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[Loudninja]

Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnwiYdFaRfk

A week after Bill Maher used the n-word on “Real Time,” Friday’s episode of his HBO show focused largely on a discussion of race, with black personalities essentially lecturing the comedian on why what he had done was unacceptable.

“I want you to school me. I did a bad thing,” he told Georgetown University professor Michael Eric Dyson, adding later: “For black folks, that word — I don’t care who you are — has caused pain. I’m not here to do that … It doesn’t matter that it wasn’t said in malice; it wasn’t. It brought back pain to people.”

For several minutes, Maher was on the hot seat and on the receiving end of questions. Actor-rapper Ice Cube didn’t seem to hold back, telling Maher that he and white people shouldn’t get too comfortable with saying the n-word, even if done without a hint of racism. He also said that he felt the comedian has been “bucking up against that line,” and that last week’s mistake was a “teachable moment” for Maher.

“What made you think that it was cool to say that?” Ice Cube asked.

Maher repeated his apology and said that he simply reacted, without thinking, to a comment by Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) about working in the fields.

[Bill Maher says he is ‘very sorry’ for using a racial slur on his HBO show]

Though he accepted the apology, Ice Cube dished out many reasons he felt Maher’s behavior was so problematic. He said, in part:

I still think you need to get to the root of the psyche because I think there’s a lot of guys out there who cross the line because they’re a little too familiar, or they think they’re too familiar. Or, guys that, you know, might have a black girlfriend or two that made them Kool-Aid every now and then, and then they think they can cross the line. And they can’t. You know, it’s a word that has been used against us. It’s like a knife, man. You can use it as a weapon or you can use it as a tool. It’s when you use it as a weapon against us, by white people, and we’re not going to let that happened again … because it’s not cool … That’s our word, and you can’t have it back.

… It’s not cool because when I hear my homie say it, it don’t feel like venom. When I hear a white person say it, it feel like that knife stabbing you, even if they don’t mean to.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...-for-using-the-n-word/?utm_term=.0f52e19582ef

 

[facelike]

And I just happened to be listening to Death Certificate as I saw this thread.

Thanks Cube

 

[Andrew Korenchkin]

Cube laying down the facts.

 

[KaYotiX]

In all honesty nobody should be using it.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Fury451]

The words "teachable moment" coming from Ice Cube are intense. He layed it out well for Maher, hope he really does learn something.

 

[Slayven]

The Kool Aid line was some lowkey ether

The words "Teachable moment" coming from Ice Cube are intense. He layed it out well for Maher, hope he really does learn something.

Nah Bill Maher is irredeemable at this point.

 

[the_darkness]

In all honesty nobody should be using it.

Just my 2 cents.

Well you've really missed the point.

I don't know if you're black or white but whenever I see that viewpoint I read it as "well if white people can't say it, nobody can"

 

[Mr.Shrugglesツ]

The words "Teachable moment" coming from Ice Cube are intense. He layed it out well for Maher, hope he really does learn something.

He threw him such a major life line, and maher just hung himself with it.

 

[Forearm Star]

Was skeptical when I heard Cube was going to sit down and address it.

Good on him

 

[MattKeil]

Could Maher look less interested or more impatient about all of this in that segment? It was like watching a 5 year old waiting for a lecture to be over. I feel like he wasn't listening to a goddamn thing anyone was saying.

 

[The Living Tribunal]

Well you've really missed the point.

I don't know if you're black or white but whenever I see that viewpoint I read it as "well if white people can't say it, nobody can"

It's pretty much this.

 

[Mr Cola]

One of the things I wonder about the future, the word is becoming more used year by year and there was a time where his use of the word would be instant shunning and dimissal from tv, people have been thrown out in the past and ostracised for far less by todays standards.You have younger generations growing up aswell with increased detachment from the civil rights movements, more white people using it, comics, hell Louis CK says it a fair bit. That is not to condone it of course, I dont and I voiced my problems with the apology and its lack of sincerity, I do wonder though about the future and whats going to happen, I can only see more and more people thinking its not a big deal, can you fight that? I have honestly no idea.

 

[the_darkness]

Could Maher look less interested or more impatient about all of this in that segment? It was like watching a 5 year old waiting for a lecture to be over. I feel like he wasn't listening to a goddamn thing anyone was saying.

That's pure projection on your behalf.

 

[Fury451]

Nah Bill Maher is irredeemable at this point.

He threw him such a major life line, and maher just hung himself with it.

Ah, I didn't see the "but I wasn't raised to see race" and "it was a one time thing" defenses from Maher.

So he still shrugs it off.

 

[AlphaDump]

Bill Maher looks like a bad guy from an 80s movie. And his opinions reek of ass.

 

[MattKeil]

That's pure projection on your behalf.

No, it's pure being able to read a human being's facial expression. Maher is completely checked out through that whole thing. He can't wait for it to be over.

 

[NoblesseOblige]

"I've never heard that opinion before..."

That's because you're a conceited asshole who doesn't listen to others.

 

[Slayven]

No, it's pure being able to read a human being's facial expression. Maher is completely checked out through that whole thing. He can't wait for it to be over.

I agree, he looked like a little kid mean mugging his timeout. The talk was utterly lose on him.

 

[Mr.Shrugglesツ]

That's pure projection on your behalf.

Nope.

Maher literally moved on with "so getting back to why you're here, your new album" after sanders said her peace.

 

[Snwaters]

Well you've really missed the point.

I don't know if you're black or white but whenever I see that viewpoint I read it as "well if white people can't say it, nobody can"

He literally says that when his 'homie' says it, it doesn't feel bad, only when someone white says it.

As a black man, I hate that view point, because normalizing that nonsense only allows it to linger around, along with all the baggage it brings. I used to throw it around alot when I was younger. Getting older gave me more of an appreciation of what that word means and the history it brings with it.

It's a racial slur, no matter what color your skin is.

 

[OG Shaka Zulu]

Well you've really missed the point.

I don't know if you're black or white but whenever I see that viewpoint I read it as "well if white people can't say it, nobody can"

Which is what it is and what the whole root of the n-word controversy is all about. Whites have been allowed to loot and plunder Black civilizations and bodies with impunity for centuries. Blacks being able to say something that they "can't" drives some people up the wall.

 

[Gaogaogao]

Well you've really missed the point.

I don't know if you're black or white but whenever I see that viewpoint I read it as "well if white people can't say it, nobody can"

"do as I say not as I do" is a hard sell. speech spreads the more it is used.

 

[Tarydax]

The way Maher kept impatiently interrupting, it's clear that he wasn't paying attention or even trying to learn anything. He obviously didn't give a shit and couldn't be bothered to pretend otherwise.

He couldn't be more insincere if he tried.

 

[SolidChamp]

Could Maher look less interested or more impatient about all of this in that segment? It was like watching a 5 year old waiting for a lecture to be over. I feel like he wasn't listening to a goddamn thing anyone was saying.

100% with you on this. Fuckwad's ego just couldn't take it.

 

[Slayven]

He literally says that when his 'homie' says it, it doesn't feel bad, only when someone white says it.

As a black man, I hate that view point, because normalizing that nonsense only allows it to linger around, along with all the baggage it brings. I used to throw it around alot when I was younger. Getting older gave me more of an appreciation of what that word means and the history it brings with it.

It's a racial slur, no matter what color your skin is.

Black people aren't normalizing racism

 

[royalan]

"I've never heard that opinion before..."

That's because you're a conceited asshole who doesn't listen to others.

Yep. Good on Ice Cube, but this was the moment I closed my mind to the idea of Maher learning something from this.

I'm not about to sit here and even ENTERTAIN the idea that Maher has never heard the racial criticisms against him. Wasn't born yesterday.

 

[Loudninja]

He literally says that when his 'homie' says it, it doesn't feel bad, only when someone white says it.

As a black man, I hate that view point, because normalizing that nonsense only allows it to linger around, along with all the baggage it brings. I used to throw it around alot when I was younger. Getting older gave me more of an appreciation of what that word means and the history it brings with it.

It's a racial slur, no matter what color your skin is.

Oh my head hurts.

The whole point is reclaim this word that was ounce used to insult us and put us down.We took that power away.

 

[Snwaters]

Black people aren't normalizing racism

Never said that they were. I just don't like the fact that there are black folks out there trying to keep the word around and throw it around like it's badge of honor.

 

[Chumley]

Could Maher look less interested or more impatient about all of this in that segment? It was like watching a 5 year old waiting for a lecture to be over. I feel like he wasn't listening to a goddamn thing anyone was saying.

This is projection. Just prior to that he had a long discussion with Dyson about the topic and took every single hit without pushback. He owned it.

People here who hate Maher will hate him, can't do anything to change that, but I can't see any justifiable argument for cancelling the show instead of getting the episode we got. It went beyond just being about addressing what Maher did to addressing white privilege and the problems surrounding the word as a whole. It was everything they needed to do and more.

 

[Mr.Shrugglesツ]

He literally says that when his 'homie' says it, it doesn't feel bad, only when someone white says it.

As a black man, I hate that view point, because normalizing that nonsense only allows it to linger around, along with all the baggage it brings. I used to throw it around alot when I was younger. Getting older gave me more of an appreciation of what that word means and the history it brings with it.

It's a racial slur, no matter what color your skin is.

Only getting older gave you appreciation for it?

 

[jack_package_200]

Black people aren't normalizing racism

>Doesn't recognize person in image
>Reads image url
>Googles William Boucher

Jesus Buttfucking Christ

 

[Snwaters]

Oh my head hurts.

The whole point is reclaim this word that was ounce used to insult us and put us down.We took that power away.

Reclaim it?! It was never ours in the first place. It never meant anything else. That was invented to name blacks as sub human filth, apes, slaves.

 

[excelsiorlef]

One of the things I wonder about the future, the word is becoming more used year by year and there was a time where his use of the word would be instant shunning and dimissal from tv, people have been thrown out in the past and ostracised for far less by todays standards.You have younger generations growing up aswell with increased detachment from the civil rights movements, more white people using it, comics, hell Louis CK says it a fair bit. That is not to condone it of course, I dont and I voiced my problems with the apology and its lack of sincerity, I do wonder though about the future and whats going to happen, I can only see more and more people thinking its not a big deal, can you fight that? I have honestly no idea.

Year by year in comparison to when?

 

[Fury451]

Nope.

Maher literally moved on with "so getting back to why you're here, your new album" after sanders said her peace.

Have to agree now that I can see the video clearly. He does not give a fuck to humble himself and listen.

 

[Slayven]

Never said that they were. I just don't like the fact that there are black folks out there trying to keep the word around and throw it around like it's badge of honor.

That is a whole separate discussion from what Maher did

 

[TheSpoiler]

Never said that they were. I just don't like the fact that there are black folks out there trying to keep the word around and throw it around like it's badge of honor.

I dunno, I feel like I have a bigger problem with white people using it on the basis of a).appropriation and b). it being a slur that is far more contextually harmful coming from a different race.

 

[HiredN00bs]

Could Maher look less interested or more impatient about all of this in that segment? It was like watching a 5 year old waiting for a lecture to be over. I feel like he wasn't listening to a goddamn thing anyone was saying.

He's just too full of himself.

 

[MagnaderAlpha]

Bill Maher looks like a bad guy from an 80s movie. And his opinions reek of ass.

He kinda was in House 2, maybe not the MAIN main villain, but a condescending asshole who'd wind up stealing the main guy's girl:

 

[Snwaters]

That is a whole separate discussion from what Maher did

I agree, I'm just expressing frustration with Cube's idea that just because a black person says it, it suddenly becomes cool.

I dunno, I feel like I have a bigger problem with white people using it on the basis of a).appropriation and b). it being a slur that is far more contextually harmful coming from a different race.

I agree, but when blacks themselves keep throwing it around don't help matters.

 

[Chumley]

Have to agree now that I can see the video clearly. He does not give a fuck to humble himself and listen.

Jesus christ, he spent half of the entire episode before that humbling himself and listening. You're judging a clip of an hour long episode.

 

[royalan]

He literally says that when his 'homie' says it, it doesn't feel bad, only when someone white says it.

As a black man, I hate that view point, because normalizing that nonsense only allows it to linger around, along with all the baggage it brings. I used to throw it around alot when I was younger. Getting older gave me more of an appreciation of what that word means and the history it brings with it.

It's a racial slur, no matter what color your skin is.

And, as a black person, it is well within your right to hold this opinion and have this discussion, and I can't judge you for it. Shit, my grandmother gives not two shits about the whole "taking it back" movement. I say that word around her and I'm catching a swift one to the back of the head. So, the use of the word is definitely not a settled matter, even within the community.

But Maher is not a part of the community. So I don't know who told him his opinion was valid, required, or wanted. White people have no place weighing in on how black people commune with each other, and that's just how it is and how it's gon' be.

 

[Mr.Shrugglesツ]

I agree, I'm just expressing frustration with Cube's idea that just because a black person says it, it suddenly becomes cool.


I agree, but when blacks themselves keep throwing it around don't help matters.

That's not what he said.

 

[Shadax the wizard]

Man, that was a powerful talk by cube!

 

[Realyn]

Oh my head hurts.

The whole point is reclaim this word that was ounce used to insult us and put us down.**We took that power away**.

If you take a second to think about this logic it totally doesn't make sense. You say the word has been reclaimed and the "power" of the word no longer belongs to "them". Not that people are trying to do this right now, but that it has been done. If you follow that train of thought nobody should bat an eye when "they" or whoever uses it. Because as you said, they no longer own the power associated to it. But people obviously have a problem with it. And before people jump at my throat, no I'm not saying they are wrong.

 

[Loudninja]

And, as a black person, it is well within your right to hold this opinion and have this discussion, and I can't judge you for it. Shit, my grandmother gives not two shits about the whole "taking it back" movement. I say that word around her and I'm catching a swift one to the back of the head. So, the use of the word is definitely not a settled matter, even within the community.

But Maher is not a part of the community. So I don't know who told him his opinion was valid, required, or wanted. White people have no place weighing in on how black people commune with each other, and that's just how it is and how it's gon' be.

Yep fully agree.

 

[Snwaters]

That's not what he said.

It’s when you use it as a weapon against us, by white people, and we’re not going to let that happened again … because it’s not cool … That’s our word, and you can’t have it back.

… It’s not cool because when I hear my homie say it, it don’t feel like venom. When I hear a white person say it, it feel like that knife stabbing you, even if they don’t mean to.

I don't disagree with his criticism of Maher. I disagree with the bolded. It believe it is venom, no matter who says it.

 

[Crossing Eden]

Oh man we're getting all the arguments about why white people should be able to say the word, or no one at all ITT.....constantly baffles me how much they miss the point of us being allowed to say it.

 

[Breads]

Never said that they were. I just don't like the fact that there are black folks out there trying to keep the word around and throw it around like it's badge of honor.

I think you're conflating disparate groups of people here.

I believe the point is that black folk are the ones who should be having the conversation about the word's use it and that outside input is unwelcome - that everyone should have already come to a consensus on this.

The goal of using the word as a 'badge of honor' is not a common denominator.

 

[Snwaters]

I think you're conflating disparate groups of people here.

I believe the point is that black folk are the ones who should be having the conversation about the word's use it and that outside input is unwelcome.

Fair enough. I made my point clear anyway.

 

[Slayven]

Oh man we're getting all the arguments about why white people should be able to say the word, or no one at all ITT.....constantly baffles me how much they miss the point of us being allowed to say it.

It always has to be framed around white privilege