From The Atlantic: “Paula Deen’s accuser says it’s not ‘about the N-word'” by Aimee Picchi
“While much of America is split about whether Paula Deen deserves to have lost high-profile deals from the likes of Food Network and Wal-Mart, her accuser is seeking to refocus the conversation beyond race. Deen’s business losses came after she admitted in a deposition that she used the N-word, said it was fine that her brother showed pornography to employees at work and that she taught her children it was OK to use the racial slur in a joke… But the woman who filed the harassment lawsuit against Deen said in a statement to CNN that her legal action “has never been about the N-word.”Instead, Lisa Jackson, a former manager of Deen’s restaurants in Savannah, Ga., said the case is about her ex-boss’s ‘abuse of power as a business owner.’ She’s suing Deen and her brother, Bubba Hier, alleging they committed acts of violence, discrimination and racism.”
Questions for Consideration
How do you feel about about what’s happening to Paula Deen as a result of her recent scandal? Why do you think so many companies dropped business deals with her so quickly? Do you think Paula Deen deserves a second chance or to be forgiven for her mishaps? What do you make of her multiple apologies for her language?
Want to learn more?
- The Grio: Paula Deen n-word scandal: Will racial slur use end her empire?
- NJ Blog: Paula Deen’s dissembling is a lost opportunity for honesty about racism
- Afroculinaria: An Open Letter to Paula Deen
- New Yorker: Paula Deen’s Ugly Roots
- Eater: Watch Paula Deen Defend Herself on the Today Show
- Boston Globe: Paula Deen’s “Bubba” problem
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