Talented Tenth

The n word is always going to be questionable coming out of a white person's mouth in America. With American history, that shouldn't be hard to understand. Let's say your significant other says something sexy to you and a stranger overhears. Let's say that stranger then says the exact same thing to you in the exact same tone. It's going to be creepy, right? It would be creepy because that person doesn't have the relationship with you to be able to speak to you that way. Black people in America have a connection, bond and shared experience so when a faction of the Black community uses the n word colloquially, it is understood it is not used as a slur/offense. White Americans do not have the relationship with Black people to say the word even with the same tone. If a mother disciplines a child, an outsider saying the same things in the same way would be offensive to the mother. If your friend teases you, an outsider saying the same thing in the same way might offend because you don't have the same relationship. I'm not Jewish, Italian or Asian and I'm not going to start using cultural slang/colloquialisms around those groups even if they do because I'm not a part of those groups. It seems like people can understand that women use the word bitch, but a straight man saying it takes on a different vibe even if he says it in the exact same way. People can understand that gays can use certain slang among each other but it hits differently coming from someone straight. Why can't people understand when it comes to the n word?

There was no footage of Rayna saying the word and at the reunion Eddie claimed not to remember accusing Rayna then said "if" he said it. Even in the unseen footage, he backtracked and said maybe it wasn't her. He even backpedaled in the conversation when he accused her. Yes, it's okay for Rayna to use it. She's a part of the oppressed group the word was used against and the group that flipped its usage. White people get to enjoy white privilege and Black people get to use the n word. Wanna switch sides?

Eddie is trash. He falsely accused Rayna of saying the f word to cover for Heather saying the n word. I hate the notion that Heather only copied Rayna therefore should not have any responsibility what comes out of her own mouth. Is Heather a complete idiot? Whoever feels that way, go ahead jump in on an armed robbery and use the defense that you were only mimicking what you saw others do. If you see someone jump off a bridge, try that too. Offensive language is not just about words themselves but intent, context, tone and who is saying them. There are several words or phrases like this, yet people seem to only lack comprehension when it comes to the n word. If you are disciplining your child at a store, can the cashier or another shopper do so too if they repeat what you say? Of course not. Some words being used depends on the relationship between the people. Rayna using the n word as a colloquialism will never be the same as the n word coming out of white person's mouth. I don't know if Heather was sorry about using the word of if she was sorry about any possible backlash. Only she knows, but I don't think the incident was racist. I do want Rayna to apologize to Wes because she was harsh to him and he didn't deserve it.

Whitney is trash for what she said to Meredith about knowing that her father is resting while Whitney's father is still alive. According to Mary, several businesses were inherited and her lifestyle isn't coming from the church.

Reading a lot of the comments about race and the n word makes me feel even more sorry that Black people have to be gaslit and deal with certain attitudes. A white person used the n word in front of Rayna but she's being made out to be the villain. Unfortunately, that's not surprising.

So, because you don't like Rayna, it's okay for Heather to be unhygienic when it comes to the crew's food? I don't even eat after my own family members let alone a coworker. Heather was being gross. Being tired is not an excuse to be nasty.

There are other words groups use such as women using bitch and gays using queen or even the f word. Why do you think it is that men don't fight to keep women from saying bitch and straight people aren't fighting to keep gays from using certain words? It seems like people can understand those groups flipping/using derogatory terms but you can't understand it with the n word? I don't like when the term is used in mixed company or in setting where it will be heard by other people than Black people because of arguments like this, but it will always be considered questionable coming out of a white's mouth. Yes, Black people have a pass because Black people were/are the targets of the slur that has been flipped.

Rayna is not responsible for what comes out of Heather's mouth. Heather is a grown woman with a brain and can choose what to say and what not to say. If you have a child and reprimand that child, can a co-worker reprimand your child too if they repeat exactly what you say? Of course not. Everybody can't say everything.

It's interesting to me when this argument is made. It's not just the word, it is the intent, tone and context. In Black culture, not everyone agrees with the usage of the word, but when it is used, it ends with an a instead of er and is a synonym for man or person. The term will always be questionable coming from a white person, so it's not socially acceptable to use due to the history of the word and racism. Women using bitch amongst each other does not have the same tone as a straight man referring to women as bitches. Gays using queen or even the f word does not have the same tone as those words coming from straight people. I'm a man and I would feel really stupid telling women they shouldn't say bitch. I just want to know why it bothers you so much that it's not acceptable to say the n word if you're not Black? Is it because you feel like you're entitled to do anything you want? For me, it's not hard not to say words that could be questionable coming from me to another group of people.

People are accountable for their own actions. People can't use the excuse of copying what other people do to be absolved. Rayna is Black and has a pass to say the n word. Heather is white and and it wasn't acceptable for her to say. Women have a pass to use "bitch" with each other, but it takes on a different tone when a man says it. Gays can use certain terms about each other, but it takes on a different tone when straight people say them. It's not uncommon for certain groups to flip words that have been used against them. I've never heard men tell women they can't say bitch or straight people try to tell gay people they shouldn't use certain terms. Why do some white people fight so hard to say the word or to not have Black people use it? I'm not Jewish or Italian, so I'm not going to say slang words that are a part of their culture since I'm not of that culture. It shouldn't be hard not to say the n word.

The show was a snooze fest until Noella showed up. Noella is thirsty, but they all are or they wouldn't be on the show.

She didn't lie. Her personal aesthetic isn't pants but she wanted the designer to create whatever she felt she could do the best. Misunderstandings and miscommunications aren't lies. She never led that designer to believe that she wanted pants nor did she ask for them.

It didn't look good though, which is the point of the show. Had it looked good, Wendy would have possibly liked it and said something to the effect of, "I normally wouldn't wear a suit, but this is so great it changed my mind!". The outfit wasn't in the bottom two because Wendy said she wouldn't wear pants; it was in the bottom two because it wasn't good. It's also the job of the designer to probe more and have better communication to understand what they're designing for. The women all had look books. I'm unsure if the designers had access to their phones or a computer but the designer could have also looked at what other women have worn.

I don't think it's a lie; I think it's a misunderstanding. Wendy expressed to the judges that for a reunion she wouldn't wear pants. When Wendy was consulting with the designer, the designer asked dress or suit. Wendy then expressed that the designer could do what she wanted just make it [great]. Wendy also expressed that she wanted the compromise and let the designer go with whatever was her strong suit. People are looking at things more nefarious than they actually are. Since the challenge was a Housewives reunion look challenge, Wendy probably took it for granted that the designers would all know the aesthetic for Housewives reunions. I also want to acknowledge that producers of Project Runway definitely wants some of the drama that comes from these misunderstandings. I don't think Wendy went in with the intention to have an issue.

It's interesting to see people bash reality stars while watching a reality show... What are people saying Wendy lied about? The designer asked if it should be a gown or pants. Wendy replied that she could make anything as long as she could make it [great]. The designer's look sucked. How is that Wendy's fault?

What did Heather mean by her threat to Shannon? What is Shannon going to lose? Money? The show? Her life? WTF?

The terms aren't interchangeable though and there is a difference between describing an eye shape and referring to a person. There are also lots of people of African descent who have slanted eyes. For example, let's say in a region there were people bullied for having blue eyes. Nobody else in life should be able to say they like someone's blue eye color?

This show is boring. Nicole is a backstabber. If Noella is her friend, why would she tell Heather that Noella called her a fake bitch? This show needs an overhaul. Emily and Gina really bring this show down. I remember a Mad TV skit about the PAX channel and what was said in the skit applies to Emily and Gina as well. Watching them is like unflavored oatmeal for the eyes.

Are you Asian? Slanted is a description of eyes. Mary did not call her "slant eyes" or call Jennie anything. Slanted is a shape of eyes. Again, there are a lot of Black people who have slanted eyes as well and it is not used in a negative way to refer to eye shape. How you choose to take something doesn't mean that's how Mary was giving it. She was complimenting Jennie's eyes, using an accurate description of an eye shape. It's not Mary's fault that racist people may have taken something innocuous and modified it to use as a pejorative. If you google, "slant eyed" or "slant eyes" to refer to a person are the terms that are used negatively. Using "slanted eyes" as an innocuous description of an eye shape is not historically or generally used as a slur. You and others keep using the term "slant eyes" which is not what Mary said. Slanted is an eye shape, not limited to Asians. Not agreeing with you or having the same viewpoint as you doesn't make anyone a troll.

Words, context and tone matter. "Slanted eyes" is not the same as "slant eyes". Mary expressing that she loves a feature is not the same as someone using someone's features as an insult. Jennie being offended doesn't mean Mary's intent was to offend. Mary's not the most articulate person. Did I miss something? Jennie and Mary didn't have any beef or issues at this point, did they?

Why isn't "slanted" an accurate or neutral description? Different racial groups have distinct features that set them apart from the rest. I have never heard that the term "slanted" to describe an eye shape is racially offensive. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of Black people who have slanted eyes as well. There may be a cultural disconnect because slanted eyes are not seen as a bad thing in the Black community. I think Mary was referring to Jennie's undertone when she said "yellow tone" and expressing that the wig was flattering to her skin tone. I understand people are sensitive and it may have rubbed people the wrong way, but not pretending to not notice the physical racial differences and paying a compliment is not racist. I do not consider slanted eyes as a description to be the same as the other terms you mentioned because those other terms have clearly been used in a negative manner and have a negative connotation. It would not be racially offensive to me if a person who is non-Black said they love the curls of someone Black because curls is an accurate, neutral description. Regarding the nose, "big nose" is not generally viewed as a neutral term so no, that wouldn't go over well. White people tend to have blue eyes more than other races. Is it racist to say someone likes someone's blue eyes?

I don't have to have the last word. This is a civil discussion as far as I'm concerned. I am careful not to use the term racist and all of its iterations unless it's blatantly clear. I believe for something to racist, there has to be intent and expressing something negative about another race based on their race. I think there is a quickness to label something racist strictly on the basis of a person mentioning race without further examination. Mary does not adhere to social norms probably due to how she was raised and groomed. Again, this is a woman who married her step-grandfather. I can't find many things about Mary that are normal. I think she says things without thought and is very ignorant as to how things are going to come across. I've seen many times on several platforms that Mary is socially inept/awkward. I do not believe that Mary set out to put down Asians or Mexicans. Were her comments in poor taste and reckless? Yes. I do find the comment about 7-11 problematic too, but Mary denied it.

So, had she said "Jen scares me like those Italian people who are hit men", would we pretend the reference wouldn't be the mafia and say it was racist against all Italians? Mary was referring to the undertones in Jennie's skin that made the blonde flattering to her. Mary didn't say "slant-eye". She told her she liked her slanted eyes, which they are. Mary is off in the head. She married her step-grandfather and isn't the most articulate person. She rarely has the best choice of words in any situation. I can see why people find what she said problematic and unthoughtful, but to call her racist is a stretch.

Yes, Jennie did find it offensive. Maybe she has insecurities or issues with her features. That doesn't mean that what Mary said was racist. I'm trying find the logic behind accusing her of a racist comment for complimenting a feature she actually described.

When attacking people's characters based on what they say, I think it's very important to be accurate in regards to what people said and did. She did not call her slanted eyes; she looked at a photo of her and said she loved her slanted eyes. Are Jennie's eyes not slanted? It's an accurate description. If your eyes are blue, someone can't say they love your blue eyes? When Mary spoke about Mexicans, she was expressing fear of Jen Shah and was attempting to compare her to the Mexican cartel. She was not insulting all Mexicans. I can't figure out if people are playing obtuse or if they really did not understand that Mary was referencing the cartel. Simply mentioning nationality or complimenting someone's unique features that are prevalent in their race are not racist things.