied rights or benefits, or get preferential treatment.­"

Racism is not the problem ... It's affect on the livelihoods of those denied the right of their potential is the real problem!!!

[dasimms]

It is beyond presumptuous for Elizabeth to feel qualified to tell a black person how to feel or how to talk, when she has no idea and can’t begin to understand the experience of being black in America. No matter how educated and accomplished a black person becomes there is always something that the so-called majority race of white folks will throw in the game to maintain their majority rule advantage.

If you happen to be good at what you do if you are liked in the workplace as a Black person you can by accident overhear conversations by whites marveling at the fact that you can speak standard English. It has happened to me.

All other races and culture know this to be true about White folks. Whites believe their own press about their superiority. Elizabeth blows the myth of their superiority to smithereens.

[LarBear]

dasimms... QUOTE: "you can by accident overhear conversations by whites marveling at the fact that you can speak standard English"
Wonder why they would think that??? Perhaps we "Whites" should check our ebonics encyclopedia? Maybe we might find a clue? Couldn't come from a group of people Self Segregating by skin color, could it? Having black skin does not compel one to speak ebonics, or dictate any certain beliefs or behaviors! Same is true of white skin tones...
Being mostly Caucasian (I'm English, Irish, Dutch, Welsh, German, French and Cherokee..­.) I guess I was to busy trying to survive to read the "press" that said I was superior..­. Clearly "Black" people must be the "superior race" because we "White" people are all so racist and flawed...

I find it interesting that, QUOTE: that "White" people "feel qualified to tell a black person how to feel or how to talk, when she (they) has no idea and can't begin to understand the experience of being black in America." The one way street effect??? Otherwise, "Blacks" equally have NO experience in being "White" and are NOT qualified to tell a "White" person how to think, feel, or behave?

[harleanc]

"Whites believe their own press about their superiorit­y."
Does this strike you as:
--bigoted?
--a sweeping generalization?
--prejudiced?

What purpose does it serve to hold on to such a hateful, distorted belief?

Elizabeth H. wants people to recognize that she isn't racist and wants to hold on to the hope that we can get past racism in her lifetime. Unfortunately, she limits herself to getting information from Fox News. Thus, she doesn't understand why someone like Sherri would feel empowered to be able to use the N word to playfully tease her friends in her own home while not tolerating it coming from a white person's mouth. I give her credit for trying to understand, but I don't think it's going to happen when she's so unwilling to put aside her own distorted beliefs about being in extreme danger from terrorist attacks at all times... She doesn't even understand why Obama might actually HAVE to raise taxes on her very high salary, to pay for her beloved war.
I agree with the poster who said Elizabeth needs to be less concerned with whether Sherri or Whoopi say the N word in their home and more concerned with the Iraqis we've murdered out of our own greed and fear.

[OldKnute]

Dasimms

You are 100% right. Se doesn’t get it. She finds herself defending more blaming. This POP culture argument came out in the Don Imus flap, and here again she,,, parrots,,,, back to us the same old crap.

Count the number of times Elizabeth tries to interrupt Whoopi, just to further spew here reverse discriminatory rhetoric and smearing of,,,, OUR,,, people. OUR American Black people using the POP Culture,,,, hammer,,,, supplied, developed and nurtured by Fox News.

I am telling you folks. Elizabeth is the kind of white woman we have to learn to LOVE. YES,,, I said LOVE.

Love and hug her and help her learn.

LOVE HER,, and I mean me too.

Every time a difficult topic comes up,, Abortion,, Michael Jackson,, Kolbe Bryant,,, Janet Jackson’s Boobie,,, Muslims taking over the world,, Katrina,, Mexicans,,, Immigration,,, Barry Bonds,, Racism,, Iran,,,, Iraq,,,, Elizabeth looses it.

She is the American,, SHOCKER MOM,, loyal Bushie, in the flesh.

Get it Ya’ll.

Love her!

Her,,, taken of the air,,, is STUPID thinking.

She is US! A huge part of us!!! OUR FOLKS,,, American FOLKS,,, like it or not,, she is.

And yes, I mean what I say,,, we gota love her to!

ONE: She is like the canary in the mine,,, She blows at every touchy thing that comes along that divides us. As Elizabeth grows and learns,,, so will the MILLIONS of,,,, Emotion Driven,, Sound-Bite,,,, Americans JUST like her.

Yep! We gota love her.

All the best

Knute Neo-Lib

[janeinmia]

Oh no!!!!!!! I can't believe I agree with Elisabeth Hasselbeck.

[nellpost]

Me, too!

[jonjon66]

Elisabeth Haaselaback cries because of the way black folks talk? I quess she just loves the hateful Queens english used everyday by her super hero over at FAUX News? What's next, Is she gonna cry for the babies and woman who are being murdered by US technology?

[CharlottesvilleVA]

I really never thought I'd say this, but Elisabeth Hasselbeck is dead-on right this time. Whoopi makes her argument without any semblance of foundation. I'm sick and tired of African American comedians and artists using language with no consequences that other Americans lose their careers from using. Either the word is on the table, or it isn't.

[PAposter]

It's on the table as a term of endearment, not as a pejorative attack word. However, feel free to use it amongst your family and friends as African Americans do.

BTW, name on Black artist that has used this term to demean Blacks, just one.

[BGM1906]

Actaully quite a few ...whether it be another MC or some ficticious person they are attacking in their lyrics. We use it to demean other blacks, so we don't just use it as a term of enderment.

In "Bastards at the Party" a documentary on HBO about black gangs in LA, it was pointed out that its easier to kill an enemy when you call him/her a n****r. Its a lot harder to shoot someone when you're calling them your brother/sister.

I'm conflicted about this...I don't think the word should be used, yet I understand why we've embraced it in our community. At the end of the day, its a word and anyone can use it...just be careful where and don't be surprised (if you're white) if you get checked for it...

[Raisean]

So you're mad that you can't use the word, but they can? That is so progressive of you...

[MadOzbo]

I thought "freedom of speech" applied to EVERYBODY. Why is it that only SOME people are "allowed" to use derogatory speech, simply because they claim some sort of "cultural" right to be insulting and derogatory to THEIR OWN RACE????

Freedom of speech should be just that. If you are free to use the word, and then apply "non-insulting" meanings to it, then so should everyone else. But oh, noes. ONLY black people can use that one word with impunity..­..

I've yet to see what percentage of non-black parentage then excludes one from being able to use it...Is it a visual barrier, that only if your skin is dark enough, or your hair kinked enough, is it okay to use, or does the qualification exist based upon one's wealth and celebrity in combination with ethnicity??? Jesse Jackson and Whoopi Goldberg are evidently black enough and rich enough to get away with it, but Michael Richards isn't....H­mmmm.

Some "progressi­veness..."

[pesfb]

If you had any sense of what "progressive" is you would also be mad. No one has a right to "own" a word and dictate who can or cannot use it.

[tjwisconsin]

So white people can't be offended by foul language? Can people be offended by sh__ f___ etc.?

The word in question is a disgusting dehumanining word. It is the most dastardly word in the English language. It dehumanizes no matter who uses it - that is what it is meant to do.

Or only certain people can use certain words? Some people get the priveledge to offend and others don't.

Sounds like some people are more equal than others. How progressive of you.

[dm92]

It is really not that complicated - just don't use it.

[pesfb]

If it's really not that complicated then everyone should use it everyday.

[dac253]

Ah, if only the world was so black and white (no pun intended).

Unfortunately, this country was founded on a double standard stating all men were created equal while one owned another.

This country was very late coming to the abolishment of slavery and it's going to take a bit more than 40 years plus a century of Jim Crow to heal these wounds.

This new double standard (of who can use the N word) is integral to the reparations that are being played out in our lives, on these boards, and on The View.

If some black people need to own the N word, then they are certainly entitled to it.

[Mattyhorn]

She's wrong, as are you.

Once white Americans are descended from 400 years of oppression and degradation, they can use the term. Satisfactory?

[Witchitalineman]

I don't watch the View and don't particularly care for the women on it. However, in this case I believe Elisabeth, although a real drama queen, does have a point. The term N should not be used period no matter what race is using it.

[Stew118]

Surprised to see the word means so much to her...

[Nyla785]

I don't understand what Hasselbeck was crying about. Was it that the 2 black women were making two very cogent points and she might have to back down?
She's just the picture of pretty white privilege, isn't she?? How frustrating to not be able to have her way!

[CapitalistTool]

Yes, Elizabeth Hasselback comes across as simple minded, but that’s the point because she is there to be a punching bag for the other (liberal) panelists on this tired and stupid show, much the way that FoxNews found the weakest person they could (Alan Colmes) to "represent the liberal view" on Hannity and Colmes - a show that is arguably even more tired and stupid than The View.
The bottom line is that “N-word" is still an ugly word and it shouldn’t be used by anyone at anytime. You can't have special rules that allow a specific population to use the word openly and punish another part of the population for using it. Stop using the word, stop making excuses for using the word and let’s start moving forward.

[scooperss]

liz stop WHINING

[meanguy]

must be a slow news day

[picodegallo54]

"can i say it or can't i? oh oh. i'm so confused!"

[dac253]

Sure. Use it all you like.

[zann]

Black people own the "n" word now, and can use it according to their various temperaments without any input from Whiteys. We abused it too badly. Like f*, n* rounds out the world by calling up demons and shadows that people like EH prefer to deny.

[MariaErica]

2 points:
1) When I was watching the show yesterday, I couldn’t understand why Elisabeth was crying. The “N” word debate is a necessary conversation that shouldn’t be limited to barber shops or forums at HBCU’s; however, when crying enters into the discussion, the focus shifts from the substance of the debate to an individual’s hurt feelings. I was disappointed, because I think it reinforced a stereotype that women cannot not discuss heavy topics without being ‘emotional’.
2) I have been trying to understand the outrage from non-whites with regards to the accepted use of the “N” word by SOME black Americans. Let me emphasize SOME, because I, like many African Americans, do not use that word as a term of endearment. In fact the incessant use of the word is actually an indicator of socio-ecomonic status. But I wonder if there are some non-whites that really want to use the word and are just angry because it is no longer socially acceptable.

[stepintothelight]

Sounds like someones chickens are coming home to roost! Maybe they never left???

[SJeffH]

Whoopi is correct in that we live in different worlds. These worlds contribute to her ability to repeatedly use of N-Word without losing her job. To be fair, I did not see the show and didn't hear the context. Regardless, had the words been uttered by a strong willed white woman rather than a strong willed black woman, she'd likely have been sent packing.
Further, Whoopi was trying to make a point, a good point. She received a heck of a lot more publicity than she may have without resorting to the N. What may be being overlooked is that the tears and the N-Word are what are getting the publicity from those who are seeing the show through media clips. (as opposed to regular viewers) There are ways that she could have made a much stronger point without the language. (ie. the comment about her mother's lack of a right to vote was very strong) I believe that were she to make the case without the language, it would have been much stronger and, in the long run, her point would have reached more people.

[ruffmama]

like when she and Ted Danson showed up somewhere in black face?